Glassmorphic interface design is based on the physics of light passing through frosted glass panels. Understanding the principles of reflection, refraction, and absorption helps designers create realistic layouts that remain accessible.
How Light Behaves in UI
- Reflection: Mimicked using thin, light borders that copy the bevelled edges of real glass.
- Refraction (Blur): Diffuses background details, which reduces visual clutter and prevents background shapes from clashing with text.
- Absorption (Tint): The layer opacity that dampens underlying colors, allowing text to stand out.
Balancing these three properties helps you build clean, modern components that are easy on the eyes.