diff --git a/src/kitemviews/private/kpixmapmodifier.cpp b/src/kitemviews/private/kpixmapmodifier.cpp
--- a/src/kitemviews/private/kpixmapmodifier.cpp
+++ b/src/kitemviews/private/kpixmapmodifier.cpp
@@ -275,10 +275,10 @@
             QPainter p(&image);
             p.setCompositionMode(QPainter::CompositionMode_Source);
             p.fillRect(image.rect(), Qt::transparent);
-            p.fillRect(image.rect().adjusted(3, 3, -3, -3), Qt::black);
+            p.fillRect(image.rect().adjusted(3, 3, -3, -3), Qt::lightGray);
             p.end();
 
-            shadowBlur(image, 3, Qt::black);
+            shadowBlur(image, 3, Qt::lightGray);
 
             QPixmap pixmap = QPixmap::fromImage(image);
             m_tiles[TopLeftCorner]     = pixmap.copy(0, 0, 8, 8);