How to add shadow Effect for a Text in Android?

This example demonstrates how to add shadow Effect for a Text in Android.

Step 1 − Create a new project in Android Studio, go to File ⇒ New Project and fill all required details to create a new project.

Step 2 − Add the following code to res/layout/activity_main.xml.

<?xml version = "1.0" encoding = "utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android = "http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   android:id = "@+id/parent"
   xmlns:tools = "http://schemas.android.com/tools"
   android:layout_width = "match_parent"
   android:layout_height = "match_parent"
   tools:context = ".MainActivity"
   android:gravity = "center"
   android:orientation = "vertical">
   <TextView
      android:id = "@+id/text"
      android:textSize = "28sp"
      android:textAlignment = "center"
      android:textColor = "#FFF"
      android:layout_width = "match_parent"
      android:shadowColor = "#000"
      android:shadowDx = "-2"
      android:shadowDy = "-2"
      android:shadowRadius = "1"
      android:layout_height = "wrap_content" />
</LinearLayout>

In the above code, we have taken a text view with shadow properties as shown below -

android:shadowColor = "#000"
android:shadowDx = "-2"
android:shadowDy = "-2"
android:shadowRadius = "1"

In the above tags indicates about shadow color, Axis's(X, Y) and shadow radius for text view.

Step 3 − Add the following code to src/MainActivity.java

package com.example.andy.myapplication;
import android.os.Build;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.support.annotation.RequiresApi;
import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;
import android.widget.TextView;
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
   int view = R.layout.activity_main;
   TextView textview;
   @RequiresApi(api = Build.VERSION_CODES.JELLY_BEAN)
   @Override
   protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
      super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
      setContentView(view);
      textview = findViewById(R.id.text);
      textview.setText("textview with shadow");
   }
}

Let's try to run your application. I assume you have connected your actual Android Mobile device with your computer. To run the app from the android studio, open one of your project's activity files and click Run  icon from the toolbar. Select your mobile device as an option and then check your mobile device which will display your default screen −

In the above result, it will show a text view with shadow effect.

Click here to download the project code