# Glass

> Glass softly blurs content behind a layer and lets background colors show through. Use Auto for Apple platforms or Custom to fine-tune every parameter.

**URL:** https://www.sketch.com/docs/symbols-and-styles/styling/effects/glass/ | **Last updated:** 2026-04-07

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The Glass effect gives a frosted-glass look, softly blurring what’s behind and letting background colors and shapes show through while keeping foreground content clear. To apply it, click next to **Effects** in the Inspector and choose **Glass**.

## Auto

Auto applies a standard frosted-glass appearance that closely matches what you’ll see in Apple’s operating systems. Use it when designing for Apple platforms.

## Custom

Custom gives you full control over all the parameters that make up the effect, so you can match a specific aesthetic or fine-tune the look.

> **Note:** Use Auto when designing for Apple platforms. Switch to Custom when you need to match a specific visual or go beyond the default appearance.

![An image showing the Glass effect with custom settings](https://cdn.sketch.com/docs/styling/custom-glass.jpg)

With Custom you can control:
- **Blur:** controls how much the background is blurred behind the element.
- **Distortion:** adds a subtle waviness to the blurred content, as if viewed through uneven glass.
- **Depth:** simulates the perceived thickness of the glass by affecting how sharp or diffuse the blur edges appear.
- **Chromatic aberration:** introduces a slight color fringing along edges, mimicking the optical imperfections of real glass.
- **Brightness:** increases or decreases the luminosity of the glass surface, making it lighter or darker. To reset the slider to its default value, double-click it.
- **Saturation:** controls how vivid or muted the colors of the background content appear through the glass. To reset the slider to its default value, double-click it.
- **Specular highlights:** adds a subtle reflective sheen to the surface, giving it a more polished, three-dimensional appearance.