diff --git a/src/core/context.zig b/src/core/context.zig
index 1443cc7..0b764a1 100644
--- a/src/core/context.zig
+++ b/src/core/context.zig
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ const Command = @import("command.zig");
 const Input = @import("input.zig");
 const Layout = @import("layout.zig");
 const Style = @import("style.zig");
+const animation = @import("../render/animation.zig");
+pub const ColorTransition = animation.ColorTransition;
 const arena_mod = @import("../utils/arena.zig");
 const FrameArena = arena_mod.FrameArena;
 const focus_mod = @import("focus.zig");
@@ -558,6 +560,80 @@ pub const Context = struct {
         } });
     }
 
+    /// Draw a complete panel frame with focus-dependent styling.
+    /// Encapsulates the common pattern: transition -> shadow -> bevel -> border.
+    ///
+    /// Usage:
+    /// ```zig
+    /// // In panel state:
+    /// bg_transition: zcatgui.Context.ColorTransition = .{},
+    ///
+    /// // In draw:
+    /// ctx.drawPanelFrame(rect, &self.bg_transition, .{
+    ///     .has_focus = panel_has_focus,
+    ///     .focus_bg = colors.fondo_con_focus,
+    ///     .unfocus_bg = colors.fondo_sin_focus,
+    ///     .border_color = if (panel_has_focus) colors.borde_con_focus else colors.borde_sin_focus,
+    /// });
+    /// ```
+    pub const PanelFrameConfig = struct {
+        /// Whether the panel currently has focus
+        has_focus: bool = false,
+        /// Background color when focused
+        focus_bg: Style.Color = Style.Color.rgb(40, 40, 50),
+        /// Background color when not focused
+        unfocus_bg: Style.Color = Style.Color.rgb(30, 30, 40),
+        /// Border color (typically borde_con_focus or borde_sin_focus)
+        border_color: ?Style.Color = null,
+        /// Draw shadow when focused (default true)
+        draw_shadow: bool = true,
+        /// Draw bevel effect (default true)
+        draw_bevel: bool = true,
+    };
+
+    /// Draw a complete panel frame with focus transition and 3D effects.
+    /// Returns true if the transition is still animating (need more frames).
+    pub fn drawPanelFrame(
+        self: *Self,
+        rect: Layout.Rect,
+        transition: *ColorTransition,
+        config: PanelFrameConfig,
+    ) bool {
+        // 1. Calculate target color and update transition
+        const target_bg = if (config.has_focus) config.focus_bg else config.unfocus_bg;
+        const animating = transition.update(target_bg, self.frame_delta_ms);
+
+        // Request animation frame if still transitioning
+        if (animating) {
+            self.requestAnimationFrame();
+        }
+
+        // 2. Draw shadow when focused
+        if (config.draw_shadow and config.has_focus) {
+            self.pushCommand(Command.shadowDrop(rect.x, rect.y, rect.w, rect.h, 0));
+        }
+
+        // 3. Draw background (beveled or flat)
+        if (config.draw_bevel) {
+            self.drawBeveledRect(rect.x, rect.y, rect.w, rect.h, transition.current);
+        } else {
+            self.pushCommand(.{ .rect = .{
+                .x = rect.x,
+                .y = rect.y,
+                .w = rect.w,
+                .h = rect.h,
+                .color = transition.current,
+            } });
+        }
+
+        // 4. Draw border if specified
+        if (config.border_color) |border| {
+            self.pushCommand(Command.rectOutline(rect.x, rect.y, rect.w, rect.h, border));
+        }
+
+        return animating;
+    }
+
     /// Resize the context
     pub fn resize(self: *Self, width: u32, height: u32) void {
         self.width = width;