What is a drop shadow?

A drop shadow is a visual effect that creates the appearance of a shadow behind an object, giving the illusion of depth and making the object appear to be lifted off the surface it is placed on. Drop shadows are commonly used in graphic design, web design, and user interface design to add visual interest and make elements stand out on a page.

Drop shadows can be customized in terms of size, opacity, angle, and color to achieve the desired effect. They are typically created by duplicating the object, filling it with a solid color, blurring it, and offsetting it from the original object to create the shadow effect.

Drop shadows can help improve the readability of text on a busy background, create a sense of hierarchy in a design, and provide visual cues about the relationship between different elements on a page. However, they should be used judiciously to avoid creating a cluttered or overly busy design.