tailwindcss-effects

Complete reference for Tailwind CSS v4.3 visual-effects utilities: box shadows (`shadow-*`, custom shadow colors, the new `inset-shadow-*`), `opacity-*`, CSS filters (blur/brightness/contrast/grayscale/sepia/hue-rotate/invert/saturate), backdrop filters (`backdrop-blur-*`, `backdrop-brightness-*`, etc. — for glassmorphism/frosted-glass effects), and the new `mask-*` utilities (image, position, size, repeat).

Includes combined-effect patterns (blur+brightness, backdrop blur+brightness for frosted glass), responsive/dark-mode variants, custom @theme/@utility extension, and browser-support notes per effect category.

Tailwind CSS v4.3 Effects

Effects utilities to add shadows, filters, masks and visual effects to elements.

Box Shadow

Shadows Standard

<!-- Preset shadows -->
<div class="shadow-none">No shadow</div>
<div class="shadow-xs">Extra small shadow</div>
<div class="shadow-sm">Small shadow</div>
<div class="shadow">Base shadow</div>
<div class="shadow-md">Medium shadow</div>
<div class="shadow-lg">Large shadow</div>
<div class="shadow-xl">Extra large shadow</div>
<div class="shadow-2xl">2XL shadow</div>

Shadow Color (since v3.0)

<!-- Custom shadow colors -->
<div class="shadow-sm shadow-red-500">Red tinted shadow</div>
<div class="shadow shadow-blue-400">Blue tinted shadow</div>
<div class="shadow-lg shadow-purple-500/50">Purple shadow with opacity</div>

Inset Shadow (since v4.0)

<!-- Inner shadows (scale: 2xs, xs, sm) -->
<div class="inset-shadow-2xs">Inset 2xs shadow</div>
<div class="inset-shadow-xs">Inset xs shadow</div>
<div class="inset-shadow-sm">Inset small shadow</div>
<div class="inset-shadow-sm inset-shadow-blue-500">Inset shadow with color</div>

Arbitrary Shadow Values

<div class="shadow-[0_4px_12px_rgba(0,0,0,0.3)]">Custom shadow</div>
<div class="shadow-[inset_0_1px_3px_0_rgba(0,0,0,0.1)]">Custom inset</div>

Opacity

Opacity Utilities

<!-- Opacity scale 0-100% -->
<div class="opacity-0">Fully transparent</div>
<div class="opacity-25">25% opacity</div>
<div class="opacity-50">50% opacity</div>
<div class="opacity-75">75% opacity</div>
<div class="opacity-100">Fully opaque</div>

Opacity with Colors

<!-- Shorthand opacity in color values -->
<div class="bg-red-500/50">Red with 50% opacity</div>
<div class="text-blue-600/75">Text with 75% opacity</div>
<div class="border-gray-400/25">Border with 25% opacity</div>
<div class="shadow-lg shadow-black/30">Shadow with 30% opacity</div>

Filters

Blur

<div class="blur-none">No blur</div>
<div class="blur-sm">Small blur (4px)</div>
<div class="blur">Base blur (12px)</div>
<div class="blur-md">Medium blur (16px)</div>
<div class="blur-lg">Large blur (24px)</div>
<div class="blur-xl">Extra large blur (40px)</div>
<div class="blur-2xl">2XL blur (64px)</div>

<!-- Arbitrary -->
<div class="blur-[8px]">Custom blur 8px</div>

Brightness

<div class="brightness-50">Darken to 50%</div>
<div class="brightness-75">Darken to 75%</div>
<div class="brightness-100">Normal (100%)</div>
<div class="brightness-125">Brighten to 125%</div>
<div class="brightness-150">Brighten to 150%</div>
<div class="brightness-200">Brighten to 200%</div>

Contrast

<div class="contrast-50">Reduce contrast 50%</div>
<div class="contrast-75">Reduce contrast 75%</div>
<div class="contrast-100">Normal contrast (100%)</div>
<div class="contrast-125">Increase contrast 125%</div>
<div class="contrast-150">Increase contrast 150%</div>
<div class="contrast-200">Increase contrast 200%</div>

