CSS: Is it possible to use only a set part of an image as a background filler?

Question

I have background image for a site header with fixed width. Now I am trying to convert it to a stretching layout.

Is it possible (in CSS2) to take 1px wide portion from the middle of that header image and make a filler out of it? Otherwise I would need to manually cut 1px wide portion of an image, save it as a separated image, and use it with repeat-x.

Answer 1

No. CSS 2 has no such ability.

Answer 2

Using css only you cannot do this. So your proposed solution is the one that I would use.

Answer 3

Not in CSS2, but in CSS3 you could with the border-image property.

Browser support isn't there yet though. Only the latest releases have it and not IE at all yet.