#461 – Making a GridSplitter Look Three-Dimensional

You can make a GridSplitter element look like a more traditional three-dimensional element by using a Border and a gradient fill.  This will make it more obvious to the user that it is something that they can grab with the mouse.

In the XAML snippet below, the GridSplitter has a dark grey border and a gradient fill that goes from white to gray.

    <Grid>
        <Grid.RowDefinitions>
            <RowDefinition/>
            <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
            <RowDefinition/>
        </Grid.RowDefinitions>
        <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
            <ColumnDefinition/>
            <ColumnDefinition/>
        </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>

        <Label Content="Row 0 Col 0" Background="Azure" Grid.Row="0" Grid.Column="0" />
        <Label Content="Row 0 Col 1" Background="Lavender" Grid.Row="0" Grid.Column="1" />
        <Label Content="Row 2 Col 0" Background="Moccasin" Grid.Row="2" Grid.Column="0" />
        <Label Content="Row 2 Col 1" Background="Honeydew" Grid.Row="2" Grid.Column="1" />

        <GridSplitter Grid.Row="1" Grid.ColumnSpan="2" Height="6" BorderThickness="1" BorderBrush="DarkSlateGray"
                      VerticalAlignment="Center" HorizontalAlignment="Stretch">
            <GridSplitter.Background>
                <LinearGradientBrush EndPoint="0.5,0" StartPoint="0.5,1">
                    <GradientStop Color="#FF808385" Offset="0"/>
                    <GradientStop Color="#FFECF1F7" Offset="1"/>
                </LinearGradientBrush>
            </GridSplitter.Background>
        </GridSplitter>

    </Grid>