The Search For a Fixed Background Effect With Inline Images

Recently, while working on a client project, I needed a specific visual effect for an image. Background images, using background-attachment: fixed;, easily achieve this fixed scrolling effect—the image remains stationary even as the page scrolls. This effect, while not frequently used, can be quite striking, particularly when applied subtly.

Table of Contents

• Why Use <img alt="The Search For a Fixed Background Effect With Inline Images" > Instead of background-image?
• Using CSS background-image
• The clip-path Trick for Inline Images
• A Better Approach?

Initially, I aimed to replicate this fixed effect using an inline image (<img alt="The Search For a Fixed Background Effect With Inline Images" >) instead of a CSS background image. A demonstration of the desired effect is available here. The code for this demo is in this Git repository (Note: This is a Next.js project). A simplified CodePen example with raw HTML will follow.

Why Use <img alt="The Search For a Fixed Background Effect With Inline Images" > Instead of background-image?

Several reasons motivated my preference for the <img alt="The Search For a Fixed Background Effect With Inline Images" > tag:

• Easier lazy loading.
• Improved SEO and accessibility via alt text.
• Optimized loading performance using srcset/sizes.
• Browser-optimized image selection via the <picture></picture> tag.
• Direct image saving for users (without DevTools).

Using the <img alt="The Search For a Fixed Background Effect With Inline Images" > tag is generally preferable when the image is considered content rather than mere decoration. My solution involved the clip-path CSS property. Let's compare this with the background-image method.

1. Using CSS background-image

The traditional approach uses background-image:

.hero-section {
  background-image: url("nice_bg_image.jpg");
  background-repeat: no-repeat;
  background-size: cover;
  background-position: center;
  background-attachment: fixed;
}

However, this method has limitations. The image isn't treated as content, impacting accessibility (screen readers). It also functions optimally only when the image fills or is centered within the viewport. Off-center images require media queries for proper positioning across different devices.

2. Using the clip-path Trick on an Inline Image

A Stack Overflow solution utilizing clip-path provides an alternative:

.image-container {
  position: relative;
  height: 200px;
  clip-path: inset(0);
}

.image {
  object-fit: cover;
  position: fixed;
  left: 0;
  top: 0;
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
}

This approach maintains the <img alt="The Search For a Fixed Background Effect With Inline Images" > tag's advantages. However, it's less concise and clip-path presents challenges. For example, simple styling like border-radius requires modifications to the clip-path itself. Precise image positioning within the clip-path can also be complex.

A Better Approach?

Ultimately, I reverted to using CSS background-image, acknowledging its limitations. Has anyone successfully implemented this fixed scrolling effect with an inline image in a more elegant way? I'd appreciate hearing your solutions!

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