1000+ HD Background Images and Photos

Browse through our collection of stunning background photographs. Our background images are textured, patterned and arranged to perfectly support the content that you choose to add to your website.

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queen street west

Queen Street West


queen street sign

Queen Street Sign


ireland grasslands

Ireland Grasslands


ireland grass field

Ireland Grass Field


green tree top leaves

Green Tree Top Leaves


college clock tower

College Clock Tower


bike & vines

Bike & Vines


ocean waves on rocks

Ocean Waves On Rocks


ocean waves on beach

Ocean Waves On Beach


looking down stairwell

Looking Down Stairwell


architecture and grey skies

Architecture And Grey Skies


portrait of urban cyclist

Portrait Of Urban Cyclist


man by vine wall

Man By Vine Wall


bike in alley

Bike In Alley


forest wildflowers

Forest Wildflowers


colored tile design

Colored Tile Design


campground spiders web

Campground Spiders Web


brick wall city scape

Brick Wall City Scape


tall trees taller cliff

Tall Trees Taller Cliff


autumn trees & hillside

Autumn Trees & Hillside


canyon from above

Canyon From Above


beach waves through trees

Beach Waves Through Trees


mountain magic hour

Mountain Magic Hour


mountain peak through trees

Mountain Peak Through Trees


canyon sky

Canyon Sky


hiking though giants

Hiking Though Giants


waterfall through trees

Waterfall Through Trees


oceanside cliffs

Oceanside Cliffs


rapids & forest

Rapids & Forest


temple peaks through tree-tops

Temple Peaks Through Tree-Tops


round colored tile

Round Colored Tile


new york night skyline

New York Night Skyline


desert mountain

Desert Mountain


desert highway

Desert Highway


clouded hills

Clouded Hills


city by mountain

City By Mountain


abstract green & yellow vertical lines

Abstract Green & Yellow Vertical Lines


wood shoe forms hang

Wood Shoe Forms Hang


textured rainbow

Textured Rainbow


popcicle

Popcicle


orange becomes yellow

Orange Becomes Yellow


abstract blue

Abstract Blue


sunset waves

Sunset Waves


white hydrangea blossoms with water

White Hydrangea Blossoms With Water


plants after rain

Plants After Rain


dusty rose

Dusty Rose


delicate pink roses

Delicate Pink Roses


cloudy sky from above

Cloudy Sky From Above


closeup of water on green leaf

Closeup Of Water On Green Leaf


green pink succulent

Green Pink Succulent


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Stunning HD background photos for commercial use

What makes background pictures different?

Background photographs are used very differently that regular images for a number of reasons. When selecting a background image - there are specialized criteria to keep in mind. For starters - background pictures won’t fit into a fixed frame they way other photographs would. When a photo is locked into an article or block of text or shown as part of an advertisement - the dimensions are fixed - meaning that selecting a suitable photo really just comes down to aesthetics.

With background images - things work a little differently. To start, backgrounds are not likely to be in a fixed frame and will need to be equally beautiful when viewed on a large fullscreen, widescreen, or a mobile phone screen. It’s for this reason that web developers will often choose an images of a pattern - so that parts of the it can be cut off by web-browsers and other content that may vary in size and shape without looking like the image is misplaced.

If you’re not using a pattern, you’ll want to make sure the image isn’t too focused. Images with a clear subject don't work as well as background images because parts of the subject may be covered.

You may also choose to use background images to create a parallax scrolling effect. Parallax scrolling has been proven to create a better user experience for web users. This is where a web designer or developer might choose to add content in front of a background images that scrolls faster than the background image itself. This effect is used on web-pages to give the illusion of depth to the page and to create a more dynamic viewing experience.

Images used in parallax scrolling tend to be a little bit different from regular background images. They can be patterns and textures as well - but because portions of the image will scroll by at some point, the images can be a bit more focused - as long as the focus is toward the centre of the image.

Remember that background images take a supporting role in web-page design, so it’s best if they’re simple, clean and patterned. Even if the pattern isn’t design-oriented, you’ll want to go with images without a single, clear subject. Photograph-wise, images like city scapes, landscapes, or large images of busy locations with many subjects tend to look best.

Background images for commercial use

Luckily when it comes to getting the perfect background photo - we’ve got your covered. Our collection of HD photos are perfect for editing and can be used as widescreen backgrounds, full screen backgrounds, and desktop backgrounds and will look equally stunning on both Windows and Mac computers at any size (1600 x 1200, 1440, 1280, 1920).

Take a look at our free, downloadable high resolution images - perfect for your next project.

Background images FAQ

What are background images?

Background images are visual elements that are used to enhance the appearance of a website, presentation, or any other design project. They provide a backdrop or setting for the main content.

What types of background images work best for web-page design?

Background images play a supporting role in web-page design, so it is best to choose simple, clean, and patterned images. Even non-design-oriented patterns can work well. Images without a single, clear subject, such as cityscapes, landscapes, or busy locations with multiple subjects, tend to look best.

Can I use your background images for commercial purposes?

Absolutely! Our collection of high-definition (HD) photos is perfect for editing and can be used as widescreen backgrounds, full-screen backgrounds, and desktop backgrounds. They will look stunning on both Windows and Mac computers at any size, including 1600 x 1200, 1440, 1280, and 1920.

Are your background images available for free download?

Yes, we offer a selection of free, downloadable high-resolution images that are ideal for your next project. These images can be used for commercial purposes and are ready to enhance your designs.