Is it possible to apply the backdrop filter property to both a parent element and its child elements in Webflow?
TL;DR
- Use backdrop-filter on both parent and child elements by applying transparency and blur via Webflow's style panel or custom CSS.
- Ensure each element has its own transparent background and is correctly layered using positioning and z-index, as nested filters act independently and do not compound.
Yes, it's possible to apply the backdrop-filter CSS property to both a parent and its child elements in Webflow, but with important rendering and compositing limitations you should be aware of.
1. Understand How Backdrop Filter Works
- Backdrop-filter affects the pixels behind the element, not its content.
- It relies on GPU compositing and works only when there is some transparency (e.g., background with
rgba()oropacity< 1). - It does not stack or cascade traditionally—each element with a backdrop filter acts independently.
2. Applying Backdrop Filter in Webflow
- Select an element, go to the Style panel, and apply a custom CSS property using Webflow's "Custom code" or embed, or use a browser-supported workaround.
- You can also use Webflow's Blur effect under Effects > Background Blur, which visually applies a similar effect.
For example:
- Apply a background blur to the parent element with partial transparency (
background: rgba(255,255,255,0.5)). - Then apply a separate background blur to the child element with a lower opacity background.
3. Known Limitations and Behavior
- If child elements are inside a parent with backdrop-filter, the child’s filter may not appear to do anything if there's no new content behind it. It only blurs elements underneath it in the stack.
- In many browsers, nested backdrop-filters do not compound. The child element doesn't re-blur the already blurred backdrop from the parent.
- Ensure that both parent and child elements have their own transparent backgrounds to make each filter effective.
4. Workaround for Visual Stacking
- Use absolutely positioned elements to separate the blur layers.
- Consider using z-index and positioning to ensure filters affect different content layers and not just stack on the same blurred area.
Summary
Yes, you can apply backdrop-filter to both parent and child elements in Webflow, but each filter affects only the layer of content visually behind that element. The filters operate independently, and nested filters do not combine or compound on the same set of backdrop pixels. Use transparency and correct positioning to ensure each backdrop-filter behaves as expected.