CSS: Semi-transparent background and an image

Question

body {
  background-image: url('cloud.png');
  background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.6);
}

I tried using the above to produce a semi-transparent white background above a background-image. It doesn't work, only the background image is shown and the background-color appears to be ignored. How can I adjust the opacity of a body background image?

Solution 1

background-color is placed underneath background-image, not above it (when rendered in the web-browser). To put a semi-transparent white block over an image, you will need to place another different HTML element on top of it with background-color.

Solution 2

You can use the css "before" pseudo class to create the white overlay and place before all the content in your DOM. Add z-index:-1 to ensure it doesn't sit on top of other elements:

body {
    background: url("image.jpg");
}
body:before {
    content: "";
    display: block;
    position: fixed;
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%;
    left: 0;
    top: 0;
    z-index: -1;
    background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.6);
}

jsfiddle