diff --git a/playground/shadows/ShadowedBox.cpp b/playground/shadows/ShadowedBox.cpp
index f9c29cd6..cc2346d0 100644
--- a/playground/shadows/ShadowedBox.cpp
+++ b/playground/shadows/ShadowedBox.cpp
@@ -14,40 +14,103 @@
 ShadowedBox::ShadowedBox( QQuickItem* parentItem )
     : QskBox( true, parentItem )
 {
+    QColor c( Qt::darkRed );
+#if 0
+    c.setAlpha( 100 );
+#endif
+
+    setGradientHint( Panel, c );
+    setBoxShapeHint( Panel, QskBoxShapeMetrics( 40, 0, 15, 0 ) );
+
+    setBoxBorderMetricsHint( Panel, 0 );
+
+#if 0
+    setBoxBorderMetricsHint( Panel, 10 );
+    setBoxBorderColorsHint( Panel, Qt::blue );
+#endif
+
+    setShadowColorHint( Panel, Qt::black );
 }
 
 ShadowedBox::~ShadowedBox()
 {
 }
 
-void ShadowedBox::setShadow( const QskShadowMetrics& shadow )
+void ShadowedBox::setOffsetX( qreal dx )
 {
-    setShadowMetricsHint( Panel, shadow );
+    auto metrics = shadowMetrics();
+    metrics.setOffsetX( dx );
+
+    setShadowMetrics( metrics );
 }
 
-void ShadowedBox::setShadowColor( const QColor& color )
+qreal ShadowedBox::offsetX() const
 {
+    return shadowMetrics().offset().x();
+}
+
+void ShadowedBox::setOffsetY( qreal dy )
+{
+    auto metrics = shadowMetrics();
+    metrics.setOffsetY( dy );
+
+    setShadowMetrics( metrics );
+}
+
+qreal ShadowedBox::offsetY() const
+{
+    return shadowMetrics().offset().y();
+}
+
+void ShadowedBox::setSpreadRadius( qreal radius )
+{
+    auto metrics = shadowMetrics();
+    metrics.setSpreadRadius( radius );
+
+    setShadowMetrics( metrics );
+}
+
+qreal ShadowedBox::spreadRadius() const
+{
+    return shadowMetrics().spreadRadius();
+}
+
+void ShadowedBox::setBlurRadius( qreal radius )
+{
+    auto metrics = shadowMetrics();
+    metrics.setBlurRadius( radius );
+
+    setShadowMetrics( metrics );
+}
+
+qreal ShadowedBox::blurRadius() const
+{
+    return shadowMetrics().blurRadius();
+}
+
+void ShadowedBox::setOpacity( qreal opacity )
+{
+    opacity = qBound( 0.0, opacity, 1.0 );
+
+    auto color = shadowColorHint( Panel );
+    color.setAlphaF( opacity );
+
     setShadowColorHint( Panel, color );
 }
 
-void ShadowedBox::setGradient( const QskGradient& gradient )
+qreal ShadowedBox::opacity() const
 {
-    setGradientHint( Panel, gradient );
+    return shadowColorHint( Panel ).alphaF();
 }
 
-void ShadowedBox::setShape( const QskBoxShapeMetrics& shape )
+QskShadowMetrics ShadowedBox::shadowMetrics() const
 {
-    setBoxShapeHint( Panel, shape );
+    return shadowMetricsHint( Panel );
 }
 
-void ShadowedBox::setBorderWidth( qreal width )
+void ShadowedBox::setShadowMetrics( const QskShadowMetrics& metrics )
 {
-    setBoxBorderMetricsHint( Panel, width );
-}
-
-void ShadowedBox::setBorderColors( const QskBoxBorderColors& colors )
-{
-    setBoxBorderColorsHint( Panel, colors );
+    setShadowMetricsHint( Panel, metrics );
 }
 
 #include "moc_ShadowedBox.cpp"
diff --git a/playground/shadows/ShadowedBox.h b/playground/shadows/ShadowedBox.h
index d3232b7d..63dd0bd2 100644
--- a/playground/shadows/ShadowedBox.h
+++ b/playground/shadows/ShadowedBox.h
@@ -7,25 +7,34 @@
 
