Comprehensive Guide to Glassmorphism in Jetpack Compose

Wondering how to add a sleek, modern glassmorphic effect to your Android app? Look no further! In this article, we'll embark on an exciting journey to implement the GlassmorphicLayer component in Jetpack Compose. Get ready, because we're about to transform your UI from basic to sleek!

What is Glassmorphism, and Why Should You Care?

Before we dive into the code, let's talk about what glassmorphism is and why it's causing such a buzz in the design world. Glassmorphism is a design trend that creates a frosted glass effect in user interfaces. It typically involves:

1. A semi-transparent background

2. A subtle blur effect

3. Light borders or shadows to create depth

Glassmorphism can give your app a:

• Modern and sleek look

• More depth and layered

• Visually interesting without being overwhelming

Plus, it's a great way to make your app stand out in a sea of flat designs!

Setting the Stage: The GlassmorphicLayer Component

Now that we know what we're aiming for, let's introduce the star of our show: the GlassmorphicLayer component. This nifty piece of Jetpack Compose magic will allow us to create stunning glassmorphic effects with ease.

Here's a sneak peek at what we'll be working with:

@Composable
fun GlassmorphicLayer(
    modifier: Modifier = Modifier,
    backgroundDimColor: Color = Color.Transparent,
    transitionStiffness: Float = Spring.StiffnessMediumLow,
    blurSourceView: View = LocalView.current.rootView.findViewById(android.R.id.content),
    contentEnterAnimation: EnterTransition = getDefaultEnterAnimation(transitionStiffness),
    contentExitAnimation: ExitTransition = getDefaultExitAnimation(transitionStiffness),
    onDismissRequest: () -> Unit,
    content: @Composable BoxScope.() -> Unit,
) {
    // The magic happens here!
}

Don't worry if this looks intimidating – we'll break it down step by step!

The Journey Begins: Understanding the Components

Our journey to glassmorphic greatness involves three main parts:

1. The main GlassmorphicLayer component

2. A helper component called ScreenContentGlassmorphedLayer

3. A custom Modifier extension named glassmorph()

Let's explore each of these:

1. GlassmorphicLayer: The Conductor of Our Glassmorphic Orchestra

This is the main component you'll use in your app. Think of it as the conductor of an orchestra, harmonizing all elements to achieve a cohesive glassmorphic effect.

Key responsibilities:

• Managing the visibility of the glass effect and content

• Handling animations

• Coordinating the blur effect

2. ScreenContentGlassmorphedLayer: The Background Artist

This behind-the-scenes component creates the blurred background that gives our glassmorphic effect its signature look.

What it does:

• Captures a snapshot of your app's current view

• Applies a blur effect to this snapshot

• Displays the blurred image with smooth animations

3. glassmorph() Modifier: The Special Effects Wizard

This custom Modifier extension is where the real magic happens. It applies the blur effect and handles the animations that make our glassmorphic layer come to life.

Its superpowers:

• Animating the blur radius

• Controlling the visibility of the blur effect

The Implementation Adventure: A Step-by-Step Guide

Now that we know the key players, let's walk through how to implement the GlassmorphicLayer in your app. Don't worry; we'll take it one step at a time!

Step 1: Set Up Your Project

Ensure Jetpack Compose is set up in your Android project. If you haven't done this yet, check out the official Jetpack Compose documentation for guidance.

Step 2: Import the GlassmorphicLayer

Add this import statement at the top of your Kotlin file:

import com.design.components.GlassmorphicLayer

Step 3: Use GlassmorphicLayer in Your Composable

Here's a simple example of how to use the GlassmorphicLayer:

@Composable
fun MyGlassmorphicScreen() {
    GlassmorphicLayer(
        backgroundDimColor = Color.Black.copy(alpha = 0.5f),
        onDismissRequest = { showGlass = false }
    ) {
        // Content inside the glassmorphic layer
        Text(
            text = "Glassmorphic Content",
            modifier = Modifier.align(Alignment.Center)
        )
    }
}

This example shows a glassmorphic layer on top of the current screen content with some text inside. Cool, right?

Customization: Making It Your Own

Now that we have our glassmorphic layer up and running, let's explore some ways to customize it and make it truly yours!

1. Change the Background Dim

Want to set the mood? Adjust the backgroundDimColor:

backgroundDimColor = Color.Blue.copy(alpha = 0.3f)

2. Tweak the Animation Speed

Make it snappy or smooth by modifying transitionStiffness:

transitionStiffness = Spring.StiffnessHigh // for faster animations

3. Create Custom Animations

Want your glassmorphic layer to make a grand entrance? Provide your own enter and exit animations:

contentEnterAnimation = slideInVertically() + fadeIn()
contentExitAnimation = slideOutVertically() + fadeOut()

4. Blur a Specific View

Get focused by blurring a specific view instead of the whole screen:

blurSourceView = myCustomView

The Secret Sauce: Implementing the Blur Effect

Now, let's dive into the heart of our glassmorphic effect: the blur implementation. This is where things get really interesting!

Blurring Across Android Versions

One of the challenges in implementing a consistent glassmorphic effect is dealing with different Android versions. Our GlassmorphicLayer component handles this elegantly:

• On Android 12 and above: We use the blur modifier directly on the current view snapshot.

• On lower Android versions: We apply the blurring on the snapshot bitmap itself.

