Invisible image

I want to do an image looking like a red rectangle but the middle of the image must be invisible.. its not working with BMP file ... anyway I can do a picture like this that VB will load ?

I want to do an image looking like a red rectangle but the middle of the image must be invisible.. its not working with BMP file ... anyway I can do a picture like this that VB will load ?
This has nothing to do with VB. The BMP file format doesn't natively support transparency.

One way to do what you want is to convert the BMP image into a GIF file with transparency. If this GIF with transparency is made properly (the center is filled with the "transparent" color) , then loaded into an image control (using the Picture property), the center will be transparent.

The other way is to create a "mask". When used in conjunction with the Bitblt API, it can make part of a bitmap image transparent in VB.

If you read through this Code Library thread:
http://www.xtremevbtalk.com/t129548.html

..you will find:
1.) Example of using Bitblt to create transparency
2.) A link to Gary Beebe's Bitblt tutorial
3.) A link to a VB tool for creating masks