 #include <QskBox.h>
 
-class QskGradient;
 class QskShadowMetrics;
-class QskBoxShapeMetrics;
-class QskBoxBorderColors;
 
 class ShadowedBox : public QskBox
 {
     Q_OBJECT
 
   public:
-    ShadowedBox(QQuickItem* parent = nullptr);
+    ShadowedBox( QQuickItem* parent = nullptr );
     ~ShadowedBox() override;
 
-    void setShape( const QskBoxShapeMetrics& );
-    void setGradient( const QskGradient& );
+    qreal offsetX() const;
+    qreal offsetY() const;
 
-    void setBorderWidth( qreal width );
-    void setBorderColors( const QskBoxBorderColors& );
+    qreal spreadRadius() const;
+    qreal blurRadius() const;
 
-    void setShadow( const QskShadowMetrics& );
-    void setShadowColor( const QColor& );
+    qreal opacity() const;
+
+  public Q_SLOTS:
+    void setOffsetX( qreal );
+    void setOffsetY( qreal );
+
+    void setSpreadRadius( qreal );
+    void setBlurRadius( qreal );
+
+    void setOpacity( qreal );
+
+  private:
+    QskShadowMetrics shadowMetrics() const;
+    void setShadowMetrics( const QskShadowMetrics& );
 };
diff --git a/playground/shadows/main.cpp b/playground/shadows/main.cpp
index e1bd51a4..e57c4d83 100644
--- a/playground/shadows/main.cpp
+++ b/playground/shadows/main.cpp
@@ -7,43 +7,122 @@
 
 #include <QskObjectCounter.h>
 #include <QskWindow.h>
-#include <QskLinearBox.h>
+#include <QskGridBox.h>
+#include <QskSlider.h>
+#include <QskTextLabel.h>
 #include <QskRgbValue.h>
 
-#include <QskGradient.h>
-#include <QskShadowMetrics.h>
-#include <QskBoxShapeMetrics.h>
-#include <QskBoxBorderColors.h>
-
 #include <SkinnyShortcut.h>
 #include <QGuiApplication>
+#include <QFontMetrics>
 
-class Box : public ShadowedBox
+class BoxPanel : public QskBox
 {
   public:
-    Box( QQuickItem* parent = nullptr )
-        : ShadowedBox( parent )
+    BoxPanel( QQuickItem* parent = nullptr )
+        : QskBox( parent )
     {
-        const qreal w = 10;
+        setAutoLayoutChildren( true );
+        setPadding( 60 );
 
-        QskShadowMetrics shadow;
-        //shadow.setOffset( 20.0, 20.0 );
-        shadow.setSpreadRadius( w );
-        shadow.setBlurRadius( w );
+        setPanel( true );
+        setGradientHint( QskBox::Panel, QGradient::SnowAgain );
+    }
+};
 
-        setShadow( shadow );
-        setShadowColor( Qt::black );
+class Slider : public QskSlider
+{
+  public:
+    Slider( qreal min, qreal max, qreal step, qreal value, QQuickItem* parent = nullptr )
+        : QskSlider( parent )
+    {
+        setBoundaries( min, max );
+        setStepSize( step );
+        setSnap( true );
+        setValue( value );
+    }
+};
 
-        QColor c( Qt::darkRed );
-#if 0
-        c.setAlpha( 100 );
-#endif
+class ValueLabel : public QskTextLabel
+{
+  public:
+    ValueLabel( QQuickItem* parent = nullptr )
+        : QskTextLabel( parent )
+    {
+        setFixedWidth( QFontMetrics( font() ).horizontalAdvance( "-100" ) );
+        setAlignment( Qt::AlignLeft | Qt::AlignVCenter );
+    }
 
-        setGradient( c );
-        setShape( QskBoxShapeMetrics( 40, 10, 15, 5 ) );
+    void setValue( qreal value )
+    {
+        setText( QString::number( value ) );
+    }
+};
 
