KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q193589: HOWTO: Create Transparent Images From Bitmaps

Article: Q193589
Product(s): Microsoft Visual Basic for Windows
Version(s): WINDOWS:5.0,6.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbGrpDSVB
Last Modified: 11-JAN-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0 
- Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0 
- Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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:

  Q187568 HOWTO: 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:

  Q193543 INFO: Unisys GIF and LZW Technology License Information

Additional query words: kbDSupport kbDSD kbVBp kbVBp500 kbVBp600 kbBitmap

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbGrpDSVB 
Technology        : kbVBSearch kbAudDeveloper kbZNotKeyword6 kbZNotKeyword2 kbVB500Search kbVB600Search kbVBA500 kbVBA600 kbVB500 kbVB600
Version           : WINDOWS:5.0,6.0
Issue type        : kbhowto

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.