Surfaces & Elevation

Layered surface system for visual depth. In dark mode, higher elevation = lighter surface ('lit from front' model).

Surface Elevation

Surface 0
Page background (sunken)
Surface 1
Card / panel
Surface 2
Raised card, popover
Surface 3
Highest elevation (modal)
SunkenHigher elevationOverlay

Status Tokens

Success
--success
bg: step 2
border: step 6
Aa
text: step 11
Warning
--warning
bg: step 2
border: step 6
Aa
text: step 11
Destructive
--destructive
bg: step 2
border: step 6
Aa
text: step 11
Info
--info
bg: step 2
border: step 6
Aa
text: step 11

The 200-Step Pattern

The signature pattern that creates subtle depth: bg → border spans ~3 steps, bg → text spans ~9 steps.

The "200-step gradient" pattern: background at step 2, border at step 5 (3 steps apart), text at step 11 (9 steps from bg). This creates subtle depth with clear readability.

blue
bg (2)
3 steps
border (5)
bg (2)
9 steps
text (11)

Subtle depth with clear readability across light and dark modes.

green
bg (2)
3 steps
border (5)
bg (2)
9 steps
text (11)

Subtle depth with clear readability across light and dark modes.

amber
bg (2)
3 steps
border (5)
bg (2)
9 steps
text (11)

Subtle depth with clear readability across light and dark modes.

red
bg (2)
3 steps
border (5)
bg (2)
9 steps
text (11)

Subtle depth with clear readability across light and dark modes.

violet
bg (2)
3 steps
border (5)
bg (2)
9 steps
text (11)

Subtle depth with clear readability across light and dark modes.

teal
bg (2)
3 steps
border (5)
bg (2)
9 steps
text (11)

Subtle depth with clear readability across light and dark modes.