Question

HTML - How to stretch a background image for a TD or an HTML Table?

Asked by: feesu

Hi Experts,

I have an image that i want to use in all my tables as a background. I am using this in my CSS file by setting the background image of the table.

I have different table sizes because they are 100%, but how do i stretch the image accordingly?

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Asked On
2008-04-18 at 19:00:09ID23335991
Topics

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)

,

Miscellaneous Web Development

,

Web Images

Participating Experts
3
Points
500
Comments
8

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Answers

 

by: feesuPosted on 2008-04-19 at 03:29:34ID: 21391826

paulop1975:

I looked at the accepted answer, and I was not able to understand. It seems that I need to read the whole thread. Can't you list for the solution in brief to save my time?

 

by: dreamjayPosted on 2008-04-19 at 04:55:27ID: 21392054

Are you really sure you want to stretch the bg image and not tile it ?
if you are looking for tiling the bg image, below is the code.

CSS can look this way,

<style type="text/css">
.tablebg { background-image: url(image.jpg); }
</style>


Now All tables in your page with the class 'tablebg'  will have the background image defined in the CSS.
for example,

<table class="tablebg">
<tr>
<td>
Table content
</td>
</tr>
</table>



As far as I know, there isn't a proven method for controlling the width or height of a background image in css. so you can't 'stretch' the BG image. as per your table sizes.

 

by: feesuPosted on 2008-04-19 at 06:54:37ID: 21392506

dreamjay,

I have attached the image I want to fit into all my html tables. I don't know how can I do it with tiling or repeating. If I can do this without stretching then I'm fine, I just want to solve my problem.

 

by: JoudasPosted on 2008-04-19 at 12:00:51ID: 21393528

feesu:
If you have the above image that you want to use in a set of tables with varying widths, then use code like this:

.tableBackground {background: url(textbackground.gif) repeat top left;}

Your table background image will repeat endlessly on the x and y axises and tile as long as the graphic is seamless, regardless of how large your table is in length and width.

In order to customize the repeats, you can use the following variables in your CSS code:

Repeats:
repeat
repeat-x
repeat-y
no-repeat

Positions:
top left
top center
top right
center left
center center
center right
bottom left
bottom center
bottom right
x% y%
xpos ypos

 

by: dreamjayPosted on 2008-04-19 at 13:04:15ID: 21393707

If you want the attached image as the table background, then repeating won't help. It will create patches because its not a seamless image...

CSS3 has a property called 'background-size'
but I feel our browsers wont support this property yet.

Dynamic sizing of bg image is possible but its complex.
There is a method to Fake a Stretched Background Image using DIV's
check it here
http://webdesign.about.com/od/css3/f/blfaqbgsize.htm

Its probably not worth the hassle since you might run into a lot of browser compatibility issues and also in the end you get an jagged bg image.

I suggest resizing the bg image in photoshop and create different sized images for your different tables.

 

by: feesuPosted on 2008-04-19 at 16:03:54ID: 21394366

Experts,

There is something difficult about this image, maybe it is not clear in this picture.
There is an oval corners in that square. I will attach another one with a colored background that is clearer to you.

Please consider only the white area of the square and ignore the purple.

  • back.jpg
    • 33 KB

    The image with a background to show the oval corners

    The image with a background to show the oval corners
 

by: JoudasPosted on 2008-04-19 at 17:42:46ID: 21394591

Oh, I see your problem, now.  You will want to get your rounded corner effects with CSS, then, instead of the graphic if using a 3-column table won't work for you (3 separate background images in 3 columns.)  Try this technique; it should give you what you need: http://www.schillmania.com/projects/dialog2/

You can also try these other rounded-corner techniques in CSS:
http://www.cssjuice.com/25-rounded-corners-techniques-with-css/

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