How to show shadow around the linearlayout in Android?

Question

How can I show shadow for my linear layout. I want white colored rounded background with shadow around the linearlayout. I have done this so far.

<LinearLayout  android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:layout_margin="10dp" android:background="@xml/rounded_rect_shape" android:orientation="vertical" android:padding="10dp"> <-- My buttons, textviews, Imageviews go here --> </LinearLayout> 

And rounded_rect_shape.xml under xml directory

 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"    android:shape="rectangle" >     <solid android:color="#ffffff" />     <corners       android:bottomLeftRadius="3dp"       android:bottomRightRadius="3dp"       android:topLeftRadius="3dp"       android:topRightRadius="3dp" /> </shape> 

Answer 1

There is also another solution to the problem by implementing a layer-list that will act as the background for the LinearLayoout.

Add background_with_shadow.xml file to res/drawable. Containing:

<?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 the the layer-list as background in your LinearLayout.

<LinearLayout   android:layout_width="wrap_content"   android:layout_height="wrap_content"   android:background="@drawable/background_with_shadow"/> 

Answer 2

Well, this is easy to achieve .

Just build a GradientDrawable that comes from black and goes to a transparent color, than use parent relationship to place your shape close to the View that you want to have a shadow, then you just have to give any values to height or width .

Here is an example, this file have to be created inside res/drawable , I name it as shadow.xml :

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"     android:shape="rectangle">      <gradient         android:startColor="#9444"         android:endColor="#0000"         android:type="linear"         android:angle="90"> <!-- Change this value to have the correct shadow angle, must be multiple from 45 -->     </gradient>  </shape> 

Place the following code above from a LinearLayout , for example, set the android:layout_width and android:layout_height to fill_parent and 2.3dp, you'll have a nice shadow effect on your LinearLayout .

<View     android:id="@+id/shadow"     android:layout_width="fill_parent"     android:layout_height="2.3dp"       android:layout_above="@+id/id_from_your_LinearLayout"      android:background="@drawable/shadow"> </View> 

Note 1: If you increase android:layout_height more shadow will be shown .

Note 2: Use android:layout_above="@+id/id_from_your_LinearLayout" attribute if you are placing this code inside a RelativeLayout, otherwise ignore it.

Hope it help someone.