// Paints the custom selection background for selected rows.
void dataGridView1_RowPrePaint(object sender,
        DataGridViewRowPrePaintEventArgs e)
{
    // Do not automatically paint the focus rectangle.
    e.PaintParts &= ~DataGridViewPaintParts.Focus;

    // Determine whether the cell should be painted
    // with the custom selection background.
    if ((e.State & DataGridViewElementStates.Selected) ==
                DataGridViewElementStates.Selected)
    {
        // Calculate the bounds of the row.
        Rectangle rowBounds = new Rectangle(
            this.dataGridView1.RowHeadersWidth, e.RowBounds.Top,
            this.dataGridView1.Columns.GetColumnsWidth(
                DataGridViewElementStates.Visible) -
            this.dataGridView1.HorizontalScrollingOffset + 1,
            e.RowBounds.Height);

        // Paint the custom selection background.
        using (Brush backbrush =
            new System.Drawing.Drawing2D.LinearGradientBrush(rowBounds,
                this.dataGridView1.DefaultCellStyle.SelectionBackColor,
                e.InheritedRowStyle.ForeColor,
                System.Drawing.Drawing2D.LinearGradientMode.Horizontal))
        {
            e.Graphics.FillRectangle(backbrush, rowBounds);
        }
    }
}