WordPress 6.6 and 6.7, set to launch on November 12th, are both packed with powerful design updates that put more control in the hands of creators, including any block artists.
These changes include the new ability to create and edit shadows within the Styles panel. This feature, built on four shadow presets with the option to add more through theme.json, brings nuanced shadow control to your fingertips. You can now craft custom shadows tailored to the aesthetic of each element, creating depth and enhancing the overall feel of your content with subtle to dramatic shadow effects. With your next art piece, try creating a custom shadow and see where it takes you. See a demo below:
Another notable update is the addition of negative margins across all blocks that support margin controls. Previously only achievable through theme.json, negative margins can now be manually set within the editor. This gives artists the ability to create overlapping designs, perfect for achieving something unique. Though negative values must be manually input (they’re not selectable via drag), this approach offers balance between creative flexibility and user experience safeguards, enabling seamless design within intentional boundaries.
Expanded block support in these updates provides even more creative flexibility, especially for those artists who want to control the details. Key blocks like the Group, Button, and Quote blocks now support additional features like shadow, border, and padding options, giving more design options without needing custom CSS. For example, the Group block now has shadow support, unlocking new directions for adding depth to a piece of block art. Meanwhile, the Button block gains border, color, and padding controls to customize buttons to fit any design scheme.
These enhancements reflect WordPress’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of its block editor, making it easier for everyone, from developers to artists, to bring their creations to life, exactly as you imagine them.
Find yourself inspired? Consider contributing to the Museum of Block Art. You never know, your art just might show up at WordCamp US, WordCamp Asia, or WordCamp Europe, like it did with this year’s WordCamp US:
