Either use "panel" background whith the cutout's designed in it, which is a pain in the rear to do. Or have your main panel background, then place another panel on top of it with the cutout shape you need with transparency, then place your actual button ontop of the panel with the cutout shape. You could also design your buttons to have the cutout effect built into them.

I had a problem with some big buttons that when I used the transparency feature it also made part of the actual button transparent and you could see background panel behind it. Also the transparency looses the "touch" area making the button harder to use. To take care of this problem i made a small button with the transparency color to place behind the original button. Both buttons have the same Ir command or alias. Now which ever button gets selected when you push it sends the correct command. Clear as mud, right.

If questions, send me and email. Always glad to help.

David Shaw
archer@mewlan.com