Visual Basic Concepts

Introduction to Graphics Properties for Forms and Controls

Forms and various controls have graphics properties. The following table lists these properties.

Category	Properties
Display processing	AutoRedraw, ClipControls
Current drawing location	CurrentX, CurrentY
Drawing techniques	DrawMode, DrawStyle, DrawWidth, BorderStyle, BorderWidth
Filling techniques	FillColor, FillStyle
Colors	BackColor, ForeColor, BorderColor, FillColor

Forms and picture boxes have additional properties:

Scale properties, as described in "Changing an Object’s Coordinate System" earlier in this chapter.
Font properties, as described in "Setting Font Characteristics" earlier in this chapter.

There are two properties of forms and picture boxes you’ll probably want to use right away: BackColor and ForeColor. BackColor paints the background of the drawing area. If BackColor is light blue, then the entire area is light blue when you clear it. ForeColor (foreground) determines the color of text and graphics drawn on an object, although some graphics methods give you the option of using a different color. For more information about color, see "Working with Color" later in this chapter.