How to Create Apple’s Liquid Glass Effect In Elementor – CSS & SVG Approach

Apple’s latest operating system introduced a mesmerizing visual element that has the design community buzzing: the liquid glass effect. This translucent, dynamic interface element creates depth and sophistication that feels both futuristic and organic. Today, I’ll show you how to recreate this stunning effect for your web projects using pure CSS and SVG filters.

What is the Liquid Glass Effect?

The liquid glass effect combines several visual techniques:

• Backdrop blur for that frosted glass appearance
• Organic distortion that creates liquid-like warping
• Multiple light reflections for realistic glass shine
• Semi-transparent overlays for depth

The result is an interface element that appears to bend and warp the background content, creating a truly premium user experience.

Understanding the Structure

Before diving into the code, it’s crucial to understand the HTML structure we’ll be working with. The effect requires a specific container hierarchy:

Button-specific styles (.liquid-glass-btn)

This three-layer structure is essential because:

• Main Container: Provides positioning context
• Secondary Container: Handles the glass effect layers
• Child Container: Contains your actual content and keeps it above the effect

The Four Layers of Liquid Glass

The magic happens through four carefully layered visual effects:

Layer 1: Base Distortion

This layer uses an SVG filter to create the organic, liquid-like warping effect. It also applies the initial backdrop blur that gives us the frosted glass base.

Layer 2: Transparent Overlay

A semi-transparent white overlay that enhances the glass appearance and provides the characteristic milky translucency.

Layer 3: Glass Reflections

Multiple inner shadows simulate light bouncing off glass surfaces, creating realistic highlights and depth.

Layer 4: Content Layer

Your actual content (text, icons, buttons) sits on top with proper z-index stacking to remain clearly visible.

Implementation Steps

Step 1: Add the SVG Filter

First, you’ll need to add the SVG filter to your HTML. This goes anywhere in your document, but I recommend placing it just before your closing </body> tag.

The SVG filter uses several techniques:

• feTurbulence generates organic noise patterns
• feDisplacementMap creates the actual pixel displacement
• feSpecularLighting adds realistic light reflections

Step 2: Apply the CSS Styles

Next, add the complete CSS for the liquid glass effect. This includes both the effect styles and button-specific styling.

The CSS includes:

• Main liquid glass effect (.liquid-glass-element)
• Base liquid glass effect (.liquid-glass-child)
• Button-specific styles (.liquid-glass-btn)
• Hover animations and transitions
• Responsive behavior

Customization Options/Code Explanation

Here are the key customizable parts of your liquid glass effect:

• Visual Customization

Glass Transparency & Color

Blur Intensity

Border & Glow

• Animation Customization

Hover Scale Effect

Transition Speed

• Size & Shape

Border Radius

Button Padding

Container Height

Liquid Distortion (SVG Filter)

Distortion Strength

Noise Pattern

Lighting Effect

The main customizable aspects are transparency levels, blur intensity, colors (change RGB values), animation speeds, distortion strength, and sizing. You can mix and match these values to create different glass effects from subtle to dramatic.

Performance Considerations

While visually stunning, the liquid glass effect does require some performance awareness:

Browser Support

• Modern browsers: Full support with hardware acceleration
• Safari: Excellent performance (Apple’s own effect!)
• Chrome: Good performance on desktop, test on mobile
• Firefox: Works but without the distortion
• Older browsers: Graceful degradation without the distortion

Optimization Tips

1. Limit usage: Don’t apply to every element on the page
2. Use will-change: Add will-change: transform for smoother animations
3. Test on mobile: SVG filters can be performance-intensive on mobile devices
4. Provide fallbacks: Consider a simple blur effect for unsupported browsers

Real-World Applications

This effect works exceptionally well for:

• Navigation Elements

Create floating navigation menus that feel like they’re made of glass, allowing users to see content beneath while maintaining clear hierarchy.

• Call-to-Action Buttons

Premium buttons that stand out without being aggressive, perfect for high-end brands and luxury products.

• Modal Overlays

Replace traditional modal backgrounds with liquid glass panels that provide focus while maintaining visual connection to the underlying content.

• Card Interfaces

Product cards, testimonials, or feature highlights that feel modern and interactive.

Conclusion

Apple’s liquid glass effect represents the cutting edge of web interface design, combining technical sophistication with intuitive beauty. By understanding the underlying principles—layered visual effects, organic distortion, and careful attention to lighting—you can create interfaces that feel both futuristic and natural.

The key to success with this effect is restraint. Use it strategically on key elements where you want to create focus and premium feel, rather than applying it everywhere. When implemented thoughtfully, the liquid glass effect can transform your web design from ordinary to extraordinary.

Remember to always test across different devices and browsers, and consider providing fallback experiences for users on older systems. The goal is to enhance the user experience, not hinder it.

Ready to give your web designs that premium Apple feel? Start experimenting with the liquid glass effect and watch your interfaces come alive with depth and sophistication.