shadow-sm

use: Inputs on focus

avoid: Static cards at rest — implies a lift/interaction, not a baseline state

shadow-md

use: Cards, Panels

avoid: Floating or temporary UI like dropdowns — reserve the next elevation step so floating layers read as on top

shadow-panel

use: The /dashboard content panel sitting on --canvas

avoid: Cards nested inside an already-elevated panel — stacking two elevations flattens both

shadow-lg

use: Dropdowns, Popovers

avoid: Static page content — using the highest elevation on something that never moves flattens the whole hierarchy