How to properly set elevation value to recyclerview?

Question

I am working on grid layout using recyclerview in android. The grid occupies a portion of the screen and has a shadow. To get the desired shadow effect I am using an elevation value of 12 dp. But it does not seem to work as I cannot see any elevation (shadow) of the grid. Why is this happening? Does recyclerview not support elevation?

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:id="@+id/activity_grid_layout"
android:background="@drawable/gradient"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
tools:context="com.mindhive.mindhive.activities.GridActivity">

<android.support.v7.widget.RecyclerView
    android:id="@+id/grid_recycler_view"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:layout_marginBottom="110dp"
    android:layout_marginLeft="15dp"
    android:layout_marginTop="80dp"
    android:background="@color/transparent"
    android:elevation="12dp"
    android:scrollIndicators="none"
    android:scrollbars="none"
    android:padding="0dp" />

<ImageView
    android:id="@+id/imageView"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:layout_alignBottom="@+id/grid_recycler_view"
    android:layout_alignStart="@+id/grid_recycler_view"
    android:layout_marginBottom="-18dp"
    android:layout_marginStart="67dp"
    android:src="@drawable/main_filter"
    android:elevation="1dp" />
 ......

Answer 1

I found the answer after a little bit of searching from here. The problem was the transparent background. Elevation works with only non-transparent backgrounds on views. To fix it we should set android:outlineProvider="bounds" on the view and android:clipToPadding="false" on the view's parent.

Hope it helps someone.

Answer 2

For Lollipop and you can use the android:elevation property but below lollipop versions you have to give custom shadow so refer the below code for shadow

card_background.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layer-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<item>
    <shape android:shape="rectangle">
        <solid android:color="#CABBBBBB"/>
        <corners android:radius="2dp" />
    </shape>
</item>

<item
    android:left="0dp"
    android:right="0dp"
    android:top="0dp"
    android:bottom="2dp">
    <shape android:shape="rectangle">
        <solid android:color="@android:color/white"/>
        <corners android:radius="2dp" />
    </shape>
</item>
</layer-list>

Give this file as a background to your recyclerview inflater file it will work fine.

Answer 3

The android:elevation does only apply shadows on devices which are running Lollipop or later. If you want to suppot older devices, you have to create a shadow yourself.