I very much prefer having the background image limited to the user pic and info area. Something like how VisualizeUs, Google+, etc. do it. It doesn't seem fixed width friendly and doesn't show well or enough behind everything.

I agree.

A skin I use on one of my forums has the background image replaced with a "banner" like Google+ and such uses I think.

http://www.ipbforumskins.com/premade/carbonb_ipb3/index.php

I don't really have any good previews of it on me though.. so I don't know what good mentioning that does. But I rather like the way his skin does it.

I'll try and generate something in a few minutes

This is with some customizations, and the image could probably be cropped a bit, but otherwise I think it looks nice.

" alt="carbonbluebg.png">

This is with some customization's, and the image could probably be cropped a bit, but otherwise I think it looks nice.

" alt="carbonbluebg.png">

Yes, that's a function Ehren (IPBForumSkins) added to his skins. I really do like it too.

Yes, that's a function Ehren (IPBForumSkins) added to his skins. I really do like it too.

Ehren put that into my existing custom skin. Looks great!