Grayscale

<div class="grayscale-0">No grayscale</div>
<div class="grayscale">Full grayscale (100%)</div>

<!-- Arbitrary -->
<div class="grayscale-[50%]">50% grayscale</div>

Sepia

<div class="sepia-0">No sepia</div>
<div class="sepia">Full sepia (100%)</div>

<!-- Arbitrary -->
<div class="sepia-[75%]">75% sepia</div>

Hue Rotate

<div class="hue-rotate-0">No rotation</div>
<div class="hue-rotate-15">15 degree rotation</div>
<div class="hue-rotate-30">30 degree rotation</div>
<div class="hue-rotate-60">60 degree rotation</div>
<div class="hue-rotate-90">90 degree rotation</div>
<div class="hue-rotate-180">180 degree rotation</div>

<!-- Arbitrary -->
<div class="hue-rotate-[120deg]">Custom rotation</div>

Invert

<div class="invert-0">No invert</div>
<div class="invert">Full invert (100%)</div>

<!-- Arbitrary -->
<div class="invert-[50%]">50% invert</div>

Saturate

<div class="saturate-50">Desaturate to 50%</div>
<div class="saturate-100">Normal saturation (100%)</div>
<div class="saturate-150">Increase saturation 150%</div>
<div class="saturate-200">Increase saturation 200%</div>

Backdrop Filters

Applies filters to the backdrop (element behind).

Backdrop Blur

<div class="backdrop-blur-none">No blur</div>
<div class="backdrop-blur-sm">Small blur (4px)</div>
<div class="backdrop-blur">Base blur (12px)</div>
<div class="backdrop-blur-md">Medium blur (16px)</div>
<div class="backdrop-blur-lg">Large blur (24px)</div>
<div class="backdrop-blur-xl">Extra large blur (40px)</div>

Backdrop Brightness

<div class="backdrop-brightness-50">Darken backdrop 50%</div>
<div class="backdrop-brightness-75">Darken backdrop 75%</div>
<div class="backdrop-brightness-100">Normal (100%)</div>
<div class="backdrop-brightness-125">Brighten backdrop 125%</div>
<div class="backdrop-brightness-150">Brighten backdrop 150%</div>

Backdrop Contrast

<div class="backdrop-contrast-50">Reduce backdrop contrast 50%</div>
<div class="backdrop-contrast-100">Normal (100%)</div>
<div class="backdrop-contrast-150">Increase backdrop contrast 150%</div>

Backdrop Grayscale

<div class="backdrop-grayscale-0">No grayscale</div>
<div class="backdrop-grayscale">Full grayscale (100%)</div>

Backdrop Invert

<div class="backdrop-invert-0">No invert</div>
<div class="backdrop-invert">Full invert (100%)</div>

Backdrop Saturate

<div class="backdrop-saturate-50">Desaturate backdrop 50%</div>
<div class="backdrop-saturate-100">Normal (100%)</div>
<div class="backdrop-saturate-150">Increase backdrop saturation 150%</div>
</div>

Backdrop Sepia

<div class="backdrop-sepia-0">No sepia</div>
<div class="backdrop-sepia">Full sepia (100%)</div>

Mask (since v4.1)

Mask Image

<!-- No mask -->
<div class="mask-none">No mask applied</div>

<!-- Edge (linear) masks: one side, or x/y for two sides -->
<div class="mask-b-from-20% mask-b-to-80%">Fade out at the bottom</div>
<div class="mask-x-from-70% mask-x-to-90%">Fade both horizontal edges</div>

<!-- Angled linear mask -->
<div class="mask-linear-50 mask-linear-from-60% mask-linear-to-80%">Angled mask</div>

<!-- Radial mask -->
<div class="mask-radial-from-75% mask-radial-at-left">Radial mask</div>

<!-- Custom mask image -->
<div class="mask-[url(/images/mask.svg)]">Custom mask</div>

Mask Position

<div class="mask-[url(/img/circle.png)] mask-center">Center mask</div>
<div class="mask-[url(/img/circle.png)] mask-top">Top mask</div>
<div class="mask-[url(/img/circle.png)] mask-bottom">Bottom mask</div>
<div class="mask-[url(/img/circle.png)] mask-left">Left mask</div>
<div class="mask-[url(/img/circle.png)] mask-right">Right mask</div>

