Replace input type=file by an image

Like a lot of people, I'd like to customize the ugly input type=file, and I know that it can't be done without some hacks and/or javascript. But, the thing is that in my case the upload file buttons are just for uploading images (jpeg|jpg|png|gif), so I was wondering if I could use a "clickable" image which would act exactly as an input type file (show the dialog box, and same $_FILE on submitted page).
I found some workaround here, and this interesting one too (but does not work on Chrome =/).

What do you guys do when you want to add some style to your file buttons? If you have any point of view about it, just hit the answer button ;)

This works really well for me:

.image-upload>input {
  display: none;
}

<div class="image-upload">
  <label for="file-input">
    <img src="https://icons.iconarchive.com/icons/dtafalonso/android-lollipop/128/Downloads-icon.png"/>
  </label>

  <input id="file-input" type="file" />
</div>

Basically the for attribute of the label makes it so that clicking the label is the same as clicking the specified input.

Also, the display property set to none makes it so that the file input isn't rendered at all, hiding it nice and clean.

Tested in Chrome but according to the web should work on all major browsers. :)

EDIT: Added JSFiddle here: https://jsfiddle.net/c5s42vdz/

Actually it can be done in pure css and it's pretty easy...

HTML Code

<label class="filebutton">
Browse For File!
<span><input type="file" id="myfile" name="myfile"></span>
</label>

CSS Styles

label.filebutton {
    width:120px;
    height:40px;
    overflow:hidden;
    position:relative;
    background-color:#ccc;
}

label span input {
    z-index: 999;
    line-height: 0;
    font-size: 50px;
    position: absolute;
    top: -2px;
    left: -700px;
    opacity: 0;
    filter: alpha(opacity = 0);
    -ms-filter: "alpha(opacity=0)";
    cursor: pointer;
    _cursor: hand;
    margin: 0;
    padding:0;
}

The idea is to position the input absolutely inside your label. set the font size of the input to something large, which will increase the size of the "browse" button. It then takes some trial and error using the negative left / top properties to position the input browse button behind your label.

When positioning the button, set the alpha to 1. When you've finished set it back to 0 (so you can see what you're doing!)

Make sure you test across browsers because they'll all render the input button a slightly different size.

Great solution by @hardsetting, But I made some improvements to make it work with Safari(5.1.7) in windows

.image-upload > input {
  visibility:hidden;
  width:0;
  height:0
}

<div class="image-upload">
  <label for="file-input">
    <img src="https://placehold.it/100/000000/ffffff?text=UPLOAD" style="pointer-events: none"/>
  </label>

  <input id="file-input" type="file" />
</div>

I have used visibility: hidden, width:0 instead of display: none for safari issue and added pointer-events: none in img tag to make it working if input file type tag is in FORM tag.

Seems working for me in all major browsers.

Hope it helps someone.

A much better way than writing JS is to use native, and it turns to be lighter than what was suggested:

<label>
  <img src="my-image.png">
  <input type="file" name="myfile" style="display:none">
</label>

This way the label is automatically connected to the input that is hidden. Clicking on the label is like clicking on the field.

You can replace image automatically with newly selected image.

<div class="image-upload">
	  <label for="file-input">
	    <img id="previewImg" src="https://icon-library.net/images/upload-photo-icon/upload-photo-icon-21.jpg" style="width: 100px; height: 100px;" />
	  </label>

	  <input id="file-input" type="file" onchange="previewFile(this);" style="display: none;" />
	</div>




<script>
		function previewFile(input){
			var file = $("input[type=file]").get(0).files[0];

			if(file){
			  var reader = new FileReader();

			  reader.onload = function(){
			      $("#previewImg").attr("src", reader.result);
			  }

			  reader.readAsDataURL(file);
			}
		}
	</script>

I would use SWFUpload or Uploadify. They need Flash but do everything you want without troubles.

Any <input type="file"> based workaround that tries to trigger the "open file" dialog by means other than clicking on the actual control could be removed from browsers for security reasons at any time. (I think in the current versions of FF and IE, it is not possible any more to trigger that event programmatically.)

