background-image : Background Image Property

The background-image property sets one or more background images for an element in PDF documents. This property is essential for adding logos, watermarks, letterheads, patterns, and decorative elements to enhance document appearance and branding.

Usage

selector {
    background-image: value;
}

The background-image property accepts URL values pointing to image files or the none keyword to remove background images.

Supported Values

URL Notation

url('path/to/image.jpg') - Relative or absolute path to image file
url("path/to/image.png") - Double quotes also supported
url(path/to/image.gif) - Quotes optional for simple paths

None Keyword

none - No background image (default value)

Supported Image Formats

JPEG/JPG - Photographs and complex images
PNG - Images with transparency
GIF - Simple graphics and animations (static frame in PDF)
BMP - Bitmap images
SVG - Scalable vector graphics (support varies)

Supported Elements

The background-image property can be applied to:

Block elements (<div>, <section>, <article>)
Paragraphs (<p>)
Headings (<h1> through <h6>)
Table cells (<td>, <th>)
Table rows (<tr>)
Page headers and footers
All container elements

Notes

Images are embedded directly into the PDF file
Relative paths are resolved from the document location
Absolute URLs can reference external resources (if supported)
Background images are rendered behind text and foreground content
Images do not inherit from parent elements
By default, images repeat to fill the background area
Use with background-repeat: no-repeat for single instance display
Combine with background-position to control image placement
Combine with background-size to control image scaling
PNG transparency is fully supported for overlays
Consider file size impact on final PDF document size
High-resolution images may increase PDF file size significantly

Data Binding

The background-image property supports dynamic data binding, enabling personalized PDF documents with data-driven images for logos, watermarks, photos, and branding elements.

Example 1: Dynamic user profile photo

<style>
    .employee-badge {
        background-image: url('');
        background-repeat: no-repeat;
        background-position: left center;
        background-size: 80pt 80pt;
        padding-left: 100pt;
        padding-top: 20pt;
        padding-bottom: 20pt;
        min-height: 100pt;
        border: 1pt solid #d1d5db;
    }
</style>
<body>
    <div class="employee-badge">
        <h2></h2>
        <p>Employee ID: </p>
        <p>Department: </p>
    </div>
</body>

Perfect for creating employee badges, ID cards, or personnel reports where each document needs a different photo loaded from your database or user profile system.

Example 2: Conditional watermarks based on document status

<style>
    .document-content {
        background-image: url('images/draft-watermark.pngimages/confidential-watermark.pngimages/approved-watermark.png');
        background-repeat: no-repeat;
        background-position: center;
        background-size: 350pt 120pt;
        min-height: 700pt;
        padding: 40pt;
    }
</style>
<body>
    <div class="document-content">
        <h1></h1>
        <p>Status: </p>
        <p></p>
    </div>
</body>

Automatically applies the appropriate watermark based on document state - essential for document management systems where visual status indicators prevent misuse of drafts or confidential materials.

Example 3: Product catalog with dynamic images

<style>
    .product-card {
        background-image: url('');
        background-repeat: no-repeat;
        background-position: top center;
        background-size: cover;
        min-height: 300pt;
        padding: 250pt 20pt 20pt 20pt;
        background-color: #f3f4f6;
    }
    .product-info {
        background-color: white;
        padding: 15pt;
        border: 1pt solid #d1d5db;
    }
</style>
<body>
    
    <div class="product-card">
        <div class="product-info">
            <h3></h3>
            <p>SKU: </p>
            <p>Price: $</p>
        </div>
    </div>
    
</body>

Generates product catalogs, price lists, or inventory reports where each item displays its own product image from your product database or CMS.

Examples

Example 1: Simple background image

<style>
    .image-box {
        background-image: url('images/pattern.png');
        padding: 20pt;
        min-height: 200pt;
    }
</style>
<body>
    <div class="image-box">
        <h2>Content Over Background</h2>
        <p>Text appears over the background image.</p>
    </div>
</body>

Example 2: Company logo watermark

<style>
    .watermarked-page {
        background-image: url('images/company-watermark.png');
        background-repeat: no-repeat;
        background-position: center;
        min-height: 700pt;
        padding: 40pt;
    }
</style>
<body>
    <div class="watermarked-page">
        <h1>Confidential Report</h1>
        <p>This document contains proprietary information.</p>
    </div>
</body>

Example 3: Letterhead logo

<style>
    .letterhead {
        background-image: url('images/letterhead-header.png');
        background-repeat: no-repeat;
        background-position: top center;
        padding-top: 100pt;
        padding-left: 40pt;
        padding-right: 40pt;
    }
</style>
<body>
    <div class="letterhead">
        <p>Date: January 15, 2025</p>
        <p>Dear Customer,</p>
        <p>We are writing to inform you...</p>
    </div>
</body>

Example 4: Certificate seal

<style>
    .certificate {
        background-image: url('images/official-seal.png');
        background-repeat: no-repeat;
        background-position: bottom right;
        min-height: 500pt;
        padding: 40pt;
    }
    .cert-title {
        text-align: center;
        font-size: 28pt;
        font-weight: bold;
        color: #1e40af;
    }
</style>
<body>
    <div class="certificate">
        <h1 class="cert-title">Certificate of Excellence</h1>
        <p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 30pt;">Awarded to</p>
        <p style="text-align: center; font-size: 22pt; font-weight: bold;">Jennifer Williams</p>
    </div>
</body>

