Add a background image to a paginated report (Report Builder)

Applies to: ✅ Microsoft Report Builder (SSRS) ✅ Power BI Report Builder ✅ Report Designer in SQL Server Data Tools

You can add a background image to a paginated report item such as a rectangle, text box, list, matrix, table, and some parts of a chart. Or, you can add an image to a report section such as the page header, page footer, or report body. You can define a background image for any selected item on the report design surface that displays BackgroundImage in the Properties pane. Like other images, the background image can be a URL to an image on the report server, an image from a dataset field, or an image embedded in the report definition. To use an image embedded in the report, you must first add the image to the report definition before you can add the image to the design surface.

Embed an image in the report definition

1. In the Report Data pane, right-click the Images node, and then select Add Image.

   Note

   If the Report Data pane isn't visible, on the View tab, select Report Data.

2. Navigate to the image you want to embed in your report definition, and then select OK.

Add a background image

1. In report design view, select the report item to which you want to add a background image.

2. If the Properties pane isn't visible, on the View tab, select Properties.

3. In the Properties pane, expand BackgroundImage, and then do the following actions:

   • For an embedded image:

     Set Source to Embedded.

     Set Value to the name of an image that is embedded in the report.

   • For an external image:

     Set Source to External.

     Set Value to a valid path to an image. This image can be on a report server in native mode or SharePoint integrated mode. Or, it can be on any other Web site. For more information, see Add an external image (Report Builder).

   • For an image contained in a database field to which the report item is connected:

     Set Source to Database.

     Set Value to the name of a field in the report dataset. For more information, see Add a data-bound image (Report Builder).

     For MIMEType, or file format, select the appropriate MIME type for the image-for example, .bmp.

     Note

     MIMEType applies only if the Source property is set to Database. If the Source property is set to External or Embedded, the value of MIMEType is ignored.

   • For BackgroundRepeat, select an expression, Default, Repeat, RepeatX, or RepeatY, or Clip.

     For background images in a chart, BackgroundRepeat can be set to Default, Repeat, Fit, and Clip, but not RepeatX or RepeatY.

Related content

Images (Report Builder)
Image Properties dialog, General (Report Builder)