A visually appealing online store can significantly enhance the customer experience and leave a lasting impression. Full screen background image can be a powerful tool in achieving this goal, captivating visitors and setting the tone for your brand. Fortunately, Shopify offers a couple of methods to incorporate full-screen background images within specific sections on your store’s pages.

This guide explores two main approaches for adding full-screen background images to sections in Shopify:

• Using the Theme Editor (For Beginners): This method leverages a user-friendly interface within the Shopify admin panel, requiring no coding knowledge.
• Editing Theme Code (For Users Comfortable with Code): This approach offers more flexibility in terms of image positioning and styling, but requires some understanding of CSS (Cascading Style Sheets).

By following the steps outlined for each method, you can choose the approach that best aligns with your comfort level and desired level of control.

Adding a Full-Screen Background Image Using the Theme Editor (For Beginners)

The theme editor provides a convenient way to add full-screen background images to sections without needing to touch code. Here’s how:

1. Log in to your Shopify Admin Panel.
2. Navigate to the “Online Store” section and select “Themes.”
3. Click on the “Actions” menu next to your theme and choose “Edit.”
4. Within the theme editor, locate the section where you want to add the full-screen background image. Common sections include “Hero,” “Banner,” or custom sections offered by your theme.
5. Look for options related to “Background Image” or “Background.” These options might be located within the section settings or a dedicated “Background” section within the theme editor.
6. Click on the “Upload Image” button or similar option to select your desired full-screen background image. Ensure the image has appropriate dimensions to avoid pixelation or stretching when displayed at full screen.
7. Some theme editors might offer additional options for background image settings. These might include the ability to choose a background position (e.g., centered, top-left) or how the image repeats if it doesn’t fully cover the section area. Explore these options to achieve your desired effect.
8. Save your changes.
9. Preview your store to confirm the full-screen background image is displayed correctly within the chosen section. Make further adjustments if necessary.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface, no coding knowledge required.
• Suitable for beginners comfortable navigating the Shopify admin panel.
• Allows for quick and easy addition of full-screen background images to various sections.

Cons:

• Limited control over the image’s exact positioning and styling compared to editing code.
• Relies on the specific options offered by your theme editor.

Adding a Full-Screen Background Image by Editing Theme Code (For Users Comfortable with Code)

For more control over the placement and styling of your full-screen background image, consider editing your theme code. Here’s a basic overview:

1. Back up your Theme: Before modifying any code, create a duplicate of your current theme. This allows you to revert to the previous version if any edits cause unintended consequences. You can duplicate your theme by clicking on “Duplicate” under the “Actions” menu for your theme within the Shopify admin panel. 2. Download Your Theme Code: Within the Shopify admin panel, navigate to “Online Store” > “Themes” and click on “Actions” > “Download” for your chosen theme.
2. Locate the Section Template File: Open the downloaded theme code files and search for the file containing the template for the section where you want to add the background image. This file name can vary depending on your theme, but common names include “section.liquid” or specific section template names (e.g., “hero.liquid”).
3. Identify the Section’s CSS Class: Within the section template file, locate the section element (often wrapped in HTML tags). Look for a unique CSS class assigned to this section (e.g., “hero-section”). This class will be used to target the section with custom CSS styling.
4. Add Custom CSS Code: At the end of your theme’s stylesheet (often a file named “theme.scss” or “styles.css”), add custom CSS code that targets the section’s CSS class you identified earlier. Here’s a common example:

CSS

.hero-section {
  background-image: url("path/to/your/image.jpg");
  background-size: cover;
  background-position: center;
  height: 100vh

Use code with caution.

Adding a Full-Screen Background Image by Editing Theme Code (continued)

Here’s the continuation of the steps for adding a full-screen background image by editing theme code:

CSS

.hero-section {
  background-image: url("path/to/your/image.jpg");  /* Replace with the actual path to your image */
  background-size: cover;  /* Ensures the image covers the entire section area */
  background-position: center;  /* Positions the image centered within the section */
  height: 100vh;  /* Sets the section height to 100% of the viewport height (full screen) */
}

Use code with caution.content_copy

Explanation of CSS properties:

• background-image: Specifies the URL of your full-screen background image. Replace "path/to/your/image.jpg" with the actual file path of your image within your theme’s asset folder.
• background-size: cover: Ensures the image fills the entire section area without distortion, even if the image dimensions don’t perfectly match the section’s size.
• background-position: center: Positions the image centered within the section. You can adjust this property to achieve different placements (e.g., top-left, bottom-right).
• height: 100vh: Sets the section’s height to 100% of the viewport height (vh). This ensures the image displays at full screen.

6. Upload the Modified Theme Code: Within the Shopify admin panel, navigate to “Online Store” > “Themes” and click on “Actions” > “Upload” for your chosen theme. Select the modified theme code files you downloaded and edited earlier.
7. Preview your store to confirm the full-screen background image is displayed correctly within the chosen section. Make further adjustments to the code or image placement if necessary.

Pros:

• Offers more control over the image’s exact positioning and styling.
• Allows for customization beyond the options offered by the theme editor.

Cons:

• Requires some understanding of CSS code and theme structure.
• Mistakes in code editing can potentially break your website’s functionality.

Additional Considerations for Adding Full-Screen Background Images

Here are some additional factors to keep in mind when adding full-screen background images to sections in Shopify:

• Image Quality and Optimization: Use high-quality images that are optimized for web to ensure fast loading times and a smooth user experience. Consider tools like Shopify’s built-in image resizer or third-party image optimization services.
• Mobile Responsiveness: Ensure your full-screen background image displays correctly across various devices, especially mobile phones. The “background-size” property (e.g., “cover”) typically helps with responsiveness, but you might need to adjust the code for optimal mobile viewing.
• Content Readability: Consider the contrast between your background image and the foreground content (text, buttons). Ensure good readability to prevent visitors from straining their eyes. You might need to adjust the image brightness or add a slight overlay to improve text visibility.
• Theme Documentation: The documentation for your specific Shopify theme might provide guidance or pre-built options for adding full-screen background images. Consult this resource for additional information.
• Professional Help: If you’re uncomfortable with code editing, consider hiring a Shopify developer to assist you with implementing full-screen background images and potentially achieving further design customizations.

As you incorporate full-screen background images, consider the additional tips provided to ensure image quality, mobile responsiveness, and optimal content readability. Explore theme documentation and consider professional help if needed.

We hope this comprehensive guide empowers you to leverage full-screen background images to create visually striking sections within your Shopify store, ultimately enhancing the customer experience and boosting your brand image!