How can I set a shadow in each cell of a ListView?

Question

I have a custom cell for an Android ListView. This custom cell is a relative layout with some views inside. There is a space between each cell, so I want to add to the bottom of the cells a shadow.

I've been googling around but couldn't found anything? I want to achieve something similar to this:

Thanks!

Answer 1

Can be done in below two ways:

1. 9-patch images - click link for understanding 9 patch

2. Using layer-list - Create new file in "res/drawable" which contains:

    <?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="@android:color/darker_gray" />
                 <corners android:radius="5dp"/>
           </shape>
        </item>
        <item android:right="1dp" android:left="1dp" android:bottom="2dp">
           <shape 
             android:shape="rectangle">
                 <solid android:color="@android:color/white"/>
                 <corners android:radius="5dp"/>
           </shape>
        </item>
      </layer-list>
   

Then add this layer-list file as background in your List item Layout(ie., Linearlayout or etc..).

Answer 2

The easiest way is definitely to build the shadow into a 9-patch. An example of something like this is:

This is way larger than it needs to be, as a 9-patch, but I wanted to make it larger for example's sake.