-        setBorderWidth( w );
-        setBorderColors( Qt::blue );
+class GridBox : public QskGridBox
+{
+  public:
+    GridBox( QQuickItem* parent = nullptr )
+        : QskGridBox( parent )
+    {
+        setMargins( 5 );
+        setColumnStretchFactor( 1, 1 );
+
+        auto sliderX = new Slider( -50, 50, 1, 10 );
+        auto sliderY = new Slider( -50, 50, 1, 10 );
+        auto sliderSpread = new Slider( 0, 50, 1, 0 );
+        auto sliderBlur = new Slider( 0, 50, 1, 10 );
+        auto sliderOpacity = new Slider( 0, 1, 0.01, 1 );
+
+        auto panel = new BoxPanel();
+
+        int row = 0;
+
+        addSlider( row++, "Offset X", sliderX );
+        addSlider( row++, "Offset Y", sliderY );
+        addSlider( row++, "Spread Radius", sliderSpread );
+        addSlider( row++, "Blur Radius", sliderBlur );
+        addSlider( row++, "Opacity", sliderOpacity );
+
+        addItem( panel, row, 0, -1, -1 );
+
+        auto box = new ShadowedBox( panel );
+
+        box->setOffsetX( sliderX->value() );
+        box->setOffsetY( sliderY->value() );
+        box->setSpreadRadius( sliderSpread->value() );
+        box->setBlurRadius( sliderBlur->value() );
+        box->setOpacity( sliderOpacity->value() );
+
+        connect( sliderX, &QskSlider::valueChanged,
+            box, &ShadowedBox::setOffsetX );
+
+        connect( sliderY, &QskSlider::valueChanged,
+            box, &ShadowedBox::setOffsetY );
+
+        connect( sliderSpread, &QskSlider::valueChanged,
+            box, &ShadowedBox::setSpreadRadius );
+
+        connect( sliderBlur, &QskSlider::valueChanged,
+            box, &ShadowedBox::setBlurRadius );
+
+        connect( sliderOpacity, &QskSlider::valueChanged,
+            box, &ShadowedBox::setOpacity );
+    }
+
+  private:
+    void addSlider( int row, const QString& text, QskSlider* slider )
+    {
+        addItem( new QskTextLabel( text ), row, 0 );
+        addItem( slider, row, 1 );
+
+        auto label = new ValueLabel();
+        label->setValue( slider->value() );
+
+        addItem( label, row, 2 );
+
+        connect( slider, &QskSlider::valueChanged,
+            label, [label]( qreal value ) { label->setText( QString::number( value ) ); } ); 
     }
 };
 
@@ -57,20 +136,8 @@ int main( int argc, char* argv[] )
 
     SkinnyShortcut::enable( SkinnyShortcut::AllShortcuts );
 
-    auto layout = new QskLinearBox();
-    layout->setPanel( true );
-#if 1
-    layout->setGradientHint( QskBox::Panel,
-        QskGradient( Qt::Vertical, QskRgb::WhiteSmoke, QskRgb::MistyRose ) );
-#else
-    layout->setGradientHint( QskBox::Panel, Qt::white );
-#endif
-    layout->setPadding( 60 );
-    (void ) new Box( layout );
-
     QskWindow window;
-    window.setColor( QskRgb::PapayaWhip );
-    window.addItem( layout );
+    window.addItem( new GridBox() );
     window.resize( 600, 600 );
     window.show();
 
diff --git a/skins/material/QskMaterialSkin.cpp b/skins/material/QskMaterialSkin.cpp
index 4fe1fa53..3c46fd86 100644
--- a/skins/material/QskMaterialSkin.cpp
+++ b/skins/material/QskMaterialSkin.cpp
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ void Editor::setupPushButton()
     using A = QskAspect;
     using Q = QskPushButton;
 
-    setStrutSize( Q::Panel, -1, 31 );
+    setFlagHint( Q::Panel | QskAspect::Direction, Qsk::LeftToRight );
     setSpacing( Q::Panel, qskDpiScaled( 4 ) );
     setPadding( Q::Panel, { 24, 0, 20, 0 } );
 
@@ -473,6 +473,8 @@ void Editor::setupPushButton()
     setBoxBorderMetrics( Q::Panel, 1, { QskStateCombination::CombinationNoState, Q::Outlined } );
     setBoxBorderColors( Q::Panel | Q::Outlined, m_pal.outline );
 
