How to add background image in Python Tkinter

In this post, you will learn how to add a background image in Python Tkinter.

Tkinter is a standard cross-platform package for creating graphical user interfaces (GUIs). It is also called the Tk interface. It is an original GUI library for Tcl (Tool Command Language). Tkinter comes pre-installed with Python. The greatest strength of Tkinter is its simplicity. There are different ways to add a background image. But always, a label widget is used to set the background.

Add a background image using PhotoImage()

The PhotoImage class is used to display images in labels, buttons, canvases, and text widgets, which are present in tkinter package. This function takes a file path as an argument and returns the image object. We can place the geometry manager that allows users to put the widget anywhere on the screen by providing x & y coordinates. The following code demonstrates this-

from tkinter import *
from PIL import ImageTk, Image  

app = Tk()
app.title("Welcome")
img =Image.open('C:\\Python37\\scripts\\projects\\kittens.jpg')
bg = ImageTk.PhotoImage(img)

app.geometry("650x450")

# Add image
label = Label(app, image=bg)
label.place(x = 0,y = 0)

# Add text
label2 = Label(app, text = "Hello kittens",
               font=("Times New Roman", 24))

label2.pack(pady = 50)

# Execute tkinter
app.mainloop()

Add a background image using create_image()

In the given example, we have added a background image using the create_image() method in the canvas widget. The Canvas is a rectangular area planned for drawing pictures or other complex layouts. We can put graphics, text, widgets, or frames on a Canvas. The create_image() method of Canvas is used to draw an image on a canvas. The create_image() function doesn't accept an image directly. It uses an object which is created by the PhotoImage() method.

The process of adding a background image in Python Tkinter using the Canvas is almost the same as the above. First, we added the image file, then created a canvas and set the width and height. Then we have displayed the image using the create_image() function and set the text using the create_text() function.

#Import the required library
from tkinter import *
from PIL import Image, ImageTk
from tkinter import ttk

# Create object
root = Tk()

# Define the geometry of the window
root.geometry("500x450")

# Add the image file
bg = ImageTk.PhotoImage(file="C:\\Python37\\scripts\\projects\\natural_img1.png")

# Create a canvas
canvas = Canvas(root,width= 400, height= 300)
canvas.pack(fill= "both", expand=True)

# Display image
canvas.create_image(0, 0, image=bg, anchor="nw")

# Add a text in canvas
canvas.create_text(250,250,text="Good Morning!",
                font=("Times New Roman", 24))

# Execute tkinter
root.mainloop()

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