progressive-blur

v2026.09.25
boraoztunc/skills00

Create a layered CSS progressive blur (top or bottom) using multiple backdrop-filter masks for depth and softness. Use when asked for “progressive blur”, “gradient blur overlay”, or stepped blur masks that fade from an edge of the viewport.

GitHub
Install command
npx skhub add boraoztunc/progressive-blur
Markdown
SKILL.md

Progressive Blur Skill

Workflow

  1. Confirm placement (top or bottom), height, and z-index relative to UI.
  2. Provide the matching snippet and a short usage checklist.
  3. Offer only targeted tweaks (height, blur steps, direction, opacity stops).

Usage checklist

  • Insert the HTML inside <body>.
  • Keep the .gradient-blur element near the top of the DOM.
  • Ensure the background behind it exists (backdrop-filter blurs what is behind).
  • Adjust z-index to sit above content but below modals.

Top blur (from top)

<div class="gradient-blur">
  <div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div>
</div>
<style>
  .gradient-blur {
    position: fixed;
    z-index: 5;
    inset: 0 0 auto 0;
    height: 12%;
    pointer-events: none;
  }

  .gradient-blur > div,
  .gradient-blur::before,
  .gradient-blur::after {
    position: absolute;
    inset: 0;
  }

  .gradient-blur::before {
    content: "";
    z-index: 1;
    backdrop-filter: blur(0.5px);
    -webkit-mask: linear-gradient(to top,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 0%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 12.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 25%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 37.5%);
    mask: linear-gradient(to top,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 0%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 12.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 25%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 37.5%);
  }

  .gradient-blur > div:nth-of-type(1) {
    z-index: 2;
    backdrop-filter: blur(1px);
    -webkit-mask: linear-gradient(to top,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 12.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 25%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 37.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 50%);
    mask: linear-gradient(to top,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 12.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 25%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 37.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 50%);
  }

  .gradient-blur > div:nth-of-type(2) {
    z-index: 3;
    backdrop-filter: blur(2px);
    -webkit-mask: linear-gradient(to top,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 25%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 37.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 50%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 62.5%);
    mask: linear-gradient(to top,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 25%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 37.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 50%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 62.5%);
  }

  .gradient-blur > div:nth-of-type(3) {
    z-index: 4;
    backdrop-filter: blur(4px);
    -webkit-mask: linear-gradient(to top,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 37.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 50%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 62.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 75%);
    mask: linear-gradient(to top,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 37.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 50%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 62.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 75%);
  }

  .gradient-blur > div:nth-of-type(4) {
    z-index: 5;
    backdrop-filter: blur(8px);
    -webkit-mask: linear-gradient(to top,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 50%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 62.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 75%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 87.5%);
    mask: linear-gradient(to top,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 50%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 62.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 75%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 87.5%);
  }

  .gradient-blur > div:nth-of-type(5) {
    z-index: 6;
    backdrop-filter: blur(16px);
    -webkit-mask: linear-gradient(to top,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 62.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 75%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 87.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 100%);
    mask: linear-gradient(to top,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 62.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 75%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 87.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 100%);
  }

  .gradient-blur > div:nth-of-type(6) {
    z-index: 7;
    backdrop-filter: blur(32px);
    -webkit-mask: linear-gradient(to top,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 75%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 87.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 100%);
    mask: linear-gradient(to top,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 75%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 87.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 100%);
  }

  .gradient-blur::after {
    content: "";
    z-index: 8;
    backdrop-filter: blur(64px);
    -webkit-mask: linear-gradient(to top,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 87.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 100%);
    mask: linear-gradient(to top,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 87.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 100%);
  }
</style>

Bottom blur (from bottom)

<div class="gradient-blur">
  <div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div>
</div>
<style>
  .gradient-blur {
    position: fixed;
    z-index: 5;
    inset: auto 0 0 0;
    height: 65%;
    pointer-events: none;
  }

  .gradient-blur > div,
  .gradient-blur::before,
  .gradient-blur::after {
    position: absolute;
    inset: 0;
  }

  .gradient-blur::before {
    content: "";
    z-index: 1;
    backdrop-filter: blur(0.5px);
    -webkit-mask: linear-gradient(to bottom,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 0%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 12.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 25%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 37.5%);
    mask: linear-gradient(to bottom,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 0%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 12.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 25%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 37.5%);
  }

  .gradient-blur > div:nth-of-type(1) {
    z-index: 2;
    backdrop-filter: blur(1px);
    -webkit-mask: linear-gradient(to bottom,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 12.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 25%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 37.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 50%);
    mask: linear-gradient(to bottom,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 12.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 25%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 37.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 50%);
  }

  .gradient-blur > div:nth-of-type(2) {
    z-index: 3;
    backdrop-filter: blur(2px);
    -webkit-mask: linear-gradient(to bottom,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 25%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 37.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 50%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 62.5%);
    mask: linear-gradient(to bottom,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 25%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 37.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 50%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 62.5%);
  }

  .gradient-blur > div:nth-of-type(3) {
    z-index: 4;
    backdrop-filter: blur(4px);
    -webkit-mask: linear-gradient(to bottom,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 37.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 50%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 62.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 75%);
    mask: linear-gradient(to bottom,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 37.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 50%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 62.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 75%);
  }

  .gradient-blur > div:nth-of-type(4) {
    z-index: 5;
    backdrop-filter: blur(8px);
    -webkit-mask: linear-gradient(to bottom,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 50%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 62.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 75%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 87.5%);
    mask: linear-gradient(to bottom,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 50%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 62.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 75%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 87.5%);
  }

  .gradient-blur > div:nth-of-type(5) {
    z-index: 6;
    backdrop-filter: blur(16px);
    -webkit-mask: linear-gradient(to bottom,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 62.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 75%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 87.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 100%);
    mask: linear-gradient(to bottom,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 62.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 75%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 87.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 100%);
  }

  .gradient-blur > div:nth-of-type(6) {
    z-index: 7;
    backdrop-filter: blur(32px);
    -webkit-mask: linear-gradient(to bottom,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 75%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 87.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 100%);
    mask: linear-gradient(to bottom,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 75%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 87.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 100%);
  }

  .gradient-blur::after {
    content: "";
    z-index: 8;
    backdrop-filter: blur(64px);
    -webkit-mask: linear-gradient(to bottom,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 87.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 100%);
    mask: linear-gradient(to bottom,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 87.5%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, 1) 100%);
  }
</style>

Customization knobs

  • Direction: flip to top ↔ to bottom.
  • Height: adjust .gradient-blur height percentage.
  • Strength: change blur values (0.5px → 64px).
  • Steps: add/remove layers to control smoothness.

Common pitfalls

  • backdrop-filter needs content behind it; it will not blur a flat background.
  • High blur values are GPU-heavy; reduce steps on low-end devices.
  • Ensure pointer-events: none stays to avoid blocking clicks.

Questions to ask when specs are missing

  • Should the blur start from the top or bottom?
  • How tall should the blur area be?
  • Is performance a concern on lower-end devices?
Discovery
Tags

No tags published for this skill.

Version
Latest version metadata

Version

v2026.09.25

Published

Sep 25, 2026

Category

Uncategorized

License

Apache-2.0

Source path

progressive-blur

Default branch

main

Latest commit

645553c

Tree SHA

4ed7ca6