Way to divide a single background image across multiple divs to create “windowed” effect?

Question

I was wondering if there is an easy way to \"tile\" or \"window\" a single background image across multiple divs. I want to create a sort of punched out window look.

Ke

Answer 1

I came into something that's nearly a 100%. Feel free (anyone) to edit the answer.

CSS

#blocks {
    width:100%;
    height:100px;
}
.block {
    float: left;
    overflow: hidden;
    margin: 2%;
    width: 20%;
    height: 100%;
    background: transparent url(http://www.designmyprofile.com/images/graphics/backgrounds/background0172.jpg) no-repeat top left;
}

jQuery (JS)

$(function () {
    var posX = 0;
    var posY = 0;
    var i = 0;

    $(".block").each(function (ind, el) {
        $(this).css("background-position", posX.toString() + "% " + posY.toString() + "%");

        posX += 20;
        i++;

        if (i == 4) {
            i = 0;
            posX = 0;
            posY += 25;
        }
    });
});

Demo (to be improved): http://jsfiddle.net/bzCNb/33/

Answer 2

A CSS-only solution

What you are describing is basically a table with a background image and white borders. A simple solution can be achieved by creating a table-like layout with CSS only.

#background-container { 
    display:table;
    width:100%;
    border-collapse:collapse;
    box-sizing:border-box;
     /**/
    background: url(path-to-background-image) no-repeat center center;
    background-size: cover;
     /* Vendor specific hacks */
    -webkit-background-size: cover;
    -moz-background-size: cover;
    -o-background-size: cover;
}

.blocks {
    display:table-row;
}

.block {
    display:table-cell;
    height:100px;
    border:10px solid #FFF;
}

See jsFiddle Demo

Answer 3

Try putting the background on the blocks instead of the page with fixed attachment and alignment of left top. Unfortunately with this option if the page scrolls the background appears fixed.

.block{
    float: left;
    overflow: hidden;
    margin: 2%;
    width: 20%;
    height: 100%;
    background-image: url(http://www.designmyprofile.com/images/graphics/backgrounds/background0172.jpg);
    background-repeat: no-repeat;
    background-position: left top;
    background-attachment: fixed;
}

http://jsfiddle.net/bzCNb/28/