How To Create Transparent Images From Bitmaps (193589)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows 6.0
This article was previously published under Q193589

SUMMARY

In previous versions of Visual Basic, creating transparent bitmaps required extensive use of the Windows API. The problem was that Visual Basic controls could not use graphic file types (such as GIF) that support transparency. Visual Basic for Windows versions 5.0 and 6.0 controls can use files in a much wider range of formats than previous versions.

MORE INFORMATION

While it is still possible to handle transparent bitmaps programmatically, this article presents a solution that requires no code. This approach requires the use of a graphics editor such as the Microsoft Photo Editor that ships with Office 97, but any graphic editor that can set a transparent color will suffice.

Steps To Create a Transparent Image From a Bitmap

  1. Open the bitmap in Microsoft Photo Editor.
  2. Click the "Select Transparent Color" button on the toolbar.
  3. Click on the bitmap background to select the color (Photo Editor selects by color - not area). It should "hatch" the selected color. Click OK on the "Change Color to Transparent" dialog that appears.
  4. Use File...SaveAs to save the bitmap as a .GIF image.
  5. Specify the .GIF file as the Image property in any control that supports this file type.

REFERENCES

For additional information on creating bitmaps via code, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

187568 How To Create Your Own Bitmap Object Class


For additional information on converting to GIF files, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

193543 INFO: Unisys GIF and LZW Technology License Information

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:3/7/2005
Keywords:kbhowto KB193589
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