C# Picturebox transparent background doesn't seem to work

Question

For a project of mine I need images to display with a transparent background. I made some .png images that have a transparent background(to check this I opened them in Photoshop). Now I have a class that extends PictureBox:

class Foo : PictureBox {     public Foo(int argument)         : base()     {         Console.WriteLine(argument);//different in the real application of course.         //MyProject.Properties.Resources.TRANSPARENCYTEST.MakeTransparent(MyProject.Properties.Resources.TRANSPARENCYTEST.GetPixel(1,1)); //<-- also tried this         this.Image = MyProject.Properties.Resources.TRANSPARENCYTEST;         ((Bitmap)this.Image).MakeTransparent(((Bitmap)this.Image).GetPixel(1, 1));         this.SizeMode = PictureBoxSizeMode.StretchImage;         this.BackColor = System.Drawing.Color.Transparent;     } } 

this however just displays the picturebox with a white background, I just can't seem to make it work with a transparent background.

Answer 1

If you want to overlay images over images (and not images over form), this would make the trick:

overImage.Parent = backImage; overImage.BackColor = Color.Transparent; overImage.Location = thePointRelativeToTheBackImage; 

Where overImage and backImage are PictureBox with png (with transparent background).

This is because, as said before, the transparency of an image is rendered using the back color of the Parent container. PictureBoxes haven't a "Parent" property so you have to make it manually (or create a cutom control of course).

Answer 2

It probably works perfectly. You are seeing what's behind the picture box control. Which is the form. Whose BackColor is probably white. You can set the form's BackgroundImage property to be sure, you should see the image through the picture box. Like this:

Punching a hole through both the picture box and the form requires a bigger weapon, Form.TransparencyKey