Background Sizes & Settings - Guidelines for background images

Here are some tips on how to make your big background images more striking!

 

What size should my background images be? 

Strikingly's background images are meant to fill a wide variety of screen sizes, from monitor to tablet to phone. We recommend a size of 1600 pixels wide by 900 pixels tall, so your background can look great on all devices. Be careful about including non-background images of people, logos, and other content! Check how these look with our "preview" function.

 

What background setting should I use?

There are a few options to size/align your background: 

  • Stretch is the default. This setting will stretch your image, so it covers the entire screen in both height and width. This is usually the best option because the image will act as a background on any screen size. However, if you have content on the sides of your image (particularly the left and right), it may not show on mobile phones.
  • Contain will ensure that the entire image is visible without being cropped, but it may result in some blank space around the image on certain devices.
  • Center means the image will be displayed in the middle of the section and will not be resized. However, if the image is too small, the background will show white space on the edges. If the image is too big, some parts may be cut off, especially on smaller screens.
  • Tile will center the image and then repeat it, which is useful for patterns.

 

Where can I get good background images?

Various search engines are a great place to find background images that suit you. Search for  "_______ desktop backgrounds" and see what you find. Remember to check image rights and do not use stock images you do not have the right to!

Inspiring visuals to use: https://www.vecteezy.com/
Beautiful copyright-free images: http://gratisography.com/

You can use Strikingly's Icon/Background Library to find great images for your site. Go to "Upload" on any image and look at the tabs up top!

 

 

Can I use image effects on my background images?

Use effects in the photo editor to completely change the look of your images. Click on the image after you've uploaded it, and then choose "Image Editor".

 

Try the "filters" and mirroring the image to see what complements your site. See what else you can do!

 

Note: For image sizing specifications, please check out our guidelines here.  

 

In case you need assistance, shoot us a line at support@strikingly.com or chat with us.

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