Is it possible to apply the backdrop filter property to both a parent element and its child elements in Webflow?

Yes, it's possible to apply the backdrop-filter property to both a parent and its child elements in Webflow, but you need to understand how the CSS stacking and transparency context affects the visual result.

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1. How backdrop-filter Works

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• backdrop-filter applies to what's behind the element, not its content or its children.
• For an element to have a visible backdrop filter (like blur), it must have a transparent or semi-transparent background.
• The filter applies only to the pixels behind the element on the canvas, not its own children.

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2. Applying backdrop-filter on a Parent Element

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• Add a transparent background color (e.g., rgba(255,255,255,0.5)) to the parent.
• Set a backdrop-filter such as blur(10px) using custom CSS or a backdrop-filter CSS property via an embed.
• This will blur the background behind the parent, affecting the visible area of the parent’s box.

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3. Applying backdrop-filter on Child Elements

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• Each child element can also have its own backdrop-filter and semi-transparent background.
• The backdrop-filter of a child will affect whatever is behind that child box, including:
• The blurred parent, if visible underneath.
• Any other elements behind it in the stacking context.

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4. Limitations and Considerations

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• Stacking Matters: A child’s backdrop filter does not “stack” with the parent’s effect — each filter operates independently on its background.
• Transparency is Required: A fully opaque background on the parent or child will prevent the backdrop effect from being visible.
• Performance: Multiple backdrop-filter layers can impact rendering performance, especially on mobile devices.

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5. How to Apply in Webflow

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• In Webflow Designer, backdrop-filter is not yet natively exposed.
• Use a custom embed or custom CSS via page or site settings like:
• Add a custom style tag in the Page Settings > Before </body> with your class names and CSS.
• Or use a Webflow Embed element inside your layout to target specific elements with inline CSS.

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Example inline style:

.my-blur-parent {
  backdrop-filter: blur(10px);
  background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.5);
}
.my-blur-child {
  backdrop-filter: blur(5px);
  background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.3);
}

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Summary

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You can apply backdrop-filter to both parent and child elements in Webflow via custom CSS, as long as both elements have some level of background transparency and your layout supports it. The filters act separately and do not layer or combine across parent and child.