When applying CSS3 inset box-shadow or border-radius directly to the image element, the browser doesn't render the CSS style perfectly. However, if the image is applied as background-image, you can add any style to it and have it rendered properly. Darcy Clarke and I put a quick tutorial together on how to use jQuery to make perfect rounded corner images dynamically. Today I'm going to revisit the topic and show you how much more you can do with the background-image CSS trick. I will show you how to use box-shadow, border-radius and transition to create various image styles.
Problem (see demo)
Take a look at the demo and note that there is border-radius and inset box-shadow applied in the first row of images. Firefox does render border-radius on image element, but doesn't render the inset box-shadow. Chrome or Safari doesn't render the border-radius and inset box-shadow at all.
Workaround
To get the border-radius and inset box-shadow working, the workaround is to apply the actual image as background-image.
Dynamic Way
To make it dynamic, you can use to jQuery to wrap the background image dynamically for every image element. The jQuery code below will wrap all images with a span tag and apply the image source as the background image (jQuery code by Darcy Clarke).
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.5/jquery.min.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
$(document).ready(function(){
$("img").load(function() {
$(this).wrap(function(){
return '<span class="image-wrap ' + $(this).attr('class') + '" style="position:relative; display:inline-block; background:url(' + $(this).attr('src') + ') no-repeat center center; width: ' + $(this).width() + 'px; height: ' + $(this).height() + 'px;" />';
});
$(this).css("opacity","0");
});
});
</script>
Output
The above code will output the following HTML code:
<span class="image-wrap " style="position:relative; display:inline-block; background:url(image.jpg) no-repeat center center; width: 150px; height: 150px;">
<img src="image.jpg" style="opacity: 0;">
</span>
Circle Image (see demo)
Now that the image is applied as a background image, you can pretty much add any style to it. Below is a simple circle image created with border-radius. If you are not familiar with CSS3, read my tutorial on the Basics of CSS3.
CSS
.circle .image-wrap {
-webkit-border-radius: 50em;
-moz-border-radius: 50em;
border-radius: 50em;
}
Card Style (see demo)
Below is a card-like image style created with multiple inset box-shadow values.
CSS
.card .image-wrap {
-webkit-box-shadow: inset 0 0 1px rgba(0,0,0,.8), inset 0 2px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.5), inset 0 -1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.4);
-moz-box-shadow: inset 0 0 1px rgba(0,0,0,.8), inset 0 2px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.5), inset 0 -1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.4);
box-shadow: inset 0 0 1px rgba(0,0,0,.8), inset 0 2px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.5), inset 0 -1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.4);
-webkit-border-radius: 20px;
-moz-border-radius: 20px;
border-radius: 20px;
}
Embossed Style (see demo)
With some alterations, I can turn the card style into embossed style.
CSS
.embossed .image-wrap {
-webkit-box-shadow: inset 0 0 2px rgba(0,0,0,.8), inset 0 2px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.5), inset 0 -7px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.6), inset 0 -9px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.3);
-moz-box-shadow: inset 0 0 2px rgba(0,0,0,.8), inset 0 2px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.5), inset 0 -7px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.6), inset 0 -9px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.3);
box-shadow: inset 0 0 2px rgba(0,0,0,.8), inset 0 2px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.5), inset 0 -7px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.6), inset 0 -9px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.3);
-webkit-border-radius: 20px;
-moz-border-radius: 20px;
border-radius: 20px;
}
Soft Embossed Style (see demo)
This is pretty much the same as the embossed style, but I just applied 1px blur to it.
CSS
.soft-embossed .image-wrap {
-webkit-box-shadow: inset 0 0 4px rgba(0,0,0,1), inset 0 2px 1px rgba(255,255,255,.5), inset 0 -9px 2px rgba(0,0,0,.6), inset 0 -12px 2px rgba(255,255,255,.3);
-moz-box-shadow: inset 0 0 4px rgba(0,0,0,1), inset 0 2px 1px rgba(255,255,255,.5), inset 0 -9px 2px rgba(0,0,0,.6), inset 0 -12px 2px rgba(255,255,255,.3);
box-shadow: inset 0 0 4px rgba(0,0,0,1), inset 0 2px 1px rgba(255,255,255,.5), inset 0 -9px 2px rgba(0,0,0,.6), inset 0 -12px 2px rgba(255,255,255,.3);
-webkit-border-radius: 20px;
-moz-border-radius: 20px;
border-radius: 20px;
}
Cutout Style (see demo)
Again with just inset box-shadow, I can make it to look like a cutout effect.
CSS
.cut-out .image-wrap {
-webkit-box-shadow: 0 1px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.2), inset 0 4px 5px rgba(0,0,0,.6), inset 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.6);
-moz-box-shadow: 0 1px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.2), inset 0 4px 5px rgba(0,0,0,.6), inset 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.6);
box-shadow: 0 1px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.2), inset 0 4px 5px rgba(0,0,0,.6), inset 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.6);
-webkit-border-radius: 20px;
-moz-border-radius: 20px;
border-radius: 20px;
}
Morphing & Glowing (see demo)
In this example, I added transition to the image wrap element. On mouse over, it will morph from rounded corners to circle and add a glowing effect. The glowing effect is done with multiple box-shadow values.
