Better Shadows
Connect Better Shadows with Webflow to create realistic shadow effects by stacking CSS box-shadow declarations with one-click preset application.
How to integrate Better Shadows with Webflow
Webflow's native shadow controls only support single-layer box-shadows, which limits realistic depth effects. Better Shadows generates multi-layered shadows by stacking multiple CSS box-shadow declarations, letting you apply professional shadow presets to elements and CSS classes without writing custom code.
Use the Better Shadows app on the Webflow marketplace to add shadows to buttons, cards, modals, and navigation components while maintaining design system consistency. The app runs as a Webflow Designer Extension through the Apps Marketplace, where you select elements or CSS classes, choose shadow presets, and apply effects with one click.
Use the Better Shadows app
The Better Shadows marketplace app generates multi-layered CSS box-shadow effects directly in Webflow. You can apply realistic, multi-layered shadows to any element or CSS class without manual configuration. The app addresses Webflow's single-layer box-shadow limitation by generating multiple shadow layers that create professional depth effects.
The app includes these capabilities:
- One-click preset application: Choose from pre-configured shadow styles and apply them instantly to selected elements
- CSS class integration: Add shadows directly to existing CSS classes for reusable design system utilities
- Live preview with background customization: Test shadow appearance against different background colors before applying
- Multi-layered shadow generation: Automatically create multiple shadow layers for realistic depth effects using the smooth-shadow library
The app operates through the Webflow Designer Extension API, subscribing to element selection events and applying styles directly to your project. Changes appear immediately on the canvas and are published with your site automatically.
Navigate to the Better Shadows app page, click Add to Webflow, authorize the application for your workspace, then access it from the Apps panel in any project. No external accounts, API keys, or configuration steps are required.
What you can build
Better Shadows' multi-layered shadow generation and CSS class integration let you create sites with consistent depth hierarchy and visual polish.
- Component library documentation sites: Build design system reference pages where navigation menus, code example cards, interactive component previews, and API reference sections use reusable shadow classes to maintain visual consistency across all documentation elements
- SaaS application landing pages: Create marketing sites where pricing tier cards, feature comparison tables, product screenshot displays, and testimonial blocks use graduated shadow depths to establish clear visual hierarchy and guide user attention through conversion funnels
- Creative portfolio websites: Design case study showcases where hero project images, detail cards with process documentation, client testimonial sections, and gallery layouts use multi-layered shadows to create professional visual polish without manual CSS configuration
- Product showcase pages: Develop feature-focused landing pages where benefit highlight sections, pricing cards, feature grid layouts, and call-to-action buttons use multi-layered shadows to establish button hierarchy and direct user focus toward conversion points
Frequently asked questions
Install directly from the Webflow Apps Marketplace by clicking Add to Webflow and authorizing the app for your workspace. Once installed, open any Webflow project and access Better Shadows from the Apps panel in the left sidebar. Select an element or CSS class, choose a shadow preset within the app interface, and apply with one click. The shadow saves directly to your element's style properties. No custom code or external setup is required.
Better Shadows adds shadows directly to existing CSS classes for reusability across your site. You can select any CSS class in Webflow, open Better Shadows from the Apps panel, and apply shadow presets to that class. All elements using that class automatically inherit the shadow effect, creating consistent depth utilities across your design system.
CSS box-shadow properties trigger paint operations during rendering. However, static multi-layered shadows have minimal performance impact on modern browsers. Performance concerns primarily arise when animating box-shadow properties. Avoid animating shadows and use transform and opacity for smooth 60fps animations instead. Better Shadows applies shadows to design system classes as static styles, which adds negligible performance overhead. Monitor performance with browser DevTools and test on mobile devices if applying shadows to many elements.
Description
Better Shadows is a free Webflow Designer Extension that creates realistic, multi-layered shadow effects by stacking multiple CSS box-shadow declarations. The app provides one-click preset application, live preview with customizable background colors, and direct CSS class integration to maintain design system consistency.
This integration page is provided for informational and convenience purposes only.
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