<!-- Arbitrary -->
<div class="mask-position-[center_top_1rem]">Custom position</div>

Mask Size

<div class="mask-[url(/img/scribble.png)] mask-contain">Contain mask</div>
<div class="mask-[url(/img/scribble.png)] mask-cover">Cover mask</div>
<div class="mask-[url(/img/scribble.png)] mask-auto">Auto mask size</div>

<!-- Arbitrary -->
<div class="mask-size-[200%_100%]">Custom size</div>

Mask Repeat

<div class="mask-[url(/img/circle.png)] mask-repeat">Repeat mask</div>
<div class="mask-[url(/img/circle.png)] mask-repeat-x">Repeat horizontally</div>
<div class="mask-[url(/img/circle.png)] mask-repeat-y">Repeat vertically</div>
<div class="mask-[url(/img/circle.png)] mask-no-repeat">No repeat</div>

Combined Effects

Blur + Brightness

<div class="blur-md brightness-75">
  Blurred and darkened
</div>

Shadow + Opacity

<div class="shadow-lg shadow-blue-500/50 opacity-90">
  Shadow with tint and opacity
</div>

Backdrop Blur + Brightness

<div class="backdrop-blur-md backdrop-brightness-90">
  Frosted glass effect
</div>

Inset Shadow + Grayscale

<div class="inset-shadow-sm inset-shadow-black/20 grayscale-50">
  Pressed effect with grayscale
</div>

Responsive Effects

<!-- Mobile: small blur, Tablet: medium blur, Desktop: large blur -->
<div class="blur-sm md:blur-md lg:blur-lg">
  Responsive blur
</div>

<!-- Mobile: light opacity, Desktop: darker -->
<div class="opacity-75 md:opacity-50">
  Responsive opacity
</div>

<!-- Backdrop blur on medium+ screens -->
<div class="md:backdrop-blur-lg">
  Frosted glass on desktop
</div>

Dark Mode

<!-- Shadow color changes in dark mode -->
<div class="shadow-md shadow-black/25 dark:shadow-black/50">
  Darker shadow in dark mode
</div>

<!-- Opacity adjustments -->
<div class="opacity-70 dark:opacity-60">
  More visible in dark mode
</div>

<!-- Different blur in dark mode -->
<div class="blur-sm dark:blur-none">
  Less blur in dark mode
</div>

Configuration (v4.3)

CSS Theme Variables

@import "tailwindcss";

@theme {
  --color-shadow: #000;
  --blur-custom: 20px;
}

Custom Effects

@utility glass-effect {
  @apply backdrop-blur-md backdrop-brightness-90 opacity-90;
}

@utility glow {
  box-shadow: 0 0 20px var(--color-cyan-500);
}

Real-world Examples

Modal with frosted backdrop

<div class="fixed inset-0 backdrop-blur-sm backdrop-brightness-75">
  <!-- Modal content -->
</div>

Card with elevated shadow

<div class="rounded-lg bg-white p-6 shadow-lg shadow-blue-500/10">
  Card with subtle colored shadow
</div>

Image with fade-out mask

<div class="mask-b-from-50%">
  <img src="image.jpg" alt="Fading image" />
</div>

Glassmorphism component

<div class="backdrop-blur-md bg-white/30 rounded-lg border border-white/20">
  Glass effect container
</div>

Browser Support

• Shadows: All modern browsers
• Filters: Chrome 18+, Firefox 35+, Safari 6+
• Backdrop filters: Chrome 76+, Safari 9+, Firefox 103+
• Masks: Chrome 1+, Safari 4+, Firefox 53+
• Opacity: All modern browsers

Performance Tips

1. Use backdrop-blur sparingly - heavy performance impact
2. Prefer opacity for transparency over rgba colors
3. Use inset-shadow instead of multiple box-shadows for layering
4. Combine related effects in custom utilities to reduce class count
5. Test backdrop effects on low-end devices

References

• shadows.md - Detailed shadow configuration
• filters.md - Filter effects reference
• opacity.md - Opacity and transparency