How do I draw transparent DirectX content in a transparent window?

Question

I want to draw DirectX content so that it appears to be floating over top of the desktop and any other applications that are running. I also need to be able to make the directx content semi-transparent, so other things show through. Is there a way of doing this?

I am using Managed DX with C#.

Answer 1

I guess that will be hard without using the Desktop Window Manager, i.e. if you want to support Windows XP. With the DWM, it seems to be rather easy though.

If speed is not an issue, you may get away with rendering to a surface and then copying the rendered image to a layered window. Don't expect that to be fast though.

Answer 2

I found a solution which works on Vista, starting from the link provided by OregonGhost. This is the basic process, in C# syntax. This code is in a class inheriting from Form. It doesn't seem to work if in a UserControl:

//this will allow you to import the necessary functions from the .dll
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

//this imports the function used to extend the transparent window border.
[DllImport("dwmapi.dll")]
static extern void DwmExtendFrameIntoClientArea(IntPtr hWnd, ref Margins pMargins);

//this is used to specify the boundaries of the transparent area
internal struct Margins {
    public int Left, Right, Top, Bottom;
}
private Margins marg;

//Do this every time the form is resized. It causes the window to be made transparent.
marg.Left = 0;
marg.Top = 0;
marg.Right = this.Width;
marg.Bottom = this.Height;
DwmExtendFrameIntoClientArea(this.Handle, ref marg);

//This initializes the DirectX device. It needs to be done once.
//The alpha channel in the backbuffer is critical.
PresentParameters presentParameters = new PresentParameters();
presentParameters.Windowed = true;
presentParameters.SwapEffect = SwapEffect.Discard;
presentParameters.BackBufferFormat = Format.A8R8G8B8;

Device device = new Device(0, DeviceType.Hardware, this.Handle,
CreateFlags.HardwareVertexProcessing, presentParameters);

//the OnPaint functions maked the background transparent by drawing black on it.
//For whatever reason this results in transparency.
protected override void OnPaint(PaintEventArgs e) {
    Graphics g = e.Graphics;

    // black brush for Alpha transparency
    SolidBrush blackBrush = new SolidBrush(Color.Black);
    g.FillRectangle(blackBrush, 0, 0, Width, Height);
    blackBrush.Dispose();

    //call your DirectX rendering function here
}

//this is the dx rendering function. The Argb clearing function is important,
//as it makes the directx background transparent.
protected void dxrendering() {
    device.Clear(ClearFlags.Target, Color.FromArgb(0, 0, 0, 0), 1.0f, 0);

    device.BeginScene();
    //draw stuff here.
    device.EndScene();
    device.Present();
}

Lastly, a Form with default setting will have a glassy looking partially transparent background. Set the FormBorderStyle to "none" and it will be 100% transparent with only your content floating above everything.

Answer 3

WPF is also another option.