Five steps for creating a transparent user control

Guest post from Eyal Ron:

After much testing this is the correct formula for a truly transparent user control:

1. Derive from Panel rather then UserControl.
   
   
2. Override the OnPaintBackground function:
   protected override void OnPaintBackground(PaintEventArgs pevent)
   {
   //do nothing
   }
   
   
3. Override the OnMove function:
   protected override void OnMove(EventArgs e)
   {
   RecreateHandle();
   }
   
   
4. Override the CreateParams property:
   protected override CreateParams CreateParams
   {
   get
   {
   CreateParams cp = base.CreateParams;
   cp.ExStyle = 0x00000020; //WS_EX_TRANSPARENT
   return cp;
   }
   }
   
   
5. Override the OnPaint function:
   protected override void OnPaint(PaintEventArgs e)
   {
   Graphics g = e.Graphics;
   
   //Do your drawing here
   .
   .
   .
   
   g.Dispose();
   }