Dynamic Drive CSS Library- CSS3 Semi Opaque Menu

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CSS3 Semi Opaque Menu

Author: Dynamic Drive

Linear gradient backgrounds in CSS3 lets you add a graduating background to any element on the page. It's supported in FF3.6, Safari 2+ and Google Chrome. In IE9 (which currently doesn't support CSS3 Linear Gradients), SVG is used to create a similar look while IE gets its act together. With that said, this menu takes advantage of CSS3 gradient background to produce a menu with a semi opaque rollover effect. Whatever the solid background color of the main UL behind it, the menu item's background peeks through. Peek-a-boo!

The CSS:

<style type="text/css">

div.bottombar{ /* bar that runs across the bottom of the menu */
height: 10px;
background: #1a1109;
}

ul.semiopaquemenu{ /* main menu UL */
font: bold 14px Georgia ;
width: 100%;
background: #b1e958;
padding: 11px 0 8px 0; /* padding of the 4 sides of the menu */
margin: 0;
text-align: left; /* set value to "left", "center", or "right" to align menu accordingly */
}

ul.semiopaquemenu li{
display: inline;
}

ul.semiopaquemenu li a{
color:black;
padding: 6px 8px 6px 8px; /* padding of the 4 sides of each menu link */
margin-right: 15px; /* spacing between each menu link */
text-decoration: none;
}

ul.semiopaquemenu li a:hover, ul.semiopaquemenu li a.selected{
color: black;
background: url(data:image/svg+xml;base64,PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiA/Pgo8c3ZnIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyIgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgdmlld0JveD0iMCAwIDEgMSIgcHJlc2VydmVBc3BlY3RSYXRpbz0ibm9uZSI+CiAgPGxpbmVhckdyYWRpZW50IGlkPSJncmFkLXVjZ2ctZ2VuZXJhdGVkIiBncmFkaWVudFVuaXRzPSJ1c2VyU3BhY2VPblVzZSIgeDE9IjAlIiB5MT0iMCUiIHgyPSIwJSIgeTI9IjEwMCUiPgogICAgPHN0b3Agb2Zmc2V0PSIwJSIgc3RvcC1jb2xvcj0iI2ZmZmZmZiIgc3RvcC1vcGFjaXR5PSIwLjgyIi8+CiAgICA8c3RvcCBvZmZzZXQ9IjEwMCUiIHN0b3AtY29sb3I9IiNmZmZmZmYiIHN0b3Atb3BhY2l0eT0iMC4xNiIvPgogIDwvbGluZWFyR3JhZGllbnQ+CiAgPHJlY3QgeD0iMCIgeT0iMCIgd2lkdGg9IjEiIGhlaWdodD0iMSIgZmlsbD0idXJsKCNncmFkLXVjZ2ctZ2VuZXJhdGVkKSIgLz4KPC9zdmc+); /* IE9+ SVG equivalent  of linear gradients */
background: -moz-linear-gradient(top,  rgba(255,255,255,0.82) 0%, rgba(255,255,255,0.16) 100%); /* fade from white (0.82 opacty) to 0.16 opacity */
background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0%,rgba(255,255,255,0.82)), color-stop(100%,rgba(255,255,255,0.16)));
background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top,  rgba(255,255,255,0.82) 0%,rgba(255,255,255,0.16) 100%);
background: -o-linear-gradient(top,  rgba(255,255,255,0.82) 0%,rgba(255,255,255,0.16) 100%);
background: -ms-linear-gradient(top,  rgba(255,255,255,0.82) 0%,rgba(255,255,255,0.16) 100%);
background: linear-gradient(top,  rgba(255,255,255,0.82) 0%,rgba(255,255,255,0.16) 100%);
filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient( startColorstr='#d1ffffff', endColorstr='#29ffffff',GradientType=0 );
-moz-box-shadow: 0 0 5px #595959; /* CSS3 box shadows */
-webkit-box-shadow: 0 0 5px #595959;
box-shadow: 0 0 5px #595959;
padding-top: 12px; /* large padding to get menu item to protrude upwards */
padding-bottom: 20px; /* large padding to get menu item to protrude downwards */
}

</style>

The HTML:

<ul class="semiopaquemenu">
<li><a href="http://www.dynamicdrive.com/">Home</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.dynamicdrive.com/style/" class="selected">CSS Codes</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.dynamicdrive.com/forums/">Forums</a></li>
<li><a href="http://tools.dynamicdrive.com">Webmaster Tools</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.javascriptkit.com/">JavaScript</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.cssdrive.com">Gallery</a></li>
</ul>
<div class="bottombar"></div>

Code Info

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Date Posted: 11/07/2011

Revision History: None

Usage Terms: Click here