+    setPadding( Q::Graphic, 5 );
+
     setGradient( Q::Panel | Q::Disabled, Qt::transparent, combination );
     setBoxBorderColors( Q::Panel | Q::Outlined | Q::Disabled, c1 );
 
diff --git a/skins/squiek/QskSquiekSkin.cpp b/skins/squiek/QskSquiekSkin.cpp
index 4a0d8cae..ec1405d5 100644
--- a/skins/squiek/QskSquiekSkin.cpp
+++ b/skins/squiek/QskSquiekSkin.cpp
@@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ void Editor::setupPushButton()
     using Q = QskPushButton;
 
     // Panel
-
+    setFlagHint( Q::Panel | QskAspect::Direction, Qsk::TopToBottom );
     setStrutSize( Q::Panel, qskDpiScaled( 75.0 ), qskDpiScaled( 23.0 ) );
 
     setMargin( Q::Panel, 0 );
@@ -594,6 +594,9 @@ void Editor::setupPushButton()
 
     setColor( Q::Text, m_pal.themeForeground );
     setColor( Q::Text | Q::Disabled, m_pal.darker200 );
+
+    // Graphic
+    setPadding( Q::Graphic, 2 );
 }
 
 void Editor::setupDialogButton()
diff --git a/src/common/QskAspect.h b/src/common/QskAspect.h
index 4b5f03bc..2819ae2b 100644
--- a/src/common/QskAspect.h
+++ b/src/common/QskAspect.h
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ class QSK_EXPORT QskAspect
         NoPrimitive = 0,
 
         Alignment,
+        Direction,
         Style,
         GraphicRole,
         FontRole,
diff --git a/src/common/QskShadowMetrics.h b/src/common/QskShadowMetrics.h
index b1c55f16..21fe2c59 100644
--- a/src/common/QskShadowMetrics.h
+++ b/src/common/QskShadowMetrics.h
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ class QSK_EXPORT QskShadowMetrics
 
     constexpr qreal totalRadius() const noexcept;
 
+    void setOffsetX( qreal dx ) noexcept;
+    void setOffsetY( qreal dy ) noexcept;
+
     void setOffset( qreal dx, qreal dy ) noexcept;
     void setOffset( const QPointF& ) noexcept;
 
@@ -98,6 +101,7 @@ inline constexpr bool QskShadowMetrics::operator==(
     const QskShadowMetrics& other ) const noexcept
 {
     return ( m_sizeMode == other.m_sizeMode )
+        && ( m_offset == other.m_offset )
         && ( m_spreadRadius == other.m_spreadRadius )
         && ( m_blurRadius == other.m_blurRadius )
         && ( m_sizeMode == other.m_sizeMode );
@@ -144,6 +148,16 @@ inline constexpr Qt::SizeMode QskShadowMetrics::sizeMode() const noexcept
     return m_sizeMode;
 }
 
+inline void QskShadowMetrics::setOffsetX( qreal dx ) noexcept
+{
+    m_offset.rx() = dx;
+}
+
+inline void QskShadowMetrics::setOffsetY( qreal dy ) noexcept
+{
+    m_offset.ry() = dy;
+}
+
 inline void QskShadowMetrics::setOffset( qreal dx, qreal dy ) noexcept
 {
     m_offset.rx() = dx;
diff --git a/src/controls/QskPushButtonSkinlet.cpp b/src/controls/QskPushButtonSkinlet.cpp
index 6063d9eb..b7fd445c 100644
--- a/src/controls/QskPushButtonSkinlet.cpp
+++ b/src/controls/QskPushButtonSkinlet.cpp
@@ -77,11 +77,24 @@ QRectF QskPushButtonSkinlet::textRect(
 
     if ( button->hasGraphic() )
     {
-        // in case of having text + graphic we put the text at the bottom
+        const auto orientation = button->flagHint( QskPushButton::Panel | QskAspect::Direction, Qsk::LeftToRight );
 
-        qreal h = button->effectiveFontHeight( QskPushButton::Text );
-        if ( h < r.height() )
-            r.setTop( r.bottom() - h );
+        switch( orientation )
+        {
+            case Qsk::LeftToRight:
+            {
+                const auto graphicsRect = subControlRect( button, contentsRect, QskPushButton::Graphic );
+                const auto spacing = button->metric( QskPushButton::Panel | QskAspect::Spacing );
+                r.setX( r.x() + graphicsRect.width() + spacing );
+                break;
+            }
+            default: // Qsk::TopToBottom, the other ones are not handled yet
+            {
+                qreal h = button->effectiveFontHeight( QskPushButton::Text );
+                if ( h < r.height() )
+                    r.setTop( r.bottom() - h );
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     return r;
@@ -94,7 +107,10 @@ QRectF QskPushButtonSkinlet::graphicRect(
 
     auto r = button->subControlContentsRect( contentsRect, QskPushButton::Panel );
 
