Image Treatment

Apply stunning visual effects to images using CSS filters, blend modes, masks, and SVG filters.

Prerequisites

• Read any design-context files for brand colors, image style guidelines, or photography direction.
• Identify the mood and purpose: editorial, product, marketing, artistic.

Step 1: CSS Filter Combinations

Individual Filters

Preset Filter Recipes

.filter-vintage  { filter: sepia(0.3) contrast(1.1) brightness(1.05) saturate(0.9); }
.filter-cool     { filter: saturate(0.85) contrast(1.1) brightness(1.02) hue-rotate(-10deg); }
.filter-bw       { filter: grayscale(1) contrast(1.4) brightness(1.05); }
.filter-dreamy   { filter: brightness(1.1) contrast(0.9) saturate(1.2) blur(0.5px); }
.filter-faded    { filter: contrast(0.85) brightness(1.1) saturate(0.7); }
.filter-moody    { filter: brightness(0.85) contrast(1.2) saturate(0.8); }
.filter-vivid    { filter: contrast(1.15) saturate(1.4) brightness(1.02); }

Hover Effect with Filters

.image-card img { filter: grayscale(0.8) brightness(0.9); transition: filter 0.4s ease; }
.image-card:hover img { filter: grayscale(0) brightness(1); }

Step 2: Blend Mode Techniques

Common Blend Modes

Color Overlay on Image

.image-container { position: relative; }
.image-container::after {
  content: ''; position: absolute; inset: 0;
  background: var(--brand-500); mix-blend-mode: multiply; opacity: 0.6;
}

Step 3: Duotone Image Effect

Maps the image's lights to one color and darks to another.

CSS-Only Duotone

.duotone { position: relative; overflow: hidden; }
.duotone img { filter: grayscale(1) contrast(1.2); mix-blend-mode: luminosity; width: 100%; }
.duotone::before {
  content: ''; position: absolute; inset: 0;
  background: #1a1a2e; z-index: 1; mix-blend-mode: color;
}
.duotone::after {
  content: ''; position: absolute; inset: 0;
  background: #e2b94c; z-index: 2; mix-blend-mode: screen; opacity: 0.5;
}

Popular Duotone Pairs

Step 4: Image Masking

clip-path Shapes

.clip-circle   { clip-path: circle(50%); }
.clip-rounded  { clip-path: inset(0 round 1rem); }
.clip-diagonal { clip-path: polygon(0 0, 100% 0, 100% 85%, 0 100%); }
.clip-hexagon  { clip-path: polygon(25% 0%, 75% 0%, 100% 50%, 75% 100%, 25% 100%, 0% 50%); }

mask-image for Gradient Fades

.image-fade-bottom {
  mask-image: linear-gradient(to bottom, black 60%, transparent 100%);
  -webkit-mask-image: linear-gradient(to bottom, black 60%, transparent 100%);
}
.image-vignette {
  mask-image: radial-gradient(ellipse 70% 70% at center, black 50%, transparent 100%);
  -webkit-mask-image: radial-gradient(ellipse 70% 70% at center, black 50%, transparent 100%);
}

Text-Shaped Mask

.image-text-mask {
  background-image: url('photo.jpg'); background-size: cover;
  -webkit-background-clip: text; -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent;
  background-clip: text; font-size: 8rem; font-weight: 900;
}

Step 5: Background Image Techniques

Full Cover Background

.hero-bg {
  background: url('hero.jpg') center/cover no-repeat;
  min-height: 80vh;
}

Fixed / Parallax Background

.parallax-section {
  background: url('bg.jpg') center/cover no-repeat;
  background-attachment: fixed;
  min-height: 60vh;
}
@media (hover: none) {
  .parallax-section { background-attachment: scroll; }
}

Multiple Background Layers

.layered-bg {
  background:
    linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(0,0,0,0.4), rgba(0,0,0,0.7)),
    url('pattern.svg') repeat center / 64px 64px,
    url('photo.jpg') no-repeat center / cover;
}

