27 individual segments is a little excessive. Based on what's there, 18 segments would suffice, or 19 if "blank" segments are required in the main body of the graphic. If the links were text, you'd still need a minimum of 8 graphics. The point is you cannot have "one big graphic", either background or foreground or any-damn-ground. HTML does not work like that. The fact that corners, etc. are defined separately is a basic concept in web design. There is no other sensible way of doing it. (If text was being used then a background graphic could indeed be implemented. However, this would be extremely bad design because the border graphics would not expand to accommodate changes in text size, and anyone doing this should be shot immediately and their body disposed of in secrecy.)