When to use IMG vs. CSS background-image?

Answer 1

Also, i have a gallery section which has inconsistent picture sizes so even though those images are obviously considered content, I use background images and center them in divs with a set size. This is similar to what facebook does in their albums..

Answer 2

Foreground = img.

Background = CSS background.

Answer 3

Use background images only when necessary e.g. containers with image that tiles.

One of the major PROS by using IMAGES is that it is better for SEO.

Answer 4

Here's a technical consideration: will the image be generated dynamically? It tends to be a lot easier to generate the <img> tag in HTML than to try to dynamically edit a CSS property.

Answer 5

If you want to add an image only for the special content on the page or for only one page the you should use IMG tag and if you want to put image on more than one pages then you should use CSS Background Image.

Answer 6

Some answers overcomplicate the scenario here. This is a dead simple situation.

Just answer to this question every time you'd like to place an image:

Is this part of the content or part of the design?

If you can't answer this, you probably don't know what you're doing or what you want to do!

Also, DO NOT consider beside the two technique, just because you'd wish to be "printer friendly" or not. Also DO NOT hide content from a SEO point of view with CSS. If you find yourself managing your content in CSS files, you shot yourself in the leg. This is just a trivial decision of what is content or not. Every other aspect should be ignored.