Thread: Transparent Window without using Layers

I did some more reasearch and came across a method in the Graphics object in .net called CopyFromScreen. I'm not sure if it is possible, and from the looks of it it isn't, to use that method to capture everything underneath my window and simply have Managed DirectX blend with that image to create a transparent effect.

Only problem now is making this method or similar method copy everything underneath my window and not my window. Any thoughts?

Alright I think this image will better explain what I'm taking about. I guess that windows layers work for me but at the same time they don't. I am using C# and .net 2.0 but I am looking forward to a lot of interoping. I can set the opacity of the window using .net and I can aslo set it using windows layers and interoping but both produce the results in the image attached.

The problem I have currently with using layers is that the title bar and border of the window are semi-transparent like there suposed to be, no problems there. However the inside of the form is being rendered using Managed DirectX and as you can see in the picture it is completely opaque. Not what I want at all. There is also a weird flicker on the DirectX part caused by windows layers.

What I'm thinking for a fix would be to let windows layers do the form border and title bar and for me to manualy do the inside of the form using a bitmap of behind the window and blending it inside of DirectX. Or if the flicker still gets me I could manualy draw the entire form inside of DirectX like the first idea, though not my idea of fun.

I have found a decent way to get the bitmap of whats behind my window using what I mentioned in my second post, however the draw back is that if a window changes behind mine I will have to somehow update my bitmap of what is behind my window. I'm not sure how I would do that.

It appears that everything works great if the window is partialy off the screen! Refer to the picture attatched. It has to be completely off the screen (not just under the task bar). I have no clue why this works but I got the idea after I read something about it working on a second monitor if running dual monitors. So that's the second clue, it appears to only not work if the window is fully in the first monitor. Why, I have no idea. I'm hoping somebody can help shed the light on this, this is really weird.

Transparent windows are supported in the Win32 API in GDI+. In order to link with it you will have to use some import statements in your C# program.

I know there supported, I'm using them. That doesn't appear to be the problem however, the problem is with how directx works with windows. I'm attempting to create a work around but not going so good.

I can't seem to edit my posts but this problem has been resolved at the XNA Creator Clubs forum. In case anyone else ever comes across this problem I'll give a brief overview.

Exact Problem: DirectX didn't render correctly on a window that is semi-transparent using windows layers.

Reason: DirectX draws directly onto the screen and windows layers draws the window offscreen therefore the two did not mix.

Solution: Have DirectX render to an offscreen buffer or something similar and copy the buffer over to system memory to present on the window. This is slower than just using DirectX to do the rendering but it works.

Thank you all for your kind help.