JFrame background image

Hi all , i need to put a background image into a JFrame, currently i am seeting a label with an icon and adding it to the jframe but it pusshes all my other components across. how do i get it to be displayed behind the other components?
final JFrame frame = new JFrame("Bank Accounts");
         frame.setSize(425,203);
         final Container container = frame.getContentPane();
     a = new javax.swing.JLabel();
     a.setIcon(new javax.swing.ImageIcon("spacePic.jpg"));
frame.add(a);
a.setOpaque(true);
         GridBagLayout gblMain = new GridBagLayout(); // Create the layout
         container.setLayout(gblMain);// Set layout on container
          GridBagLayout gblRight = new GridBagLayout();
              JPanel aPanel2 = new JPanel(gblRight);

sorry here is a better display if the code
final JFrame frame = new JFrame("Bank Accounts");
         frame.setSize(425,203);
         final Container container = frame.getContentPane();
     a = new javax.swing.JLabel();
     a.setIcon(new javax.swing.ImageIcon("spacePic.jpg"));
        frame.add(a);
       a.setOpaque(true);
         GridBagLayout gblMain = new GridBagLayout(); // Create the layout
         container.setLayout(gblMain);// Set layout on container
     GridBagLayout gblRight = new GridBagLayout();
         JPanel aPanel2 = new JPanel(gblRight);

Similar Messages

(yet another) JFrame background image topic

So I know there's about 20 other threads asking this same question, but I've read them all and still can't seem to get my code to work. Here's what I have:
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.Image;
import javax.imageio.ImageIO;
public class IndexFrame extends JFrame
    private JButton course1;
    private Image bg = new ImageIcon("background.jpg").getImage();
    public IndexFrame()
     JPanel cp = new JPanel()
         public void paintComponent(java.awt.Graphics g)
          if(bg==null) System.out.println("doh! no pic");
          g.drawImage(bg,0,0,null);
          super.paintComponent(g);
     cp.setOpaque(false);
     setContentPane(cp);
     this.setBounds(100, 100, 1000, 800);
     course1 = new JButton("hi");
     add(course1);
     setDefaultCloseOperation(javax.swing.WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
    public static void main(String [] args) {
     IndexFrame frame = new IndexFrame();
     frame.setSize(300,300);
     frame.setVisible(true);
}Needless to say, it doesn't work, and I have no idea why. It appears to be loading the pic correctly, because bg is not null (doesn't print the error message). Any help figuring out what's going on would be greatly appreciated!
On the bright side, I've learned a lot about Swing in trying to fix my problem; here's a question though. Is it ever a good idea to override a Swing object's (e.g. a JFrame) paint method? Or, unlike AWT, should you only override the paintcomponent()? And if so, why?
Thanks!

I've had problems with ImageIcon reading. For one
thing, if it can't find the file, it won't always
tell you. I had to give the absolute path a number of
times for it to be able to find the actual image
file.Hrm, so I guess I assumed it had loaded the file since bg was no longer null. It turns out you were right. I replaced the line:
private Image bg = new ImageIcon("background.jpg").getImage();with:
ImageIcon blah = new javax.swing.ImageIcon(getClass().getResource("background.jpg"));
bg = blah.getImage();in the IndexFrame constructor, and now it magically works! Just for future reference for me, any idea why the first way I did it didn't work? Was I using ImageIcon incorrectly? Also, is there a better way of handling images? I've come across the ImageIO class, but wasn't sure what that was intended for.
Thanks again!

Background image for JPanel using UI Properties

Is there any way to add background image for JPanel using UI Properties,
code is
if (property.equals("img")) {
System.out.println("call image file in css"+comp);
//set the background color for Jpanel
comp.setBackground(Color.decode("#db7093"));
here the comp is JPanel and we are setting the background color,
Is there any way to put the Background image for the JPanel ????

KrishnaveniB wrote:
Is there any way to put the Background image for the JPanel ????Override the paintComponent(...) method of JPanel.
e.g.
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.io.*;
import javax.imageio.ImageIO;
public class ImagePanel {
    public void createAndShowUI() {
        try {
            JFrame frame = new JFrame("Background Image Demo");
            final Image image = ImageIO.read(new File("/home/oje/Desktop/icons/yannix.gif"));
            JPanel panel = new JPanel() {
                protected void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
                    g.drawImage(image, 0, 0, null);
            frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
            frame.setSize(new Dimension(400, 400));
            frame.setContentPane(panel);
            frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
            frame.setVisible(true);
        } catch (IOException ex) {
            ex.printStackTrace();
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
            public void run() {
                new ImagePanel().createAndShowUI();
}

