Android LinearLayout : Add border with shadow around a LinearLayout

AndroidBorderAndroid Linearlayout

Android Problem Overview

I would like to create the same border of this LinearLayout as the example :

enter image description here

In this example, we can see that the border is not the same all around the linearLayout. How can I create this using an XML drawable file?

For now, I have only able to create a simple border all around the LinearLayout like this :

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" android:shape="rectangle">
  <corners
      android:radius="1dp"
      android:topRightRadius="0dp"
      android:bottomRightRadius="0dp"
      android:bottomLeftRadius="0dp" />
  <stroke
      android:width="1dp"
      android:color="#E3E3E1" />
  
  <solid android:color="@color/blanc" />
  
</shape>

Android Solutions

Solution 1 - Android

Try this..

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layer-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
	<item>
		<shape android:shape="rectangle">
			<solid android:color="#CABBBBBB"/>
			<corners android:radius="2dp" />
		</shape>
	</item>

	<item
		android:left="0dp"
		android:right="0dp"
		android:top="0dp"
		android:bottom="2dp">
		<shape android:shape="rectangle">
			<solid android:color="@android:color/white"/>
			<corners android:radius="2dp" />
		</shape>
	</item>
</layer-list>

Solution 2 - Android

That's why CardView exists. CardView | Android Developers
It's just a FrameLayout that supports elevation in pre-lollipop devices.

<android.support.v7.widget.CardView
    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    app:cardUseCompatPadding="true"
    app:cardElevation="4dp"
    app:cardCornerRadius="3dp" >

    <!-- put whatever you want -->

</android.support.v7.widget.CardView>

To use this you need to add dependency to build.gradle:

compile 'com.android.support:cardview-v7:23.+'

Solution 3 - Android

I get the best looking results by using a 9 patch graphic.

You can simply create an individual 9 patch graphic by using the following editor: http://inloop.github.io/shadow4android/

Example:

The 9 patch graphic:

The 9 patch graphic:

The result:

enter image description here

The source:

<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="200dp"
android:layout_height="200dp"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:background="@drawable/my_nine_patch"

Solution 4 - Android

okay, i know this is way too late. but i had the same requirement. i solved like this

1.First create a xml file (example: border_shadow.xml) in "drawable" folder and copy the below code into it.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layer-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:shape="rectangle" >

<item>
    <shape>
        <!-- set the shadow color here -->
        <stroke
            android:width="2dp"
            android:color="#7000" />

        <!-- setting the thickness of shadow (positive value will give shadow on that side) -->

        <padding
            android:bottom="2dp"
            android:left="2dp"
            android:right="-1dp"
            android:top="-1dp" />

        <corners android:radius="3dp" />
    </shape>
</item>

<!-- Background -->

<item>
    <shape>
        <solid android:color="#fff" />
        <corners android:radius="3dp" />
    </shape>
</item>

2.now on the layout where you want the shadow(example: LinearLayout) add this in android:background

<LinearLayout
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:layout_margin="8dip"
    android:background="@drawable/border_shadow"
    android:orientation="vertical">

and that worked for me.

Solution 5 - Android

This is so simple:

Create a drawable file with a gradient like this:

for shadow below a view below_shadow.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">   
<gradient
    android:startColor="#20000000"
    android:endColor="@android:color/transparent"
    android:angle="270" >
</gradient>
</shape>

for shadow above a view above_shadow.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">   
<gradient
    android:startColor="#20000000"
    android:endColor="@android:color/transparent"
    android:angle="90" >
</gradient>
</shape>

and so on for right and left shadow just change the angle of the gradient :)

Solution 6 - Android

As an alternative, you might use a 9 patch image as the background for your layout, allowing for more "natural" shadows:

enter image description here

Result:

enter image description here

Put the image in your /res/drawable folder.
Make sure the file extension is .9.png, not .png

By the way, this is a modified (reduced to the minimum square size) of an existing resource found in the API 19 sdk resources folder.
I left the red markers, since they don't seem to be harmful, as shown in the draw9patch tool.

