Images for custom controls

[Robert Andersen]

Images on controls included with LabView appear to have transparent backgrounds, i.e. it doesn't matter what the front panel color is. However, when I make a custom image and import it, it always has a background. I suspect this is caused by the operation of copying it to the clipboard, but this is apparently the only way to import the graphic. Is there any way to import graphics with transparent backgrounds?

[Labviewguru]

Yes,

There are a number of ways. The easiest that I have found is to drop the image into PowerPoint, and use the transparent color tool there to make the background transparent. Be careful, if you select the color, and your image contains the background color in it, you will make those portions (think white) transparent as well.

[Robert Andersen]

Thanks, I tried your suggestion and it worked. The only thing I don't understand is why it wouldn't work when I pasted a transparent image from PaintShop Pro??

[Labviewguru]

I have no idea why this is so. It may have something to do with Windows, the clipboard, and Windows not sharing information with other developers to allow cut and paste of this type of information.

[Greg_McKaskle2]

> Thanks, I tried your suggestion and it worked. The only thing I don't
> understand is why it wouldn't work when I pasted a transparent image
> from PaintShop Pro??
>

To answer the first sort-of question. NI objects aren't bitmaps, the
objects are able to draw all sorts of images. You can copy these using
the control editor and others are built into the decorations palettes.

The second question has to do with transparent images. The two common
ways of doing this are to use a metafile, or a GIF/PNG. I'm not sure if
Powerpoint turns things into metafiles, but that is quite likely,
especially if this technique works with LV versions before 6.1. In 6.1,
support was added for GIFs and PNGs. Unfortunately, Im pretty sure
the clip
board doesn't support these. The best way to get these into LV
is to save them to file as a GIF or PNG and Import them into LV using
the Import Image menu.

Greg McKaskle