The demo below demonstrates the CSS Filmstrip technique, as applied to a hyperlink.  The four images in the “filmstrip” represent the hyperlink’s four states: link, visited, hover, active. The dashed line represents the width and height of the hyperlink, and therefore the visible part of the filmstrip image.  The dot on the bottom left allows you to simulate a clearing of browser history, in order to reset the hyperlink to its “link” state.