Use Shadows Appropriately

Community

gnurio

use-shadows-appropriately

Add depth only when functionally necessary (elevation, not decoration)

Overview

Publisher	gnurio
Repository	`refactoring-ui-plugin`
Skill name	`use-shadows-appropriately`
Stars	453
Forks	16
Bundled files	Instructions only
Links	Skill source Repository Homepage

Markdown instructions
A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.
Works with any LLM
AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.
Self-contained
Everything the model needs lives in the instructions — no extra files to sync.
Open source
Published by gnurio on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Use Shadows Appropriately AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
Choose "Install from GitHub".
Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
https://github.com/gnurio/refactoring-ui-plugin/tree/main/skills/08-use-shadows-appropriately
Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.

Store

Installed

Skills

Add skills

Import one or more skills from a public GitHub folder or a local .skill or .zip archive, or SKILL.md file.

From GitHub URLFrom .skill, .zip, or SKILL.md

GitHub repo or folder

https://github.com/gnurio/refactoring-ui-plugin/tree/main/skills/08-use-shadows-appropriately

Points to a single skill folder, or any folder that contains multiple skills. Public repos only.

CancelContinue

Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/gnurio/refactoring-ui-plugin.git /tmp/refactoring-ui-plugin
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/refactoring-ui-plugin/skills/08-use-shadows-appropriately .claude/skills/use-shadows-appropriately

Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Use Shadows Appropriately in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Use Shadows Appropriately on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Use Shadows Appropriately is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

Loaded only when it is needed
The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.
Switch models mid-chat
Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

Skill: Use Shadows Appropriately

Purpose

Add depth and elevation only when functionally necessary, avoiding decorative shadows.

Key Fix Applied (from Autoresearch)

Added nuance: Subtle shadows on cards are acceptable (less distracting than borders). Large decorative shadows on static elements are wrong.

Type

Corrective + Evaluative

Input

UI element inventory
Element purposes (static, interactive, overlay)
Current shadow specifications

Output

Shadow usage recommendations
Pass/Fail assessment

Transformation Performed

Removes decorative shadows from static elements, reserves shadows for elevation layers (modals above content, dropdowns above page).

Decision Criteria

PASS (Appropriate Shadow Usage)

Small shadows on cards (subtle, less distracting than borders) ✅
Modals/dialogs: Large shadow (elevated above all content)
Dropdowns/menus: Medium shadow (above page, below modals)
Cards: Subtle or no shadow (flat design preferred)
Hover states: Subtle shadow increase (affordance for clickability)
Static elements: No shadow
Consistent shadow system (2-3 levels max)

FAIL (Inappropriate Shadow Usage)

Large decorative shadows on static cards
Heavy shadows on static content
Inconsistent shadow values
Decorative shadows that don't indicate elevation
Shadows on text or icons

Nuance (Key Insight)

Subtle shadows (small blur, low opacity) on cards are OK. The book recommends them as alternative to borders. Large, flashy shadows on static content are wrong.

Shadow Elevation Scale

Level	Use Case	CSS Example (approximate)
None	Static content, text, icons	`none`
Subtle	Cards (alternative to borders)	`0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.1)`
Low	Raised cards, buttons	`0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.1)`
Medium	Dropdowns, popovers, tooltips	`0 10px 15px rgba(0,0,0,0.1)`
High	Modals, dialogs, drawers	`0 20px 25px rgba(0,0,0,0.15)`

Shadow Principles

Shadows indicate elevation - Higher = closer to user
Shadows indicate interactivity - Clickable things can have shadow
Shadows separate layers - Modal casts shadow on page behind it
Shadows should be subtle - Good shadows are barely noticeable
Consistency matters - Same elevation = same shadow

Common Failure Modes

Failure	Description	Fix
Shadow Carpet	Every card has a shadow	Flatten static cards, subtle shadows OK
Drop Shadow Abuse	Heavy shadows on static elements	Reserve for elevation/interaction
Inconsistent Depth	Similar elements different shadows	Create 2-3 shadow levels, apply consistently
Black Shadows	Pure black shadows (harsh)	Use rgba with low opacity, tinted to brand
No Modal Separation	Modal doesn't feel above page	Increase shadow spread and blur

Prerequisites

Visual hierarchy established
Understanding of which elements are interactive

Dependencies

eliminate-visual-clutter (shadows often add clutter)

Refactoring UI References

"Use shadows to convey elevation"
"Use a box shadow instead of hard borders - subtle shadows outline effectively without visual clutter"
"Shadows should be subtle"

Example Assessment

Input: Page with card shadows (0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.1)), button shadows (0 2px 4px), modal shadow (0 4px 6px), text with text-shadow

Evaluation: FAIL (cluttered)

Cards don't need shadows (static content)
Modal shadow same as cards (should be higher)
Text shadow decorative

Recommendation:

Remove card shadows OR use subtle (0 2px 4px)
Remove text shadow
Modal: 0 20px 25px rgba(0,0,0,0.15)
Buttons: Optional subtle hover shadow only

Frequently asked questions

What does the Use Shadows Appropriately AI skill do?

Add depth only when functionally necessary (elevation, not decoration)

Why use Use Shadows Appropriately on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Use Shadows Appropriately is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Use Shadows Appropriately in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/gnurio/refactoring-ui-plugin/tree/main/skills/08-use-shadows-appropriately. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Use Shadows Appropriately?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Use Shadows Appropriately?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Use Shadows Appropriately with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Use Shadows Appropriately AI skill free?

It is published on GitHub by gnurio. Check the repository for licensing terms. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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Overview

Installation

Install in TypingMind

Install in another agent

Use it in TypingMind

Works with any AI model

Skill instructions

Skill: Use Shadows Appropriately

Purpose

Key Fix Applied (from Autoresearch)

Type

Input

Output

Transformation Performed

Decision Criteria

PASS (Appropriate Shadow Usage)

FAIL (Inappropriate Shadow Usage)

Nuance (Key Insight)

Shadow Elevation Scale

Shadow Principles

Common Failure Modes

Prerequisites

Dependencies

Refactoring UI References

Example Assessment

Frequently asked questions

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