diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c930311..ef73d03 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ NOTE: I will put up an rnplay.org working example whenever they support React Na
 
 ## Example
 
-There is a working example in the project `/example` folder that you can check out. Remember to run npm install inside 
+There is a working example in the project `/example` folder that you can check out. Remember to run npm install inside
 the example folder if you'd like to run that project.
 
 ```bash
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ Additionally, here is an example of the usage
 | Prop | Required | Default  | Type | Description |
 | :------------ |:---:|:---------------:| :---------------:| :-----|
 | backgroundSource | YES | `null` | `object` | the `source` prop that get's passed to the background `<Image>` component. If left blank, no background is rendered |
+| background | NO | `null` | `renderable` | content to render as the background instead of an `<Image>` component. This may be used instead of specifying `backgroundSource` |
 | header | NO | `null` | `renderable` | any content you want to render on top of the image. This content's opacity get's animated down as the scrollview scrolls up. (optional) |
 | windowHeight | NO | `300` | `number` | the resting height of the header image. If 0 is passed in, the background is not rendered. |
 | scrollableViewStyle | NO | `null` | `object` | this style will be mixed (overriding existing fields) with scrollable view style (view which is scrolled over the background) |
diff --git a/lib/ParallaxView.js b/lib/ParallaxView.js
index 776bdb3..d5c29e6 100644
--- a/lib/ParallaxView.js
+++ b/lib/ParallaxView.js
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ var ParallaxView = React.createClass({
     propTypes: {
         ...ScrollViewPropTypes,
         windowHeight: React.PropTypes.number,
+        background: React.PropTypes.node,
         backgroundSource: React.PropTypes.oneOfType([
           React.PropTypes.shape({
             uri: React.PropTypes.string,
@@ -63,40 +64,62 @@ var ParallaxView = React.createClass({
     },
 
     renderBackground: function () {
-        var { windowHeight, backgroundSource, blur } = this.props;
+        var { windowHeight, backgroundSource, background, blur } = this.props;
         var { scrollY } = this.state;
-        if (!windowHeight || !backgroundSource) {
+        if (!windowHeight || (!backgroundSource && !background)) {
             return null;
         }
-        return (
-            <Animated.Image
-                style={[styles.background, {
-                    height: windowHeight,
-                    transform: [{
-                        translateY: scrollY.interpolate({
-                            inputRange: [ -windowHeight, 0, windowHeight],
-                            outputRange: [windowHeight/2, 0, -windowHeight/3]
-                        })
-                    },{
-                        scale: scrollY.interpolate({
-                            inputRange: [ -windowHeight, 0, windowHeight],
-                            outputRange: [2, 1, 1]
-                        })
-                    }]
-                }]}
-                source={backgroundSource}>
-                {/*
-                    !!blur && (BlurView || (BlurView = require('react-native-blur').BlurView)) &&
-                    <BlurView blurType={blur} style={styles.blur} />
-                */}
-            </Animated.Image>
-        );
+        if (background) {
+            return (
+                <Animated.View
+                    style={[styles.background, {
+                        height: windowHeight,
+                        transform: [{
+                            translateY: scrollY.interpolate({
+                                inputRange: [ -windowHeight, 0, windowHeight],
+                                outputRange: [windowHeight/2, 0, -windowHeight/3]
+                            })
+                        },{
+                            scale: scrollY.interpolate({
+                                inputRange: [ -windowHeight, 0, windowHeight],
+                                outputRange: [2, 1, 1]
+                            })
+                        }]
+                    }]}>
+                    {background}
+                </Animated.View>
+            );
+        } else {
+            return (
+                <Animated.Image
+                    style={[styles.background, styles.backgroundImage, {
+                        height: windowHeight,
+                        transform: [{
+                            translateY: scrollY.interpolate({
+                                inputRange: [ -windowHeight, 0, windowHeight],
+                                outputRange: [windowHeight/2, 0, -windowHeight/3]
+                            })
+                        },{
+                            scale: scrollY.interpolate({
+                                inputRange: [ -windowHeight, 0, windowHeight],
+                                outputRange: [2, 1, 1]
+                            })
+                        }]
+                    }]}
+                    source={backgroundSource}>
+                    {/*
+                        !!blur && (BlurView || (BlurView = require('react-native-blur').BlurView)) &&
+                        <BlurView blurType={blur} style={styles.blur} />
+                    */}
+                </Animated.Image>
+            );
+        }
     },
 
     renderHeader: function () {
-        var { windowHeight, backgroundSource } = this.props;
+        var { windowHeight, backgroundSource, background } = this.props;
         var { scrollY } = this.state;
-        if (!windowHeight || !backgroundSource) {
+        if (!windowHeight || (!backgroundSource && !background)) {
             return null;
         }
         return (
@@ -147,7 +170,9 @@ var styles = StyleSheet.create({
     background: {
         position: 'absolute',
         backgroundColor: '#2e2f31',
-        width: screen.width,
+        width: screen.width
+    },
+    backgroundImage: {
         resizeMode: 'cover'
     },
     blur: {