Setting up background images for forms in Delphi

Question

How can I make my program load an image and make it the background for a form? I need the exact code for it. I\'ve looked all over the internet and the only things I\'ve fo

Answer 1

1. Put a TImageon your form. Make sure it's behind all other controls on the form. You can right-click it and choose the "send to back" menu option.

2. Load a graphic.

   var
     img: TBitmap;
   begin
     img := TBitmap.Create;
     try
       img.LoadFromFile('S:\background.bmp');
   

3. Assign it to the image control.

       Image1.Picture := img;
   

4. Clean up.

     finally
       img.Free;
     end;
   end;
   

You can also combine the last three steps to load the graphic and put it in the image control all at once. Thanks to Jon for the suggestion.

Image1.Picture.LoadFromFile('B:\background.bmp');

See also: How to add background images to Delphi forms

Answer 2

This is the way all my applications show a form image. I load the image at form creation or when the application calls a specific showing event

  var
    vDest, vRect:  TRect;
  begin
    vRect := Rect(0, 0, FBackgroundImage.Width, FBackgroundImage.Height);
    vDest := Rect(0,0,Self.Width, Self.Height);
    Canvas.StretchDraw(vDest, FBackgroundImage);


  if FileExists(this) then
    FBackgroundImage.LoadFromFile(this);

Answer 3

@Brendan

thanks
//from Brendan code;

var
vDest, vRect:  TRect;
FBackgroundImage: TGraphic;
begin
FBackgroundImage := image1.Picture.Graphic; //LOAD from invisible image
vRect := Rect(0, 0, FBackgroundImage.Width, FBackgroundImage.Height);
vDest := Rect(0,0,Self.Width, Self.Height);
Canvas.StretchDraw(vDest, FBackgroundImage);
end;

Answer 4

What I would do is use the forms OnPaint event, get the canvas (Form1.Canvas), and then use the Draw method (which takes an image) to draw the image you want. Something like the following:

procedure TForm1.FormPaint(Sender: TObject);
var
mypic: TBitMap;
begin
mypic := TBitMap.Create;
try
mypic.LoadFromFile('cant.bmp');
Form1.Canvas.Draw(0, 0, mypic);
finally
FreeAndNil(mypic);
end;
end;


Note that this could be extremely slow.