CSS DIV boxes with drop shadows

This example shows how to add a drop shadow style to any container element using CSS. It does this by wrapping the desired content in a DIV with its background color set to a color of the desired color for the shadow. Another DIV is set for your content and is shifted slightly upwards and to the left to expose the shadow. The "master" DIV wraps it all up but is shifted to the right and downwards, returning the entire markup to it's original page position.

IE6 is not compatible with this example, but you can apply conditional HTML to hide the effect in that browser. In contrast, IE7 is compatible with this example for finally updating to proper CSS.

Note: If you will be using an image for your content, you should give ".shadowcontainer" an explicit height, reflecting that of the image's for fixed and set location when viewed.



CSS Code

<![if !IE 6]>
.shiftcontainer{
position: relative;
left: 5px; /*Number should match -left shadow depth below*/
top: 5px; /*Number should match -top shadow depth below*/
}

.shadowcontainer{
width: 300px; /* container width*/
background-color: #d1cfd0;
}

.shadowcontainer .innerdiv{
/* Add container height here if desired */
background-color: white;
border: 1px solid gray;
padding: 6px;
position: relative;
left: -5px; /*shadow depth*/
top: -5px; /*shadow depth*/
}
<![endif]>

HTML Code

<div class="shiftcontainer">
<div class="shadowcontainer">
<div class="innerdiv">
<b>Your Header</b> <br />
Your content here. Your content here.<br />
Your content here. Your content here.<br />
Your content here. Your content here.<br />
Your content here. Your content here.
</div>
</div>
</div>