Dim entire screen except a fixed area?
To accomplish this task, you can utilize a div
with a box-shadow
to create a highlighting effect on a specified area, while keeping the rest of the screen dimmed. Here's a quick and dirty solution using CSS and HTML:
The corresponding HTML tags simply apply this styling:
Just adjust the dimensions as per your needs, and you have a straightforward and effective solution in place.
How does it work?
Option 1: Harnessing the power of box-shadow
The trick here builds upon a pretty neat CSS property: box-shadow
. When applied to a singular div, it not only takes care of tenacious layers, but can also help streamline your page's performance:
Option 2: Dynamic interaction with JavaScript
To infuse your website with a vibrant touch, slap on some JavaScript magic. Add functions that toggle the visibility and position of your overlay based on user interaction:
Option 3: Backward compatibility
vmax
and viewport units with calc()
might not be supported by age-old browsers. For IE9+ support, switch up the fixed dimensions for dynamic sizes by using percentages or JavaScript polyfills.
More advanced and practical considerations
Option 1: SVG for diverse shapes
If your highlight area ain't no regular square or rectangle, consider SVG overlay with a cut-out hole of your desired shape:
Ensure the SVG has pointer-events:none
, allowing interactions with underlying elements.
Option 2: Cascading layers for interactive content
To create interactive tutorials, use a cascading layers approach that allows user interaction with content beneath the dimmed overlay. Does the trick every time!
Option 3: Responsive designs
Keep things snazzy and responsive by utilizing relative units like percentages or viewport units (whichever takes your fancy). This ensures a highlight area that adapts as per the screen size.
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