CSS
.morphing-glowing .image-wrap {
-webkit-transition: 1s;
-moz-transition: 1s;
transition: 1s;
-webkit-border-radius: 20px;
-moz-border-radius: 20px;
border-radius: 20px;
}
.morphing-glowing .image-wrap:hover {
-webkit-box-shadow: 0 0 20px rgba(255,255,255,.6), inset 0 0 20px rgba(255,255,255,1);
-moz-box-shadow: 0 0 20px rgba(255,255,255,.6), inset 0 0 20px rgba(255,255,255,1);
box-shadow: 0 0 20px rgba(255,255,255,.6), inset 0 0 20px rgba(255,255,255,1);
-webkit-border-radius: 60em;
-moz-border-radius: 60em;
border-radius: 60em;
}
Glossy Overlay (see demo)
The glossy gradient overlay is added with the :after pseudo element in the example below.
CSS
.glossy .image-wrap {
-webkit-box-shadow: inset 0 -1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.5);
-moz-box-shadow: inset 0 -1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.5);
box-shadow: inset 0 -1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.5);
-webkit-border-radius: 20px;
-moz-border-radius: 20px;
border-radius: 20px;
}
.glossy .image-wrap:after {
position: absolute;
content: ' ';
width: 100%;
height: 50%;
top: 0;
left: 0;
-webkit-border-radius: 20px;
-moz-border-radius: 20px;
border-radius: 20px;
background: -moz-linear-gradient(top, rgba(255,255,255,0.7) 0%, rgba(255,255,255,.1) 100%);
background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0%,rgba(255,255,255,0.7)), color-stop(100%,rgba(255,255,255,.1)));
background: linear-gradient(top, rgba(255,255,255,0.7) 0%,rgba(255,255,255,.1) 100%);
}
Reflection (see demo)
In this example, I shifted the overlay gradient to the bottom to create a reflection.
CSS
.reflection .image-wrap:after {
position: absolute;
content: ' ';
width: 100%;
height: 30px;
bottom: -31px;
left: 0;
-webkit-border-top-left-radius: 20px;
-webkit-border-top-right-radius: 20px;
-moz-border-radius-topleft: 20px;
-moz-border-radius-topright: 20px;
border-top-left-radius: 20px;
border-top-right-radius: 20px;
background: -moz-linear-gradient(top, rgba(0,0,0,.3) 0%, rgba(255,255,255,0) 100%);
background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0%,rgba(0,0,0,.3)), color-stop(100%,rgba(255,255,255,0)));
background: linear-gradient(top, rgba(0,0,0,.3) 0%,rgba(255,255,255,0) 100%);
}
.reflection .image-wrap:hover {
position: relative;
top: -8px;
}
Glossy & Reflection (see demo)
In this example, I combined the :before and :after element to create a glossy image style with reflection.
CSS
.glossy-reflection .image-wrap {
-webkit-box-shadow: inset 0 -1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.5), inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.6);
-moz-box-shadow: inset 0 -1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.5), inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.6);
box-shadow: inset 0 -1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.5), inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.6);
-webkit-transition: 1s;
-moz-transition: 1s;
transition: 1s;
-webkit-border-radius: 20px;
-moz-border-radius: 20px;
border-radius: 20px;
}
.glossy-reflection .image-wrap:before {
position: absolute;
content: ' ';
width: 100%;
height: 50%;
top: 0;
left: 0;
-webkit-border-radius: 20px;
-moz-border-radius: 20px;
border-radius: 20px;
background: -moz-linear-gradient(top, rgba(255,255,255,0.7) 0%, rgba(255,255,255,.1) 100%);
background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0%,rgba(255,255,255,0.7)), color-stop(100%,rgba(255,255,255,.1)));
background: linear-gradient(top, rgba(255,255,255,0.7) 0%,rgba(255,255,255,.1) 100%);
}
.glossy-reflection .image-wrap:after {
position: absolute;
content: ' ';
width: 100%;
height: 30px;
bottom: -31px;
left: 0;
-webkit-border-top-left-radius: 20px;
-webkit-border-top-right-radius: 20px;
-moz-border-radius-topleft: 20px;
-moz-border-radius-topright: 20px;
border-top-left-radius: 20px;
border-top-right-radius: 20px;
background: -moz-linear-gradient(top, rgba(230,230,230,.3) 0%, rgba(230,230,230,0) 100%);
background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0%,rgba(230,230,230,.3)), color-stop(100%,rgba(230,230,230,0)));
background: linear-gradient(top, rgba(230,230,230,.3) 0%,rgba(230,230,230,0) 100%);
}
Tape Style (see demo)
The :after is used here to create a tape like gradient on top of the image.
