CSS Multiple Backgrounds

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In this chapter you will learn how to add multiple background images to one element.

You will also learn about the following properties:

  • background-size
  • background-origin
  • background-clip

CSS Multiple Backgrounds

CSS allows you to add multiple background images for an element, through the background-image property.

The different background images are separated by commas, and the images are stacked on top of each other, where the first image is closest to the viewer.

The following example has two background images, the first image is a flower (aligned to the bottom and right) and the second image is a paper background (aligned to the top-left corner):

Example

#example1 {
  background-image: url(img_flwr.gif), url(paper.gif);
  background-position: right bottom, left top;
  background-repeat: no-repeat, repeat;
}

Try it Yourself »

Multiple background images can be specified using either the individual background properties (as above) or the background shorthand property.

The following example uses the background shorthand property (same result as example above):

Example

#example1 {
  background: url(img_flwr.gif) right bottom no-repeat, url(paper.gif) left top repeat;
}

Try it Yourself »

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CSS Background Size

The CSS background-size property allows you to specify the size of background images.

The size can be specified in lengths, percentages, or by using one of the two keywords: contain or cover.

The following example resizes a background image to much smaller than the original image (using pixels):

Lorem Ipsum Dolor

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat.

Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Here is the code:

Example

#div1 {
  background: url(img_flower.jpg);
  background-size: 100px 80px;
  background-repeat: no-repeat;
}

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The two other possible values for background-size are contain and cover.

The contain keyword scales the background image to be as large as possible (but both its width and its height must fit inside the content area). As such, depending on the proportions of the background image and the background positioning area, there may be some areas of the background which are not covered by the background image.

The cover keyword scales the background image so that the content area is completely covered by the background image (both its width and height are equal to or exceed the content area). As such, some parts of the background image may not be visible in the background positioning area.

The following example illustrates the use of contain and cover:

Example

#div1 {
  background: url(img_flower.jpg);
  background-size: contain;
  background-repeat: no-repeat;
}

#div2 {
  background: url(img_flower.jpg);
  background-size: cover;
  background-repeat: no-repeat;
}

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Define Sizes of Multiple Background Images

The background-size property also accepts multiple values for background size (using a comma-separated list), when working with multiple backgrounds.

The following example has three background images specified, with different background-size value for each image:

Example

#example1 {
  background: url(img_tree.gif) left top no-repeat, url(img_flwr.gif) right bottom no-repeat, url(paper.gif) left top repeat;
  background-size: 50px, 130px, auto;
}

Try it Yourself »

Full Size Background Image

Now we want to have a background image on a website that covers the entire browser window at all times.

The requirements are as follows:

  • Fill the entire page with the image (no white space)
  • Scale image as needed
  • Center image on page
  • Do not cause scrollbars

The following example shows how to do it; Use the <html> element (the <html> element is always at least the height of the browser window). Then set a fixed and centered background on it. Then adjust its size with the background-size property:

Example

html {
  background: url(img_man.jpg) no-repeat center fixed;
  background-size: cover;
}

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Hero Image

You could also use different background properties on a <div> to create a hero image (a large image with text), and place it where you want.

Example

.hero-image {
  background: url(img_man.jpg) no-repeat center;
  background-size: cover;
  height: 500px;
  position: relative;
}

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CSS background-origin Property

The CSS background-origin property specifies where the background image is positioned.

The property takes three different values:

  • border-box – the background image starts from the upper left corner of the border
  • padding-box – (default) the background image starts from the upper left corner of the padding edge
  • content-box – the background image starts from the upper left corner of the content

The following example illustrates the background-origin property:

Example

#example1 {
  border: 10px solid black;
  padding: 35px;
  background: url(img_flwr.gif);
  background-repeat: no-repeat;
  background-origin: content-box;
}

Try it Yourself »

CSS background-clip Property

The CSS background-clip property specifies the painting area of the background.

The property takes three different values:

  • border-box – (default) the background is painted to the outside edge of the border
  • padding-box – the background is painted to the outside edge of the padding
  • content-box – the background is painted within the content box

The following example illustrates the background-clip property:

Example

#example1 {
  border: 10px dotted black;
  padding: 35px;
  background: yellow;
  background-clip: content-box;
}

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Test Yourself With Exercises

Exercise:

Add two background images to the <body> element.

img1.gif and img2.gif.

Make sure that img2.gif is displayed on top of img1.gif.

<style>
body {
  background-image: ;
}
</style>

<body>
  <h1>This is a heading</h1>
  <p>This is a paragraph</p>
  <p>This is a paragraph</p>
</body>

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Start the Exercise

CSS Advanced Background Properties

PropertyDescription
backgroundA shorthand property for setting all the background properties in one declaration
background-clipSpecifies the painting area of the background
background-imageSpecifies one or more background images for an element
background-originSpecifies where the background image(s) is/are positioned
background-sizeSpecifies the size of the background image(s)

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