Example 5: Background texture

<style>
    .textured-section {
        background-image: url('images/paper-texture.jpg');
        background-repeat: repeat;
        padding: 25pt;
        border: 1pt solid #d1d5db;
    }
</style>
<body>
    <div class="textured-section">
        <h3>Important Notice</h3>
        <p>This section has a subtle paper texture background.</p>
    </div>
</body>

Example 6: Invoice with corner logo

<style>
    .invoice-header {
        background-image: url('images/company-logo.png');
        background-repeat: no-repeat;
        background-position: right 20pt top 20pt;
        padding: 30pt;
        min-height: 120pt;
    }
    .invoice-title {
        font-size: 32pt;
        font-weight: bold;
        color: #1e3a8a;
    }
</style>
<body>
    <div class="invoice-header">
        <h1 class="invoice-title">INVOICE</h1>
        <p>Invoice Number: INV-2025-001</p>
        <p>Date: January 15, 2025</p>
    </div>
</body>

Example 7: Repeating pattern border

<style>
    .decorative-box {
        background-image: url('images/border-pattern.png');
        background-repeat: repeat-x;
        background-position: bottom;
        padding: 20pt;
        padding-bottom: 40pt;
    }
</style>
<body>
    <div class="decorative-box">
        <h2>Elegant Section</h2>
        <p>Content with decorative border at the bottom.</p>
    </div>
</body>

Example 8: Draft watermark diagonal

<style>
    .draft-page {
        background-image: url('images/draft-watermark.png');
        background-repeat: no-repeat;
        background-position: center;
        background-size: 400pt 150pt;
        min-height: 792pt;
        padding: 40pt;
    }
</style>
<body>
    <div class="draft-page">
        <h1>Project Proposal - DRAFT</h1>
        <p>This is a preliminary version of the proposal.</p>
    </div>
</body>

Example 9: Report cover with background image

<style>
    .report-cover {
        background-image: url('images/abstract-background.jpg');
        background-repeat: no-repeat;
        background-position: center;
        background-size: cover;
        min-height: 792pt;
        padding: 100pt 60pt;
        color: white;
    }
    .report-title {
        font-size: 42pt;
        font-weight: bold;
        text-shadow: 2pt 2pt 4pt rgba(0,0,0,0.5);
    }
</style>
<body>
    <div class="report-cover">
        <h1 class="report-title">Annual Report 2024</h1>
        <p style="font-size: 20pt;">Financial Performance and Strategic Overview</p>
    </div>
</body>

Example 10: Multiple background elements

<style>
    .complex-header {
        background-image: url('images/header-logo.png');
        background-repeat: no-repeat;
        background-position: left center;
        padding-left: 120pt;
        padding-top: 20pt;
        padding-bottom: 20pt;
        border-bottom: 2pt solid #1e40af;
    }
</style>
<body>
    <div class="complex-header">
        <h1>Business Quarterly Review</h1>
        <p>Q4 2024 Results and Analysis</p>
    </div>
</body>

Example 11: Transparent overlay

<style>
    .overlay-section {
        background-image: url('images/transparent-overlay.png');
        background-repeat: no-repeat;
        background-position: top right;
        padding: 30pt;
    }
</style>
<body>
    <div class="overlay-section">
        <h2>Section with Transparent Overlay</h2>
        <p>PNG transparency allows elegant overlays.</p>
    </div>
</body>

<style>
    .branded-footer {
        background-image: url('images/footer-logo.png');
        background-repeat: no-repeat;
        background-position: right center;
        padding: 15pt;
        padding-right: 100pt;
        background-color: #f3f4f6;
        border-top: 1pt solid #d1d5db;
    }
</style>
<body>
    <div class="branded-footer">
        <p style="font-size: 9pt;">© 2025 Company Name. All rights reserved.</p>
        <p style="font-size: 9pt;">123 Business Avenue, Suite 100 | phone: (555) 123-4567</p>
    </div>
</body>

Example 13: Security background pattern

<style>
    .secure-document {
        background-image: url('images/security-pattern.png');
        background-repeat: repeat;
        padding: 30pt;
    }
    .security-notice {
        background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.95);
        padding: 15pt;
        border: 2pt solid #dc2626;
    }
</style>
<body>
    <div class="secure-document">
        <div class="security-notice">
            <h2>Confidential Information</h2>
            <p>This document contains sensitive data.</p>
        </div>
    </div>
</body>

Example 14: Badge or emblem positioning

<style>
    .award-certificate {
        background-image: url('images/gold-medal.png');
        background-repeat: no-repeat;
        background-position: top center;
        padding-top: 120pt;
        padding-left: 40pt;
        padding-right: 40pt;
        text-align: center;
    }
</style>
<body>
    <div class="award-certificate">
        <h1 style="font-size: 28pt; color: #b45309;">Certificate of Achievement</h1>
        <p style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 20pt;">Presented to</p>
        <p style="font-size: 24pt; font-weight: bold; color: #1e40af;">Michael Chen</p>
        <p style="margin-top: 20pt;">For outstanding performance in 2024</p>
    </div>
</body>

Example 15: Removing background image

<style>
    .default-background {
        background-image: url('images/pattern.png');
        padding: 20pt;
    }
    .no-background {
        background-image: none;
        background-color: white;
        padding: 20pt;
        margin-top: 10pt;
    }
</style>
<body>
    <div class="default-background">
        <p>This section has a background image.</p>
    </div>
    <div class="no-background">
        <p>This section explicitly removes the background image.</p>
    </div>
</body>