Jan 17
CSS Gradient Text Effect
Do you want to create fancy headings without rendering each heading with Photoshop? Here is a simple CSS trick to show you how to create gradient text effect with a PNG image (pure CSS, no Javascript or Flash). All you need is an empty <span> tag in the heading and apply the background image overlay using the CSS position:absolute property. This trick has been tested on most browsers: Firefox, Safari, Opera, and even Internet Explorer 6. Continue to read this article to find out how.
Benefits
- This is pure CSS trick, no Javascript or Flash. It works on most browsers including IE6 (PNG hack required).
- It is perfect for designing headings. You don’t have to render each heading with Photoshop. This will save you time and bandwidth.
- You can use on any web fonts and the font size remains scalable.
How does this work?
The trick is very simple. Basically we are just adding a 1px gradient PNG (with alpha transparency) over the text.
The HTML markups
<h1><span></span>CSS Gradient Text</h1>
The CSS
The key point here is: h1 { position: relative } and h1 span { position: absolute }
h1 {
font: bold 330%/100% "Lucida Grande";
position: relative;
color: #464646;
}
h1 span {
background: url(gradient.png) repeat-x;
position: absolute;
display: block;
width: 100%;
height: 31px;
}
That’s it! You are done. Click here to view my demo page.
Make it work on IE6
Since IE6 doesn’t render PNG-24 properly, the following hack is required in order to display the transparent PNG (add anywhere in between the <head> tag):
<!--[if lt IE 7]>
<style>
h1 span {
background: none;
filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.AlphaImageLoader(src='gradient.png', sizingMethod='scale');
}
</style>
<![endif]-->
This is why we hate IE 6!
jQuery prepend version (for semantic lovers)
If you don’t want to have the empty <span> tag in the heading, you can use Javascript to prepend the <span> tag. Here is a sample using jQuery prepend method:
<script type="text/javascript" src="jquery.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
$(document).ready(function(){
//prepend span tag to H1
$("h1").prepend("<span></span>");
});
</script>
More samples
Want to make Web 2.0 glossy text?

Literally, you can apply this trick on any solid background color (as long your gradient color is the same as your background color).





Pattern / Texture
You can also apply this trick with a tile background image. Look, here is an example of zebra pattern. So, be creative!

Limitations and more…
- This trick is only suitable for solid background color elements. Your gradient color (PNG image) must be the same color as your background color.
- IE PNG hack is required if you want it to work on IE 6.
- If your gradient image is taller than the heading, the text will not be selectable.
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Comments
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There are 327 comments (+Add)
Pages: 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 … 1 » Show All




327 psd xhtml http://psdxhtmlycss.com
January 17th, 2010 at 3:35 pm
it is funny work for ie6, ie5 and ie5.5
326 crowdsourcing website http://www.shopfordesigns.com
January 15th, 2010 at 2:17 am
interesting headings yet very simple codes… will be using them for sure.
325 aljuk http://www.webpixelmedia.com
January 9th, 2010 at 5:45 am
Stunningly simple. Thanks, I’ll be using this with the jQ prepend.
324 vincentdresses http://www.hibridal.com
January 5th, 2010 at 11:35 pm
The designs showed here show what simple and tasteful design is all about. Another one to consider
323 lilsizzo
January 4th, 2010 at 9:47 pm
xdas as
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322 sara http://freetutorialstore.com
December 25th, 2009 at 10:54 am
Very Nice article Keep going on
321 zoeldt http://gulalisweet.co.cc
December 22nd, 2009 at 2:19 am
sweet sweet
thanks for sharing
320 patik modelleri http://www.patikmodelleri.com
December 17th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
buraya birseyler karalamak gerekiyor ama tam olarak ne yazacagimi bilmiyorum.
319 Basic Websites http://www.basic-websites.co.uk
December 8th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Excellent stuff, I’ve previously accomplished this using graphics programs, this is a much more elegant way of doing things. Shame about the IE hack…but hey it wouldn’t be IE without hacks would it?
318 Debora
November 19th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
Create fancy headings in really very interesting work. I found your post useful and now I m using it in my 83-640 website.