(function($) {

    $.fn.crossfade = function(startOptions, endOptions) {
        var defaults = {
            'start': {
                'type': 'mouseenter',
                'delay': 300,
                'callback': null,
                'condition': function() { return true; }
            },

            'end': {
                'type': 'mouseleave',
                'delay': 500,
                'callback': null,
                'condition': function() { return true; }
            }
        };

        if (typeof options == 'number') {
            options = {
                'start': { 'delay': options },
                'end': { 'delay': options }
            };
        }

        var settings = {};
        settings.start = $.extend({}, defaults.start, startOptions);
        settings.end = $.extend({}, defaults.end, endOptions);

        // return this;
        return this.each(function(i) {
            var $$ = $(this);
            var targetImage = $$.css('backgroundImage').replace(/^url|[\(\)"']/g, '');
            var hiddenImage = $$.wrap('<span style="position: relative;"></span>')
                .parent()
                .prepend('<img>')
                .find(':first-child')
                .attr('src', targetImage);

            // CSS tweaks to position the starting image correctly
            if ($.browser.msie) {
                $$.css({
                    'position': 'absolute',
                    'left': 0,
                    'background': ''
                });
            }
            else if ($.browser.mozilla) {
                $$.css({
                    'position': 'absolute',
                    'left': 0,
                    'background': '',
                    'top': this.offsetTop
                });
            } else if ($.browser.opera && $.browser.version < 9.5) {
                // opera < 9.5 has a render bug - so this is required to get around it
                // we can't apply the 'top' : 0 separately because Mozilla strips
                // the style set originally somehow...
                $$.css({
                    'position': 'absolute',
                    'left': 0,
                    'background': '',
                    'top': "0"
                });
            } else {
                $$.css({
                    'position': 'absolute',
                    'left': 0,
                    'background': ''
                });
            }

            if (settings.start.type) {
                $$.bind(settings.start.type, function() {
                    if (settings.start.condition.call(this)) {
                        $(this).stop().animate({
                            opacity: 0
                        }, settings.start.delay);
                    }
                    if (settings.start.callback) return settings.start.callback.call(this);
                });
            }

            if (settings.end.type) {
                $$.bind(settings.end.type, function() {
                    if (settings.end.condition.call(this)) {
                        $(this).stop().animate({
                            opacity: 1
                        }, settings.end.delay);
                    }
                    if (settings.end.callback) return settings.end.callback.call(this);
                });
            }
        });
    };

})(jQuery);