Does :before not work on img elements?

Question

I\'m trying to use the :before selector to place an image over another image, but I\'m finding that it simply doesn\'t work to place an image before an im

Answer 1

I found a way to make this work in pure css:

The I'm just fake content-method

a pure CSS method to enable img:after.

You can check out the CodePen: I'm just fake content or see the source.

Source & Snippet

img {
    /* hide the default image */
    height:0;
    width:0;

    /* hide fake content */
    font-size:0;
    color:transparent;

    /* enable absolute position for pseudo elements */
    position:relative;

    /* and this is just fake content */
    content:"I'm just fake content";
}

/* initial absolute position */
img:before,
img:after {
    position:absolute;
    top:0;
    left:0;    
}

/* img:before - chrome & others */
img:before {
    content:url(http://placekitten.com/g/250/250);
}

/* img:before - firefox */
body:not(:-moz-handler-blocked) img:before {
    padding:125px;
    background:url(http://placekitten.com/g/250/250) no-repeat;
}

/* img:after */
img:after {
    /* width of img:before */
    left:250px;

    content:url(http://lorempixel.com/350/200/city/1);
}

Browser support

✓ Chrome 10+

✓ Firefox 11+

✓ Opera 9.8+

✓ Safari

No support

⊗ Internet Explorer 8 / 9

Please test in other browsers