Using both background color and gradient within a single CSS background attribute

Question

Using both background color and gradient within a single CSS background attribute

I want to create a unique design by combining a solid color and a gradient in a single CSS background attribute. The challenge here is to have these two backgrounds with separate size and position parameters specified in individual background-position and background-size attributes so that they can be placed next to each other.

div {
    width: 400px; height: 200px; border: 1px solid gray;
    
    background: red, linear-gradient(to right, black, white);
    background-position: left, right;
    background-size: 70% 100%, 30% 100%;
    background-repeat: no-repeat;
}

<div></div>

This setup should result in the following visual appearance:

https://i.sstatic.net/ZWCDp.png

However, Chrome indicates an error stating that the background property has an invalid value:

https://i.sstatic.net/WGrvB.png

I am struggling to comprehend the reason behind this error.

My attempts to find a solution on Stack Overflow or through Google have not been successful as most solutions involve combining a color with an image, which is different from my requirement of having distinct colors and gradients as "two backgrounds" with their own sizes and positions.

The goal is to avoid merging the solid color into the gradient for two primary reasons:

The end plan involves rotating the gradient while keeping the vertical border between the two backgrounds intact.
There is a need to animate the position/size change in a transition (altering the 70%/30% ratio during hover), which cannot be achieved with single gradient stops.

The current workaround I have employed seems inelegant - wrapping the solid color in a gradient with identical start and end colors. It feels like there should be a simpler solution...

html css

Answer 1

Answer №1

linear-gradient() is similar to url() in that it creates an image (background-image). In the shorthand syntax, color is placed beside the image (background-color) <edit> multiple gradients can be set and animated using background-size:

div {
  width: 400px;
  height: 200px;
  border: 1px solid gray;   
  background: linear-gradient(to top, red, red) no-repeat, linear-gradient(to right, black, white) no-repeat 100% 0 tomato; 
  background-size: 20% auto, 80% auto;
  animation: animate 4s infinite alternate;
}
@keyframes animate {
from {  background-size: 20% auto, 80% auto;}
30% {  background-size: 10% auto, 10% auto;}
90%, to {  background-size: 70% auto, 30% auto;}
}

<div>

</div>

Note that red can be included within the gradient instead of using background-color: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/linear-gradient

The linear-gradient() CSS function creates a linear, progressive transition between two or more colors. Its output is an object of the <gradient> data type, which is a special kind of <image>.
div {
  width: 400px;
  height: 200px;
  border: 1px solid gray; 
  background: linear-gradient(to right, red 70%, black 70%, white);
}
<div>

</div>

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/background

The CSS background shorthand property allows you to adjust all available background style options simultaneously, including color image, origin and size, repeat method, and other features. background can be used to define the values for one or more of: background-clip, background-color, background-image, background-origin, background-position, background-repeat, background-size, and background-attachment.

Answer 2

linear-gradient() is similar to url() in that it creates an image (background-image). In the shorthand syntax, color is placed beside the image (background-color) <edit> multiple gradients can be set and animated using background-size:

div {
  width: 400px;
  height: 200px;
  border: 1px solid gray;   
  background: linear-gradient(to top, red, red) no-repeat, linear-gradient(to right, black, white) no-repeat 100% 0 tomato; 
  background-size: 20% auto, 80% auto;
  animation: animate 4s infinite alternate;
}
@keyframes animate {
from {  background-size: 20% auto, 80% auto;}
30% {  background-size: 10% auto, 10% auto;}
90%, to {  background-size: 70% auto, 30% auto;}
}

<div>

</div>

Note that red can be included within the gradient instead of using background-color: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/linear-gradient

The linear-gradient() CSS function creates a linear, progressive transition between two or more colors. Its output is an object of the <gradient> data type, which is a special kind of <image>.
div {
  width: 400px;
  height: 200px;
  border: 1px solid gray; 
  background: linear-gradient(to right, red 70%, black 70%, white);
}
<div>

</div>

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/background

The CSS background shorthand property allows you to adjust all available background style options simultaneously, including color image, origin and size, repeat method, and other features. background can be used to define the values for one or more of: background-clip, background-color, background-image, background-origin, background-position, background-repeat, background-size, and background-attachment.

