When you use the background setting Publisher codes the html background tag.
If you knew html you would know that the background tag "tiles" images left
to right top down. Typically one uses a small fast loading gif image in the
background tag, since the browser then tiles it the result is a background
that can load quickly.
If you just want to throw up a picture on the page then don't use the
background, just insert the picture on the pub page.

David Bartosik - [MSFT MVP]
http://www.publishermvps.com
http://www.davidbartosik.com