Let's break this down step by step:

Step 1: Capturing the View as a Bitmap

First, we need to capture our current view as a bitmap. Here's how we do it:

fun View.captureViewAsBitmap(callback: (Bitmap?) -> Unit) {
    val window = context.findActivity()?.window
    if (window == null) {
        callback(null)
    } else {
        captureViewAsBitmap(window, callback)
    }
}

fun View.captureViewAsBitmap(
    window: Window,
    callback: (Bitmap?) -> Unit,
) {
    val bitmap =
        Bitmap.createBitmap(
            // The width of the view to be captured
            width,
            // The height of the view to be captured
            height,
            // The bitmap configuration (32-bit color with alpha)
            Bitmap.Config.ARGB_8888,
        )
    val location = IntArray(2)
    // Gets the location of the view within the window
    getLocationInWindow(location)
    val bounds =
        Rect(
            location[0], // Left bound
            location[1], // Top bound
            location[0] + width, // Right bound
            location[1] + height, // Bottom bound
        )
    runCatching {
        PixelCopy.request(
            window,
            bounds,
            bitmap,
            {
                when (it) {
                    // Capture succeeded
                    PixelCopy.SUCCESS -> callback(bitmap)
                    // Capture failed
                    else -> callback(null)
                }
            },
            // Ensures the callback is handled on the main thread
            Handler(Looper.getMainLooper()),
        )
    }.onFailure {
        // Fallback to return null in case of failure
        callback(null)
    }
}

This function uses a neat trick to find the associated Activity and its window, then captures the view's content as a bitmap.

Step 2: Applying the Blur Effect

Now comes the magic part - applying the blur effect. For Android versions below 12, we use a custom blur function:

fun Bitmap.blur(context: Context, radius: Float = 25F): Bitmap {
    // Ensure the blur radius is within the valid range (1 to 25)
    val radiusResolved = radius.coerceIn(1f, 25f)

    // Scale down the bitmap for better performance
    val blurScale = 0.1F
    val blurWidth = (width * blurScale).roundToInt()
    val blurHeight = (height * blurScale).roundToInt()
    val inputBitmap = Bitmap.createScaledBitmap(this, blurWidth, blurHeight, false)

    // Apply the blur using RenderScript
    val renderScript = RenderScript.create(context)
    val intrinsic = ScriptIntrinsicBlur.create(renderScript, Element.U8_4(renderScript))
    val allocationInput = Allocation.createFromBitmap(renderScript, inputBitmap)
    val allocationOutput = Allocation.createFromBitmap(renderScript, inputBitmap)

    intrinsic.setRadius(radiusResolved)
    intrinsic.setInput(allocationInput)
    intrinsic.forEach(allocationOutput)

    allocationOutput.copyTo(inputBitmap)

    // Scale the bitmap back up to the original size
    return Bitmap.createScaledBitmap(inputBitmap, width, height, false)
}

This function does a few cool things:

1. It scales down the bitmap for better performance.

2. Applies the blur using RenderScript (a high-performance runtime that provides computationally intensive operations).

3. Scales the bitmap back up to its original size.

The Glassmorphic Magic Revealed

Now, let's see how we tie this all together in our glassmorph modifier:

@Composable
private fun Modifier.glassmorph(
    transitionStiffness: Float,
    visibilityState: State<Boolean>,
): Modifier {
    val blur by animateDpAsState(
        targetValue = if (visibilityState.value) 60.dp else 0.dp,
        animationSpec = spring(stiffness = transitionStiffness),
        label = "glassmorphic effect",
    )
    return this.blur(
        radius = blur,
    )
}

This modifier does something really clever:

• For Android 12 and above, it uses the built-in blur modifier.

• For older versions, it captures the view as a bitmap, applies our custom blur function, and then draws the blurred bitmap on top of the original content.

Why This Approach Rocks

1. Compatibility: It works across different Android versions, ensuring a consistent look for all users.

2. Performance: By scaling down the bitmap before blurring, we keep things smooth and snappy.

3. Customizability: The blur radius is animated, allowing for smooth transitions.

Putting It All Together

When you use the GlassmorphicLayer in your app, all this complexity is handled for you behind the scenes. You get a beautiful, performant glassmorphic effect without having to worry about the nitty-gritty details of bitmap manipulation or version-specific implementations.

Challenges Along the Way (and How to Overcome Them)

As with any journey, you might encounter some bumps in the road. Here are some common challenges and how to overcome them:

1. Performance Issues

Challenge: The blur effect might be slow on older devices.

Solution: Use a lower blur radius or disable the effect for low-end devices.

val blurRadius = if (isLowEndDevice()) 0.dp else 10.dp

2. Content Visibility

Challenge: Text might be hard to read on the blurred background.

Solution: Add a semi-opaque background to your content or increase text contrast.

Text(
    "Glassmorphic Content",
    modifier = Modifier
        .background(Color.White.copy(alpha = 0.7f))
        .padding(16.dp),
    color = Color.Black
)

3. Inconsistent Look

Challenge: The effect looks different on various devices.

Solution: Test across devices and adjust blur/transparency for consistency.

Best Practices for Your Glassmorphic Journey

As you continue to explore and implement glassmorphic effects in your app, keep these best practices in mind:

1. Start Simple: Begin with the basic implementation before adding complex customizations.

2. Test Frequently: Check your UI on different devices and screen sizes.

3. Performance Matters: Be mindful of performance, especially on lower-end devices.

4. Accessibility: Ensure your glassmorphic UI is accessible to all users.

5. Consistent Design: Use the effect consistently throughout your app for a cohesive look.

Wrapping Up: Your Glassmorphic Adventure Awaits!

Congratulations! You've now embarked on the exciting journey of implementing the GlassmorphicLayer in Jetpack Compose. With this powerful tool in your arsenal, you're ready to create stunning, modern UIs that will captivate your users.

Remember, the key to mastering any new technique is practice. So go forth and experiment! Try implementing the GlassmorphicLayer in different parts of your app, play with customizations, and most importantly, have fun with it!

Who knows? Your next app could be the standout with its sleek glassmorphic UI. Happy coding, and may your interfaces always be as smooth as frosted glass!

👉 See full implementation