[EDIT]

About 9 patches, in case you never had anything to do with them.

Simply add it as the background of your View.

The black-marked areas (left and top) will stretch (vertically, horizontally).
The black-marked areas (right, bottom) define the "content area" (where it's possible to add text or Views - you can call the unmarked regions "padding", if you like to).

Tutorial: http://radleymarx.com/blog/simple-guide-to-9-patch/

Solution 7 - Android

You create a file .xml in drawable with name drop_shadow.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<selector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <!--<item android:state_pressed="true">
        <layer-list>
            <item android:left="4dp" android:top="4dp">
                <shape>
                    <solid android:color="#35000000" />
                    <corners android:radius="2dp"/>
                </shape>
            </item>
            ...
        </layer-list>
    </item>-->
    <item>
        <layer-list>
            <!-- SHADOW LAYER -->
            <!--<item android:top="4dp" android:left="4dp">
                <shape>
                    <solid android:color="#35000000" />
                    <corners android:radius="2dp" />
                </shape>
            </item>-->
            <!-- SHADOW LAYER -->
            <item>
                <shape>
                    <solid android:color="#35000000" />
                    <corners android:radius="2dp" />
                </shape>
            </item>
            <!-- CONTENT LAYER -->
            <item android:bottom="3dp" android:left="1dp" android:right="3dp" android:top="1dp">
                <shape>
                    <solid android:color="#ffffff" />
                    <corners android:radius="1dp" />
                </shape>
            </item>
        </layer-list>
    </item>
</selector>

Then:

<LinearLayout
...
android:background="@drawable/drop_shadow"/>

Solution 8 - Android

1.First create a xml file name shadow.xml in "drawable" folder and copy the below code into it.

 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
    <layer-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
        <item>
            <shape android:shape="rectangle">
                <solid android:color="#CABBBBBB" />
                <corners android:radius="10dp" />
            </shape>
        </item>
    
        <item
            android:bottom="6dp"
            android:left="0dp"
            android:right="6dp"
            android:top="0dp">
            <shape android:shape="rectangle">
                <solid android:color="@android:color/white" />
                <corners android:radius="4dp" />
            </shape>
        </item>
    </layer-list>

Then add the the layer-list as background in your LinearLayout.

<LinearLayout
        android:id="@+id/header_bar"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:background="@drawable/shadow"
        android:orientation="vertical">

Solution 9 - Android

Use this single line and hopefully you will achieve the best result;

use: android:elevation="3dp" Adjust the size as much as you need and this is the best and simplest way to achieve the shadow like buttons and other default android shadows. Let me know if it worked!

Solution 10 - Android

If you already have the border from shape just add elevation:

<LinearLayout
    android:id="@+id/layout"
    ...
    android:elevation="2dp"
    android:background="@drawable/rectangle" />

Solution 11 - Android

> Ya Mahdi aj---for RelativeLayout

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layer-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <item>
        <shape android:shape="rectangle">
            <gradient
                android:startColor="#7d000000"
                android:endColor="@android:color/transparent"
                android:angle="90" >
            </gradient>
            <corners android:radius="2dp" />
        </shape>
    </item>

    <item
        android:left="0dp"
        android:right="3dp"
        android:top="0dp"
        android:bottom="3dp">
        <shape android:shape="rectangle">
            <padding
                android:bottom="40dp"
                android:top="40dp"
                android:right="10dp"
                android:left="10dp"
                >
            </padding>
            <solid android:color="@color/Whitetransparent"/>
            <corners android:radius="2dp" />
        </shape>
    </item>
</layer-list>

Solution 12 - Android

I know this is late but it could help somebody.

You can use a constraintLayout and add the following property in the xml,

        android:elevation="4dp"

Solution 13 - Android

I found the best way to tackle this.

  1. You need to set a solid rectangle background on the layout.

  2. Use this code - ViewCompat.setElevation(view , value)

  3. On the parent layout set android:clipToPadding="false"

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