docs-desktop/dotnet-desktop-guide/framework/winforms/controls/how-to-give-your-control-a-transparent-background.md

title, ms.date, helpviewer_keywords, ms.assetid

title	ms.date	helpviewer_keywords	ms.assetid
How to: Give Your Control a Transparent Background	03/30/2017	transparent backgrounds [Windows Forms], custom controls custom controls [Windows Forms], transparent background transparency [Windows Forms], Windows Forms custom controls	32433e63-f4e9-4305-9857-6de3edeb944a

How to: Give Your Control a Transparent Background

In earlier versions of the .NET Framework, controls didn't support setting transparent backcolors without first setting the xref:System.Windows.Forms.Control.SetStyle%2A method in the forms's constructor. In the current framework version, the backcolor for most controls can be set to xref:System.Drawing.Color.Transparent%2A in the Properties window at design time, or in code in the form's constructor.

Note

Windows Forms controls do not support true transparency. The background of a transparent Windows Forms control is painted by its parent.

Note

The xref:System.Windows.Controls.Button control doesn't support a transparent backcolor even when the xref:System.Windows.Forms.ButtonBase.BackColor%2A property is set to xref:System.Drawing.Color.Transparent%2A.

To give your control a transparent backcolor

• In the Properties window, choose the xref:System.Windows.Forms.ButtonBase.BackColor%2A property and set it to xref:System.Drawing.Color.Transparent%2A

See also

• xref:System.Drawing.Color.FromArgb%2A
• Developing Custom Windows Forms Controls with the .NET Framework
• Using Managed Graphics Classes
• How to: Draw Opaque and Semitransparent Lines