Answer 3

Answer №2

Despite my efforts, Safari keeps throwing errors about the background property having an invalid value. I can't seem to figure out why.

The specification clearly states that a color value can only be used in the last layer of an element with multiple layered backgrounds, as outlined in the documentation. By placing a color in any other layer than the last one, you are violating the rules and causing your shorthand declaration to be considered invalid.

To tackle this issue, I've been forced to use a workaround that involves wrapping the solid color within a gradient featuring the same starting and ending colors. It's not ideal and I'm convinced there must be a simpler solution...

Unfortunately, there isn't. The method you're currently using is the only pure CSS workaround available. Alternatively, you could consider utilizing a Base64-encoded data URI representing a single red pixel, but regardless, you'll need to provide an image value if you want that solid color to overlay the gradient effectively.

Answer 4

Despite my efforts, Safari keeps throwing errors about the background property having an invalid value. I can't seem to figure out why.

The specification clearly states that a color value can only be used in the last layer of an element with multiple layered backgrounds, as outlined in the documentation. By placing a color in any other layer than the last one, you are violating the rules and causing your shorthand declaration to be considered invalid.

To tackle this issue, I've been forced to use a workaround that involves wrapping the solid color within a gradient featuring the same starting and ending colors. It's not ideal and I'm convinced there must be a simpler solution...

Unfortunately, there isn't. The method you're currently using is the only pure CSS workaround available. Alternatively, you could consider utilizing a Base64-encoded data URI representing a single red pixel, but regardless, you'll need to provide an image value if you want that solid color to overlay the gradient effectively.

Answer 5

Answer №3

When setting a background gradient, it will be laid over the existing background color. This means that if you want only 70% of the screen to be red, you must include this in your gradient.

The reason why your property was not displayed correctly in your JS Fiddle is because there was a comma separating different parts of the background shorthand property. To overlay your gradient over the background without any issues, simply remove the comma:

div {

/* other properties for the div here */

background: red linear-gradient(to right, transparent 0%, transparent 70%, rgb(0,0,0) 70%,rgb(255,255,255) 100%);

}

Visit the JS Fiddle link

If you wish to tint the gradient with an overlay, just add some transparency. This will create a nice effect where the gradient can be overlaid with transparency (I adjusted the sequence for better aesthetic sense).

div {

  /* other properties for the div here */

  background: red linear-gradient(to right, transparent 0%, transparent 70%, rgba(0,0,0,1) 100%);

}

Check out the JS Fiddle link

In the example above, I added a div with an inline style property specifying the background color directly in the div itself to showcase some nice effects.

<div>
<!-- this one will be red and fade to black -->
</div>

<div style="background-color:blue">
<!-- this one will be blue and fade to black-- >
</div>

Answer 6

When setting a background gradient, it will be laid over the existing background color. This means that if you want only 70% of the screen to be red, you must include this in your gradient.

The reason why your property was not displayed correctly in your JS Fiddle is because there was a comma separating different parts of the background shorthand property. To overlay your gradient over the background without any issues, simply remove the comma:

div {

/* other properties for the div here */

background: red linear-gradient(to right, transparent 0%, transparent 70%, rgb(0,0,0) 70%,rgb(255,255,255) 100%);

}

Visit the JS Fiddle link

If you wish to tint the gradient with an overlay, just add some transparency. This will create a nice effect where the gradient can be overlaid with transparency (I adjusted the sequence for better aesthetic sense).

div {

  /* other properties for the div here */

  background: red linear-gradient(to right, transparent 0%, transparent 70%, rgba(0,0,0,1) 100%);

}

Check out the JS Fiddle link

In the example above, I added a div with an inline style property specifying the background color directly in the div itself to showcase some nice effects.

<div>
<!-- this one will be red and fade to black -->
</div>

<div style="background-color:blue">
<!-- this one will be blue and fade to black-- >
</div>

Using both background color and gradient within a single CSS background attribute

Answer №1

Answer №2

Answer №3

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