-    if ( !button->text().isEmpty() )
+    const auto orientation = button->flagHint( QskPushButton::Panel
+                                               | QskAspect::Direction, Qsk::LeftToRight );
+
+    if ( !button->text().isEmpty() && orientation == Qsk::TopToBottom )
     {
         const auto textRect = subControlRect( button, contentsRect, QskPushButton::Text );
         qreal h = textRect.height() + button->spacingHint( QskPushButton::Panel );
@@ -106,6 +122,7 @@ QRectF QskPushButtonSkinlet::graphicRect(
     }
 
     const auto maxSize = button->graphicSourceSize();
+
     if ( maxSize.width() >= 0 || maxSize.height() >= 0 )
     {
         // limiting the size by graphicSize
@@ -134,15 +151,34 @@ QRectF QskPushButtonSkinlet::graphicRect(
         const double scaleFactor =
             qMin( r.width() / sz.width(), r.height() / sz.height() );
 
-        // early aligning to avoid pointless operations, that finally will
-        // have no effect, when drawing to an integer based paint device
-
         const int w = qFloor( scaleFactor * sz.width() );
         const int h = qFloor( scaleFactor * sz.height() );
-        const int x = qFloor( r.center().x() - 0.5 * w );
-        const int y = qFloor( r.center().y() - 0.5 * h );
+        int x, y;
+
+        const auto orientation = button->flagHint( QskPushButton::Panel
+                                                   | QskAspect::Direction, Qsk::LeftToRight );
+
+        switch( orientation )
+        {
+            case Qsk::LeftToRight:
+            {
+                x = r.left();
+                y = r.top();
+                break;
+            }
+            default: // TopToBottom
+            {
+                // early aligning to avoid pointless operations, that finally will
+                // have no effect, when drawing to an integer based paint device
+
+                x = qFloor( r.center().x() - 0.5 * w );
+                y = qFloor( r.center().y() - 0.5 * h );
+            }
+        }
 
         r = QRectF( x, y, w, h );
+        const auto padding = button->paddingHint( QskPushButton::Graphic );
+        r = r.marginsRemoved( padding );
     }
 
     return r;
@@ -213,10 +249,25 @@ QSizeF QskPushButtonSkinlet::sizeHint( const QskSkinnable* skinnable,
             }
         }
 
-        const qreal padding = 2.0; // paddingHint( Graphic ) ???
+        const QMarginsF padding = button->paddingHint( QskPushButton::Graphic );
 
-        size.rheight() += 2 * padding + h;
-        size.rwidth() = qMax( size.width(), w );
+        const auto orientation = button->flagHint( QskPushButton::Panel
+                                                   | QskAspect::Direction, Qsk::LeftToRight );
+
+        switch( orientation )
+        {
+            case Qsk::LeftToRight:
+            {
+                size.rwidth() += padding.left() + w + padding.right();
+                size.rheight() = qMax( size.height(), h );
+                break;
+            }
+            default: // TopToBottom
+            {
+                size.rheight() += padding.top() + h + padding.bottom();
+                size.rwidth() = qMax( size.width(), w );
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     size = size.expandedTo( button->strutSizeHint( QskPushButton::Panel ) );
diff --git a/src/nodes/QskShadedBoxNode.cpp b/src/nodes/QskShadedBoxNode.cpp
index 83e0d132..31bc7db7 100644
--- a/src/nodes/QskShadedBoxNode.cpp
+++ b/src/nodes/QskShadedBoxNode.cpp
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ void QskShadedBoxNode::setShadowData(
             insertChildNodeBefore( m_shadowNode, &m_boxNode );
         }
 
+        m_shadowNode->setColor( color );
+
         m_shadowNode->setRect( metrics.shadowRect( rect ) );
         m_shadowNode->setShape( shape );
         m_shadowNode->setBlurRadius( metrics.blurRadius() );