Thanks that did the trick! Carp

How do you completely RELEASE a bitmap file if you load it as an image? The following code chokes: Picturebox1.Image = Image.FromFile("C:\test.bmp") 'load the file .... .... .... .... Picturebox1.Image = Nothing Picturebox1.Dispose Try deleting file here and you get “cannot delete…in use by another user…” error. ??? Thanks. Carp

OK I've scoured the WEB for this but can't find a working solution. I'm trying to create a "fade" effect for a user control without any luck. Basically I'm trying to get the control to gradually "appear" on a form as part of it's methods, i.e. add the control to a from and then "fade" it in. As an example, assume I have a user control containing various other controls (text boxes, labels, listviews, etc.). The control should then fade all of these in. NOte - I can't use a Form and then change the opacity, it has to be a user control, but that's basically the equivalent effect... Any ideas? Thanks. ??? Carp