How do i create nice looking controls?

Question

hi guys,

I found a nice controls used by a software so wanted to use or build similar nice looking controls for my applications in vb.net

First Sample control is nice rounded cornor group box [ i guess so ]: http://sachicomputer.com/kabin/samples/control1.jpg

and second control is nice looking tab control:

http://sachicomputer.com/kabin/samples/control1.jpg

Edited:

Yeah I tried enablevisualstyles but it didn't show any difference. Do i need to run other commands in conjucation with it? I found my program still displaying same old look but other one application showing office 2007 look. So how can it be done?

I am testing it in windows 2003 server.

Answer 1

You'll have to do quite a bit of drawing by yourself. This MSDN section deals with Custom Control Painting and Rendering and the documentation for Control.Region has a sample for making round buttons that you might be able to adapt.

I'd suggest having a look at the codeproject site as well, a lot of people have written articles there about customizing various controls