Step 6: Image Overlay Patterns

Gradient Overlay (for text readability)

.image-overlay-gradient { position: relative; }
.image-overlay-gradient::after {
  content: ''; position: absolute; inset: 0;
  background: linear-gradient(to top, rgba(0,0,0,0.8) 0%, rgba(0,0,0,0.3) 40%, transparent 100%);
}
.image-overlay-gradient .content { position: relative; z-index: 1; color: white; }

Hover Reveal Overlay

.card-image { position: relative; overflow: hidden; }
.card-image .overlay {
  position: absolute; inset: 0;
  background: oklch(from var(--brand-500) l c h / 0.85);
  display: grid; place-items: center; opacity: 0; transition: opacity 0.3s ease;
}
.card-image:hover .overlay { opacity: 1; }

Step 7: Image Grid and Collage Layouts

Masonry-Style Grid

.image-grid-masonry { columns: 3; column-gap: 1rem; }
.image-grid-masonry img { width: 100%; margin-bottom: 1rem; border-radius: 0.5rem; break-inside: avoid; }
@media (max-width: 768px) { .image-grid-masonry { columns: 2; } }
@media (max-width: 480px) { .image-grid-masonry { columns: 1; } }

CSS Grid Collage

.image-collage {
  display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(4, 1fr);
  grid-template-rows: repeat(3, 200px); gap: 0.5rem;
}
.image-collage img:nth-child(1) { grid-column: 1 / 3; grid-row: 1 / 3; }
.image-collage img { width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: cover; border-radius: 0.5rem; }

Step 8: Responsive Image Art Direction

The <picture> Element

<picture>
  <source media="(max-width: 640px)" srcset="hero-mobile.avif" type="image/avif">
  <source media="(max-width: 640px)" srcset="hero-mobile.webp" type="image/webp">
  <source srcset="hero-desktop.avif" type="image/avif">
  <source srcset="hero-desktop.webp" type="image/webp">
  <img src="hero-desktop.jpg" alt="Hero image" width="1600" height="900" loading="eager">
</picture>

Key Rules

1. Always include width and height attributes to prevent layout shift.
2. Use loading="lazy" for below-fold images, loading="eager" for hero images.
3. Use decoding="async" to avoid blocking the main thread.
4. Prefer AVIF > WebP > JPEG for file size.

Step 9: SVG Filters for Advanced Effects

Frosted Glass

.frosted-glass { backdrop-filter: blur(12px) saturate(180%); background: rgba(255,255,255,0.7); }

Noise/Grain Texture

<svg width="0" height="0">
  <filter id="noise">
    <feTurbulence type="fractalNoise" baseFrequency="0.65" numOctaves="3" stitchTiles="stitch"/>
    <feColorMatrix type="saturate" values="0"/>
    <feBlend in="SourceGraphic" mode="multiply"/>
  </filter>
</svg>

Drop Shadow (Following Shape)

.shaped-shadow { filter: drop-shadow(0 4px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.2)); }

Step 10: Object-Fit and Object-Position

.card-image { width: 100%; height: 200px; object-fit: cover; object-position: center; }
.portrait   { object-fit: cover; object-position: center top; }
.thumbnail  { aspect-ratio: 1; object-fit: cover; border-radius: 0.75rem; }

Quick Reference

1. Use CSS filter for quick photo effects (combine brightness, contrast, saturate).
2. Use mix-blend-mode: multiply for color overlays on images.
3. Duotone = grayscale image + two-color blend layers.
4. clip-path for geometric masks; mask-image for gradient fades.
5. Always disable background-attachment: fixed on mobile (@media (hover: none)).
6. Layer overlays: gradient bottom-to-top for text readability on images.
7. Use <picture> for art direction (different crops per breakpoint).
8. Always include width, height, loading, and alt on images.
9. object-fit: cover + aspect-ratio for consistent image containers.
10. SVG filters (noise, goo, displacement) for effects CSS cannot achieve.