Start11 Background images keeps resizing

PS: the first two background images I had edited to make the canvas larger, and the actual image on the left top, trying to figure out how this works.  It seems the menu puts the images a little higher than the actual menu is drawn. 

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. But, have you tried these setting?

Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Yes.  Here are comparisons of that checked and unchecked.  It stretches it no matter what.  I don't want it to stretch at all..

The original size at 100% is on the left...

I don't know if it makes any difference, but I have my Start11 Menu at the top of my screen, and it has always worked fine there.

From what I notice, when you choose not to use the "stretch to show entire texture", it will still stretch it but differently. It look like if the background image is smaller than the Start panel, it will stretch but proportional to the image, the aspect ratio is locked. The area which is beyond the start panel size will be cut off.

The best thing, I can suggest is, to make a specific background to that specific size of your Start panel. Once that is set, never change the start panel size. If you do need to change the start panel size, you most probably need to redo your background art.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

I understand what you mean.  So, I resized the image to just a bit larger than the Start Menu background, and it still is stretching it.

It would be nice if the developer could give some instructions on how to make a background.  What are the rules to follow?  I am trying to make my background 'just fit' into the start menu, with the right-side panel gray, and with none of the image.  I believe I have done it correctly.  But it still stretches it.  

I put the image behind the Start Menu, and lined up the letter D with the cursor.  So the image does align at the top left.  But you can easily see at the bottom, that even though the image is larger than the Start Menu, it has been stretched.  

I assume since all of the 'stock' backgrounds are generic and easily stretchable without screwing them up, that the Dev thought the Background should always be stretched.  Which is very Limiting!!  Argg..

This is how far I have to widen the Start Menu to make that image fit.  
I'll just have to figure out the ratio between the image width, and the Start Menu width, and squish this image down.  This is stupid....

I believe achieving proper alignment is tricky because the Shortcuts list on the right side of the Start panel maintains a fixed horizontal width, regardless of how wide the overall Start panel becomes. If you include the dark gray area in your background design, it will stretch or compress with the panel size—causing it to misalign with the actual Shortcuts section.

I'm not sure if the developers plan to introduce more cosmetic options in Start11, such as assigning different backgrounds to separate areas. 

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Thanks for all of your replies Basj!  I'll put in a ticket and see what they say.  This could be considered a bug since they have that 'Stretch' option.  Stretch if it's checked, and don't stretch if it's not checked?  It seems to imply that..