How to add a color overlay to a background image?

You can use a pseudo element to create the overlay.

.testclass {
  background-image: url("../img/img.jpg");
  position: relative;
}
.testclass:before {
  content: "";
  position: absolute;
  left: 0; right: 0;
  top: 0; bottom: 0;
  background: rgba(0,0,0,.5);
}

Try this, it's simple and clear. I have found it from here : https://css-tricks.com/tinted-images-multiple-backgrounds/

.tinted-image {

  width: 300px;
  height: 200px;

  background: 
    /* top, transparent red */ 
    linear-gradient(
      rgba(255, 0, 0, 0.45), 
      rgba(255, 0, 0, 0.45)
    ),
    /* bottom, image */
    url(https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/s.cdpn.io/3/owl1.jpg);
}

I see 2 easy options:

• multiple background with a translucent single gradient over image
• huge inset shadow

gradient option:

html {
  min-height:100%;
  background:linear-gradient(0deg, rgba(255, 0, 150, 0.3), rgba(255, 0, 150, 0.3)), url(http://lorempixel.com/800/600/nature/2);
  background-size:cover;
}

shadow option:

html {
  min-height:100%;
  background:url(http://lorempixel.com/800/600/nature/2);
  background-size:cover;
  box-shadow:inset 0 0 0 2000px rgba(255, 0, 150, 0.3);
}

an old codepen of mine with few examples

---

a third option

• with background-blen-mode :

  The background-blend-mode CSS property sets how an element's background images should blend with each other and with the element's background color.

html {
  min-height:100%;
  background:url(http://lorempixel.com/800/600/nature/2) rgba(255, 0, 150, 0.3);
  background-size:cover;
  background-blend-mode: multiply;
}

background-image takes multiple values.

so a combination of just 1 color linear-gradient and css blend modes will do the trick.

.testclass {
    background-image: url("../images/image.jpg"), linear-gradient(rgba(0,0,0,0.5),rgba(0,0,0,0.5));
    background-blend-mode: overlay;
}

note that there is no support on IE/Edge for CSS blend-modes at all.