CSS
.tape .image-wrap {
-webkit-box-shadow: inset 0 0 2px rgba(0,0,0,.7), inset 0 2px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.3), inset 0 -1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.5), 0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,.4);
-moz-box-shadow: inset 0 0 2px rgba(0,0,0,.7), inset 0 2px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.3), inset 0 -1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.5), 0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,.4);
box-shadow: inset 0 0 2px rgba(0,0,0,.7), inset 0 2px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.3), inset 0 -1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.5), 0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,.4);
}
.tape .image-wrap:after {
position: absolute;
content: ' ';
width: 60px;
height: 25px;
top: -10px;
left: 50%;
margin-left: -30px;
border: solid 1px rgba(137,130,48,.2);
background: -moz-linear-gradient(top, rgba(254,243,127,.6) 0%, rgba(240,224,54,.6) 100%);
background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0%,rgba(254,243,127,.6)), color-stop(100%,rgba(240,224,54,.6)));
background: linear-gradient(top, rgba(254,243,127,.6) 0%,rgba(240,224,54,.6) 100%);
-webkit-box-shadow: inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.3), 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.2);
}
Morphing & Tinting (see demo)
In the example below, I use the :after element to add a radial gradient on mouse over.
CSS
.morphing-tinting .image-wrap {
position: relative;
-webkit-transition: 1s;
-moz-transition: 1s;
transition: 1s;
-webkit-border-radius: 20px;
-moz-border-radius: 20px;
border-radius: 20px;
}
.morphing-tinting .image-wrap:hover {
-webkit-border-radius: 30em;
-moz-border-radius: 30em;
border-radius: 30em;
}
.morphing-tinting .image-wrap:after {
position: absolute;
content: ' ';
width: 100%;
height: 100%;
top: 0;
left: 0;
-webkit-transition: 1s;
-moz-transition: 1s;
transition: 1s;
-webkit-border-radius: 30em;
-moz-border-radius: 30em;
border-radius: 30em;
}
.morphing-tinting .image-wrap:hover:after {
background: -webkit-gradient(radial, 50% 50%, 40, 50% 50%, 80, from(rgba(0,0,0,0)), to(rgba(0,0,0,1)));
background: -moz-radial-gradient(50% 50%, circle, rgba(0,0,0,0) 40px, rgba(0,0,0,1) 80px);
}
Feather Edge Circle (see demo)
The radial gradient can also be used as a mask to create a circle feather effect as seen in the example below.
CSS
.feather .image-wrap {
position: relative;
-webkit-border-radius: 30em;
-moz-border-radius: 30em;
border-radius: 30em;
}
.feather .image-wrap:after {
position: absolute;
content: ' ';
width: 100%;
height: 100%;
top: 0;
left: 0;
background: -webkit-gradient(radial, 50% 50%, 50, 50% 50%, 70, from(rgba(255,255,255,0)), to(rgba(255,255,255,1)));
background: -moz-radial-gradient(50% 50%, circle, rgba(255,255,255,0) 50px, rgba(255,255,255,1) 70px);
}
Browser Capability
This trick pretty much work on any browser (eg. Chrome, Firefox and Safari) that supports border-radius, box-shadow, :before and :after. The unsupported browsers will fall back to the image without any styles.
Use Your Creativity
As you can see, you can pretty much create any image style with combination of :before and :after pseudo element. If you come up with more creative image styles, please share it in the comments.
Update: CSS3 Image Styles - Part 2
Also read CSS Image Images - Part 2.
great article! but do you know if google images shows images that were set in background?
Awesome tutorial.Thanks you for sharing!
Definitely the best resource i’ve found for CSS3 image manipulation. Thanks!
Hi, awesome tutorial, you really show what can be done with css3.
I have a question, I’m working with templates, so can’t change html, and I’m trying to apply some tinting to a JPG images, but the inner shadow does not come over the picture, any idea how to make it straight to the picture?
Thanks
This is Great tutorial! I think css3 is the future.
thanks
This is great stuff; very inspirational—thank you!
I’m going to be nit-picky here, but if you want the reflection w/ mouse over example to be more realistic, the reflection should stay put while the main image rises up. Just a thought. Nice work though. Kudos.
Great design, great tips, I’ll be back!
very usefull technique… Thanks….
Definitely using this in my new project. Something with a sleek clean look.
I love your DEMO section which make easy to follow. I just can’t stop coming back to your site to learn web design stuff.
This tutorial helped me in so much different projects !! you can’t imagine !
Nice information.Thanks for sharing.
By the css code, reduce the code & time. Also get best functionality.
Wooohhooo, thanks for sharing this with us.
Helped me a lot!
Greetings from wonderful Greece (irony)
I tried to put it in a wordpress theme, it works perfect in firefox but it take effect (on safari and opera) only after a refresh. Does anyone know why that happens? does it have anything to do with the fact tha it it is still hosted on wamp test server?
Awesome use of your creativity !
Using it now on my blog !
looks really good and pretty easy to do! thanks!
that was very helpfull..
thanks a lot…
Awesome! Trick CSS Image Thank..
AMAZING !!
great tutorial gan :)
Thanks for sharing. This is what I want to know.