Problem with Background image and JFrame

Hi there!
I've the following problem:
I created a JFrame with an integrated JPanel. In this JFrame I display a background image. Therefore I've used my own contentPane:
public class MContentPane extends JComponent{
private Image backgroundImage = null;
public MContentPane() {
super();
* Returns the background image
* @return Background image
public Image getBackgroundImage() {
return backgroundImage;
* Sets the background image
* @param backgroundImage Background image
public void setBackgroundImage(Image backgroundImage) {
this.backgroundImage = backgroundImage;
* Overrides the painting to display a background image
protected void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
if (isOpaque()) {
g.setColor(getBackground());
g.fillRect(0, 0, getWidth(), getHeight());
if (backgroundImage != null) {
g.drawImage(backgroundImage,0,0,this);
super.paintComponent(g);
Now the background image displays correct. But as soon as I click on some combobox that is placed within the integrated JPanel I see fractals of the opened combobox on the background. When I minimize
the Frame they disappear. Sometimes though I get also some fractals when resizing the JFrame.
It seems there is some problem with the redrawing of the background e.g. it doesn't get redrawn as often as it should be!?
Could anyone give me some hint, on how to achieve a clear background after clicking some combobox?
Thx in advance

I still prefer using a border to draw a background image:
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.image.*;
import javax.swing.border.*;
public class CentredBackgroundBorder implements Border {
    private final BufferedImage image;
    public CentredBackgroundBorder(BufferedImage image) {
        this.image = image;
    public void paintBorder(Component c, Graphics g, int x, int y, int width, int height) {
        int x0 = x + (width-image.getWidth())/2;
        int y0 = y + (height-image.getHeight())/2;
        g. drawImage(image, x0, y0, null);
    public Insets getBorderInsets(Component c) {
        return new Insets(0,0,0,0);
    public boolean isBorderOpaque() {
        return true;
}And here is a demo where I load the background image asynchronously, so that I can launch the GUI before the image is done loading. Warning: you may find the image disturbing...
import java.awt.*;
import java.io.*;
import java.net.URL;
import javax.imageio.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.border.*;
public class BackgroundBorderExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
        JFrame.setDefaultLookAndFeelDecorated(true);
        JFrame f = new JFrame("BackgroundBorderExample");
        f.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        JTextArea area = new JTextArea(24,80);
        area.setForeground(Color.WHITE);
        area.setOpaque(false);
        area.read(new FileReader(new File("BackgroundBorderExample.java")), null);
        final JScrollPane sp = new JScrollPane(area);
        sp.setBackground(Color.BLACK);
        sp.getViewport().setOpaque(false);
        f.getContentPane().add(sp);
        f.setSize(600,400);
        f.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
        f.setVisible(true);
        String url = "http://today.java.net/jag/bio/JagHeadshot.jpg";
        final Border bkgrnd = new CentredBackgroundBorder(ImageIO.read(new URL(url)));
        Runnable r = new Runnable() {
            public void run() {
                sp.setViewportBorder(bkgrnd);
                sp.repaint();
        SwingUtilities.invokeLater(r);
}

How to get Internal frames as well as a background image in a JFrame?

Hi All,
Here's my problem. I have a JFrame with a background image that I got by overridding the paintComponent() method of a JPanel and setting as the contentPane of a JFrame. Works great.
Now what I want is to use internal frames with this Frame a la JInternalFrame classes. But you need to create a JDesktopPane object and set this as the contentPane of the JFrame to get internal frames to work, right? Is there a way for me to have my cake and eat it so I get both internal frames and a background image? Thanks!

Hmmm,
so simple, why didn't I think of that? Damn Mondays!
thanks very much!

JFRAME background jpeg image

Hi,
I am trying to add a jpeg as a packground to my JFrame. I have read quite a few posts on how to do it in here, but none seem to work . Has anybody tried this and goit it working? If so some tips would be good.
Thanks

With some changes, the JPanel resize to the image size:
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.net.URL;
/ A <code>JFrame</code> with a background image */
public class BackgroundImage extends JFrame
     final ImageIcon icon;
     final boolean isRedimensionable;
     public BackgroundImage(URL url, boolean isRedimensionable) {
          icon = new ImageIcon(url.getFile());
          this.isRedimensionable = isRedimensionable;
          JPanel panel = new JPanel()
               protected void paintComponent(Graphics g)
                    if (BackgroundImage.this.isRedimensionable) {
                         // Scale image to size of component
                         Dimension d = getSize();
                         g.drawImage(icon.getImage(), 0, 0, d.width, d.height, null);
                    } else {
                         // Dispaly image at at full size
                         g.drawImage(icon.getImage(), 0, 0, null);
                    super.paintComponent(g);
          panel.setOpaque( false );
          getContentPane().add( panel );
          Dimension dim = new Dimension(icon.getIconWidth() +getInsets().left+ getInsets().right, icon.getIconHeight() +getInsets().top+ getInsets().bottom) ;
          panel.setPreferredSize(dim);
          setResizable(isRedimensionable);
          pack();
          JButton button = new JButton( "Hello" );
          panel.add( button );
     public static void main(String [] args)
          BackgroundImage frame = new BackgroundImage(BackgroundImage.class.getResource("loginDialogBackground.png"), true);
          frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
          frame.setLocationRelativeTo( null );
          frame.setVisible(true);
}

