I didnt underatsn why u r keeping the static control on top of the picture box but the way u can make static control trasparent is.. over ride the OnCtlColor handlr and do the followin HBRUSH UrDialog::OnCtlColor(CDC* pDC, CWnd* pWnd, UINT nCtlColor) { HBRUSH hBr = CDialog::OnCtlColor( pDC, pWnd, nCtlColor ); if (nCtlColor == CTLCOLOR_DLG || nCtlColor == CTLCOLOR_STATIC) { //hBr = m_BkGndBrush; pDC->SetBkMode(TRANSPARENT); } return hBr; }