Looking to build a dynamic, Photoshop-style banner that’s responsive and easy to update? Enter the power of layered banners with multiple images and gradients—a technique that brings stunning visual effects to your website using nothing more than HTML and CSS.

We wanted to achieve a rich, layered look—similar to a multi-layered Photoshop composition—but with the flexibility to update images dynamically, keep headings as editable text (for accessibility and SEO), and ensure everything works responsively across devices.

Here’s how you can create layered banners with multiple images and gradients without touching image editing software.

Why Use Layered Banners?

By layering gradients and images directly in CSS, you get:

• Editable Text: Keep your headings and calls-to-action as live text, not baked into an image.

• Dynamic Content: Swap out background images via CMS or code without reworking the entire design.

• Responsive Design: Control layout with CSS and media queries for better mobile experience.

• Performance: Combine effects into a single background declaration to reduce load time.

Example Image

The Visual Breakdown

We’ll create a banner where the image aligns to the right, a soft grey gradient overlays the image, and heading text sits cleanly on top. This layered look is handled entirely with CSS, giving you freedom to adjust styling on the fly.

HTML

<div class="section-ban" id="test" >
                <div class="container">
                    <div class="int-ban row">
                        <div class="int-text">
                            <div class="inside-text">
                                <h2>Blog</h2>
                            </div>
                        </div>
                    </div>
                </div>
            </div>

CSS

div.section-ban#test {
background-image: linear-gradient(to right, rgba(135, 148, 165, 1), rgba(255, 255, 255, 0)),url(https://www.inforest.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/StockSnap_C8R7JHDGFV_1280-opt.jpg), none;
background-color: #8794a5;
background-repeat: repeat-y, no-repeat, repeat;
background-position: 70% , right, left;
background-size: 30%, 50%, 50%;
}
.int-ban.row {
    background-size: cover;
    background-position: 50%;
    background-repeat:no-repeat
}

.int-ban.row {
    width: 80%;
    max-width: 1080px;
    position: relative;
    min-height:200px
}

.int-text {
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    justify-content: left;
    text-align:center
}

.int-text {
    line-height: 1.8em;
    font-family: 'Roboto', Helvetica, Arial, Lucida, sans-serif;
    font-size: 18px;
    line-height: 1.8em;
    max-width:700px
}

.inside-text h2, .inside-text .h2 {
    color: #fff !important;
    font-family: 'Roboto', Helvetica, Arial, Lucida, sans-serif !important;
    font-weight: 600;
    text-transform: uppercase;
    font-size: 48px !important;
    letter-spacing: 3px;
    line-height: 1.3em;
    text-shadow:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.71) 3px 3px 3px
}

.inside-text {
    max-width:50%
}

The Result

You get a dynamic, responsive banner with layered gradients and images—all while keeping your content editable and accessible. It’s an ideal approach for sites that need flexible, high-impact design without the weight of static assets.

Tips for Customization

• Use media queries to fine-tune spacing and layout on mobile devices.

• Swap out images or gradients to create seasonal or campaign-specific looks.

• Add transitions or animation effects for interactive polish.

Layered banners with multiple images and gradients let you recreate Photoshop-like effects directly in the browser—clean, fast, and fully responsive. Start with this base and let your creativity take over!

Learn more about HTML and CSS at WC3