css filter property examples
The CSS filter property applies visual effects to elements directly in CSS, with common uses including: 1. blur() for softening images or creating depth, 2. brightness() to adjust lightness or darkness, 3. contrast() to enhance or reduce visual distinction, 4. grayscale() for black-and-white conversions, 5. hue-rotate() to shift colors across the spectrum, 6. saturate() to intensify or mute colors, 7. combining multiple filters for complex effects, 8. drop-shadow() for shape-aware shadows, and 9. backdrop-filter for glassmorphism by filtering background content, all of which are efficient when used wisely and can be enhanced with transitions and proper performance considerations.
The CSS filter property is used to apply visual effects like blur, color shifts, and more to elements—typically images, but it works on any container. It’s a powerful tool for enhancing UI without needing external image editing.
Here are some common and practical examples:
1. Blur Effect (blur())
Great for background images or creating depth.
.blurry {
filter: blur(5px);
}- Use
blur(0)for no blur, increasing values (e.g.,10px) create stronger blur. - Often used in modal backgrounds or frosted glass (combined with
backdrop-filter).
2. Brightness Adjustment (brightness())
Control how bright an element appears.
.bright {
filter: brightness(150%);
}
.dim {
filter: brightness(50%);
}100%= original brightness.- Values over
100%make it brighter; under100%make it darker. - Useful for hover effects:
img:hover { filter: brightness(120%); }
3. Contrast Control (contrast())
.high-contrast {
filter: contrast(180%);
}
.low-contrast {
filter: contrast(70%);
}- Adjusts the difference between light and dark areas.
- Can help improve readability on images with text overlay.
4. Grayscale Conversion (grayscale())
.grayscale-img {
filter: grayscale(100%);
}
.partial-gray {
filter: grayscale(50%);
}100%= fully black and white;0%= original color.- Popular for image galleries with hover color reveal:
img { filter: grayscale(100%); transition: filter 0.3s ease; } img:hover { filter: grayscale(0%); }
5. Hue Rotation (hue-rotate())
.rotated-hue {
filter: hue-rotate(90deg);
}- Rotates colors around the color wheel.
- Try
180degfor a retro look, or animate it:@keyframes colorCycle { from { filter: hue-rotate(0deg); } to { filter: hue-rotate(360deg); } } .animated { animation: colorCycle 3s infinite linear; }
6. Saturation (saturate())
.super-sat {
filter: saturate(200%);
}
.desaturated {
filter: saturate(30%);
}- Increases or reduces color intensity.
100%= normal; higher = more vivid; lower = muted.
7. Combining Multiple Filters
You can stack multiple effects:
.fancy-effect {
filter: contrast(120%) brightness(90%) saturate(150%) hue-rotate(15deg);
}Order usually doesn’t matter, but complex combinations may vary slightly by browser.
8. Drop Shadow (drop-shadow())
Unlike box-shadow, this follows the element’s shape (including transparency):
.shadow {
filter: drop-shadow(2px 2px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5));
}- Useful for images with transparent backgrounds (e.g., PNG icons).
- First three values:
offset-x,offset-y,blur-radius.
9. Using backdrop-filter (Bonus)
Applies filters to the area behind an element (great for glassmorphism):
.glass {
backdrop-filter: blur(10px) brightness(80%);
background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2);
border-radius: 12px;
padding: 20px;
}Note:
backdrop-filterdoesn’t work on all browsers (especially older ones).
Quick Tips:
- Performance: Heavy filters (like large blur) can impact performance on mobile.
- Fallbacks: Always test without filters—ensure content is still usable.
-
Transitions: Combine with
transitionfor smooth hover effects.
Basically, the filter property is a simple yet powerful way to tweak visuals right in CSS. Most effects are hardware-accelerated, so they’re efficient when used wisely.
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