Win7: Taskbar thumbnail image background transparency

Question

Hello

I've been playing around with Windows 7 taskbar thumbnail previews. I've noticed that some Microsoft applications are able to set thumbnail images which have transparency in background. I've been trying all out and not been able to achieve this.

I've set a picturebox control having PNG with transparency as thumbnail preview, doesnt work. I tried creating a new bitmap and loading from Icon file having transparency and setting it as preview but still doesn't work. It keeps showing the background color of the form window.

This is what Microsoft apps are able to acheive:

http://i.msdn.microsoft.com/dynimg/IC294975.png

http://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/image386.png

And here is what I've managed to get at most:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/a5NfRFuJYd2dfX1LaqKjFtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink

How to accomplish the transparency in the thumbnail preview?

-Faraz

Answer 1

Have you tried Photoshop?

http://forums.hscripts.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=3034

Answer 2

Hi Faraz,

Welcome to the MSDN forum.

To make a region transparent when drawing thumbnail image, you need to create a bitmap which alpha channel. I’d suggest you check this reference link: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5132760/how-can-i-make-a-region-on-my-taskbar-thumbnail-appear-transparent-in-windows-7

Moreover, the following links about Win 7 taskbar may be also helpful: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7trainingcourse_win7taskbarmanaged_topic2#_Toc236828995

If I misunderstood anything, please feel free and feedback.

Best regards,

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Shanks Zen
MSDN Community Support | Feedback to us

Answer 3

This is the work of the "new" Windows 7 API. Take a look here for some good starter reference: http://www.developerfusion.com/article/70567/tapping-into-the-power-of-the-windows-7-taskbar/

What you want is the ThumbnailPreview's I believe

Cheers :)
~Ace

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Answer 4

Thanks I'll look into it.

Answer 5

Wondering if someone has got this working?

The Stackoverflow question is from myself and the answers there don't work.