I experimented with three layers to achieve a unique visual effect, utilizing two backgrounds with varying alpha opacity levels. The first background starts at the top and ends in the middle, while the second begins in the middle and extends to the bottom. Additionally, I incorporated a third background featuring a repeated slice of an image along the y-axis.
For guidance on layering techniques, I referred to this tutorial: http://css-tricks.com/css3-gradients/
Please note that the HTML code provided is optimized for Chrome. To ensure compatibility across browsers, consider replacing "-webkit-gradient" with the appropriate equivalent for other browsers:
<html>
<head>
<style>
.gradient {
width:76px;
height:200px;
border:0;
background-image:-webkit-gradient(linear, 0% 0%, 0% 50%, from(rgba(192,192,192,1)), to(rgba(192,192,192,0))),
-webkit-gradient(linear, 0% 50%, 0% 100%, from(rgba(192,192,192,0)), to(rgba(192,192,192,1))),
url(http://i41.tinypic.com/omwky.gif);
background-repeat:repeat-y,repeat-y, repeat-y;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<hr class="gradient"/>
</body>
</html>