Can't get Componant to appear in Panel...

Question

Im trying to make an Image appear as my Panel backround, here is the code for the Panel:
public class LeftPanelEarth extends JPanel
     public LeftPanelEarth()
         this.add(new MapComponant());
         this.add(new JButton("TestButton"));
     public class MapComponant extends JComponent
     public void paintComponent(Graphics g)
         Graphics2D g2 = (Graphics2D) g;
          /**Image map = null;
          try {
               map = javax.imageio.ImageIO.read(new java.net.URL(getClass().getResource("calgary_small.gif"), "calgary_small.gif"));}
               catch (MalformedURLException mue) {       }
              catch (IOException ioe) {          }
               if (map != null)
                    g2.drawImage(map,
                              0,
                              0,
                              200,
                              200,
                              this);
               Rectangle box = new Rectangle(5,10,20,30);
                              g2.draw(box);
}It will add the Test button, but won't add the componant. I replaced the image with a box to see if that would work and it still wont. Any ideas, or if this is even the way to make a backround image. I looked at the Panel Javadocs and there was no meathod to set a backround. I think that would be useful.

Answer 1

Assuming that the Image loading code is correct...
I believe the image loading occurs in a different thread. No, ImageIO.read is synchronous.
1) Load the image outside of paintComponentYes
2) Use MediaTracker to wait until the Image loading is finishedNo need to (see first comment)