This is my method if i got your point

HTML

<label for="FileInput">
    <img src="tools/img/upload2.png" style="cursor:pointer" onmouseover="this.src='tools/img/upload.png'" onmouseout="this.src='tools/img/upload2.png'" alt="Injaz Msila" style="float:right;margin:7px" />
</label>
<form action="upload.php">
    <input type="file" id="FileInput" style="cursor: pointer;  display: none"/>
    <input type="submit" id="Up" style="display: none;" />
</form>

jQuery

<script type="text/javascript">
    $( "#FileInput" ).change(function() {
      $( "#Up" ).click();
    });
</script>

I have had lots of issues with hidden and not visible inputs over the past decade sometimes things are way simpler than we think.

I have had a little wish with IE 5,6,7,8 and 9 for not supporting the opacity and thus the file input would cover the upload image however the following css code has resolved the issue.

-ms-filter:"progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.Alpha(Opacity=0)";
filter: alpha(opacity=0);  

The following snipped is tested on chrome, IE 5,6,7,8,9,10 the only issue in IE 5 is that it does not support auto margin.

Run the snippet simply copy and paste the CSS and HTML modify the size as you like.

.file-upload{
	height:100px;
	width:100px;
	margin:40px auto;
	border:1px solid #f0c0d0;
	border-radius:100px;
	overflow:hidden;
	position:relative;
}
.file-upload input{
	position:absolute;
	height:400px;
	width:400px;
	left:-200px;
	top:-200px;
	background:transparent;
	opacity:0;
	-ms-filter:"progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.Alpha(Opacity=0)";
	filter: alpha(opacity=0);  
}
.file-upload img{
	height:70px;
	width:70px;
	margin:15px;
}

<div class="file-upload">
<!--place upload image/icon first !-->
<img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/dy62M.png" />
<!--place input file last !-->
<input type="file" name="somename" />
</div>

its really simple you can try this:

$("#image id").click(function(){
	$("#input id").click();
});

You can put an image instead, and do it like this:

HTML:

<img src="/images/uploadButton.png" id="upfile1" style="cursor:pointer" />
<input type="file" id="file1"  name="file1" style="display:none" />

JQuery:

$("#upfile1").click(function () {
    $("#file1").trigger('click');
});

CAVEAT: In IE9 and IE10 if you trigger the onclick in a file input via javascript the form gets flagged as 'dangerous' and cannot be submmited with javascript, no sure if it can be submitted traditionaly.

The input itself is hidden with CSS visibility:hidden.

Then you can have whatever element you whish - anchor or image.., when the anchor/image is clicked, trigger a click on the hidden input field - the dialog box for selecting a file will appear.

EDIT: Actually it works in Chrome and Safari, I just noticed that is not the case in FF4Beta

Working Code:

just hide input part and do like this.

<div class="ImageUpload">
   <label for="FileInput">
      <img src="../../img/Upload_Panel.png" style="width: 18px; margin-top: -316px; margin-left: 900px;"/>
   </label>

  <input id="FileInput" type="file" onchange="readURL(this,'Picture')" style="cursor: pointer;  display: none"/>
</div>

        form input[type="file"] {
          display: none;
        }

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<html>

<head>
  <title>Simple File Upload</title>
  <meta name="" content="">
</head>

<body>
  <form action="upload.php" method="post" enctype="multipart/form-data">
    Select image to upload:
    <label for="fileToUpload">
      <img src="http://s3.postimg.org/mjzvuzi5b/uploader_image.png" />
    </label>
    <input type="File" name="fileToUpload" id="fileToUpload">
    <input type="submit" value="Upload Image" name="submit">
  </form>
</body>

</html>

RUN SNIPPET or Just copy the above code and execute. You will get what you wanted. Very simple and effective without javascript. Enjoy!!!

<script type="text/javascript">
function upl() {
    var fileSelector = document.createElement('input');
    fileSelector.setAttribute('type', 'file');
    fileSelector.setAttribute('name', 'uploimg');
    fileSelector.setAttribute('accept', 'image/*');
    fileSelector.click();
    fileSelector.style.display = "none";

    fileSelector.onchange = function() {
        document.getElementById("indicator").innerHTML = "Uploaded";
    };

    document.getElementById("par_form").appendChild(fileSelector);

}
</script>

<form id="par_form">
    <img src="image_url" onclick="upl()"><br>
    <span id="indicator"></span><br>
    <input type="submit">
</form>