Would you like to enhance your WordPress website with a parallax effect? This effect is a popular web design technique where the background image moves slower than the foreground content as you scroll, creating a sense of depth and interactivity.
Understanding the Parallax Effect
The parallax effect is widely used on landing pages, business websites, and blogs to engage visitors and improve visual appeal. While many premium WordPress themes and page builders include built-in parallax options, not all themes do, and you might prefer not to use a page builder for this purpose.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through two methods to easily add a parallax effect to any WordPress theme.
Method 1: Using a Plugin
This method is straightforward and doesn’t require coding skills.
- Install and Activate a Plugin: Start by installing the “Advanced WordPress Backgrounds” plugin from the WordPress plugin directory.
- Configure Settings: Once activated, navigate to Settings » AWB and configure where you want the parallax effect to appear (e.g., desktop only).
- Add Parallax Background: Edit a page or post using the Gutenberg editor. Add the “Background (AWB)” block, select an image, adjust settings like opacity and parallax type (e.g., opacity + scroll), and save your changes.
Method 2: Using CSS
This method involves adding custom CSS to your theme.
- Upload Image: Upload your desired image to the WordPress media library and copy its URL.
- Use WPCode Plugin: Install and activate the WPCode plugin. Create a new snippet, select “CSS Snippet,” and paste the provided CSS code specifying your image URL as the background.
- Insert HTML: Switch to the code editor of your WordPress post or page, and insert the HTML code provided in the article to create the parallax effect.
Using YouTube Video as Background
In addition to static images, you can use YouTube videos as fullscreen backgrounds on your WordPress site. This adds a dynamic and engaging element, suitable for showcasing events, campaigns, or stories.