Setting background image in JFrame

Witam,
Jak mozna ustawic tlo w postaci grafiki (png, jpg, ...) dla jFrame? Znalalem juz kilka sposobow ale one uzywaja jPanel, ktorego ja NIE moge uzyc ... niestety. Jesli nie ma takiej mozliwosci dla jFrame to moze tez byc dla jScrollPane, JComponent, Scene albo LayerWidget;)
Hi,
Is it possoble to use image as a background for jFrame? I know that it is possible to use jPanel and ser background image for jPanel, but in my project I cannot use it. Instead I can use jFrame, jScrollPane, Scene or LayerWidget.:)

In the future, Swing related questions should be posted in the Swing forum.
But there is already no need to post in the Swing forum because you already know the answer:
I know that it is possible to use jPanel and ser background image for jPanel,
If you need further help then you need to create a "Short, Self Contained, Compilable and Executable, Example Program (SSCCE)", that demonstrates the incorrect behaviour.
http://homepage1.nifty.com/algafield/sscce.html
Don't forget to use the "Code Formatting Tags", so the posted code retains its original formatting.
http://forum.java.sun.com/help.jspa?sec=formatting

Setting the background image in a JFrame

Hi all,
I have a .gif that I want to display as the background image in a JFrame. How do I do that?
regards,
Mat

Check out this thread:
http://forum.java.sun.com/thread.jsp?forum=31&thread=288769

No background image in JFrame

I don't know what to do. I've read in the forum but nothing works!
I have a JFrame with JButtons (absolute positioning) and want an image as a background.
When you click a button, a new JFrame is opened.
public class MyProg extends JFrame {
public MyProg() {
setBounds(25,25,700,500);
Container contentPane.....
contentPane.setLayout(null);
JButton 1Button = new JButton(aString);
1Button.setActionCommand(aString);
1Button.setBounds(30,30,100,30);
contentPane.add(1Button);
class RadioListener implements ActionListener {
public void actionPerformed(Action Event e) {
frame2 = new JFrame(e.getActionCommand());
public static void main (String s[]) {
frame = new JFrame("Blabla");

1. MediaTracker - no, ImageIO - s�!
2. One technique for giving any container (like a frame's content pane) a background image, is to use a Border to do it.
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.geom.*;
import java.awt.image.*;
import javax.swing.border.*;
public class CentredBackgroundBorder implements Border {
    private final BufferedImage image;
    public CentredBackgroundBorder(BufferedImage image) {
        this.image = image;
    public void paintBorder(Component c, Graphics g, int x, int y, int width, int height) {
        x += (width-image.getWidth())/2;
        y += (height-image.getHeight())/2;
        ((Graphics2D) g).drawRenderedImage(image, AffineTransform.getTranslateInstance(x,y));
    public Insets getBorderInsets(Component c) {
        return new Insets(0,0,0,0);
    public boolean isBorderOpaque() {
        return true;
import java.awt.*;
import java.io.*;
import java.net.URL;
import javax.imageio.*;
import javax.swing.*;
public class BackgroundBorderExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
        final JFrame f = new JFrame("BackgroundBorderExample");
        f.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        JTextArea area = new JTextArea(24,80);
        area.setForeground(Color.WHITE);
        area.setOpaque(false);
        area.read(new FileReader("BackgroundBorderExample.java"), null);
        JScrollPane sp = new JScrollPane(area);
        sp.getViewport().setOpaque(false);
        f.getContentPane().add(sp);
        String url = "http://today.java.net/jag/bio/JagHeadshot.jpg";
        sp.setViewportBorder(new CentredBackgroundBorder(ImageIO.read(new URL(url))));
        f.setSize(600,400);
        SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
            public void run() {
                f.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
                f.setVisible(true);
}

Inserting a background image on JFrame

I am developing an interactive system for the london 2012 olympics (Not a real one, just a project :-)) I am starting by creating my GUI layout. This is where i have started.
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.border.*;
import java.util.*;
import java.awt.event.KeyListener;
import java.io.*;
import java.text.*;
public class Assignment extends JFrame
   private JLabel londOnJLabel;
public Assignment()
          ImageIcon image = new ImageIcon("???.jpg");
          JLabel background = new JLabel(image);
          background.setBounds(0, 0, image.getIconWidth(), image.getIconHeight());
          getLayeredPane().add(background, new Integer(Integer.MIN_VALUE));
private void createUserInterface()
          Container contentPane = getContentPane();
          contentPane.setLayout( null );
          londOnJLabel = new JLabel();
          londOnJLabel.setBounds( 19, 19, 875, 28 );
          londOnJLabel.setText( "LONDON 2012" );
          londOnJLabel.setFont(new Font( "Default", Font.BOLD, 36 ) );
          londOnJLabel.setHorizontalAlignment(JLabel.CENTER );
          contentPane.add( londOnJLabel );
          setTitle( "LONDON 2012" );
          setSize( 1000, 750 );
          setVisible( true );
public static void main( String[] args )
      Assignment application = new Assignment();
      application.setDefaultCloseOperation( JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE );
}So at the moment this Just displays LONDON 2012 on my application. Now what i would like to try and do is insert a background image of the olympic rings. How would i go about doing this?
cheers

THFC wrote:
sorry, when u say dont subclass JFrame, are you referring to this?
public Assignment() ....
No I meant don't do this: public class Assignment extends JFrameBut rather do this: do this: public class Assignment extends JPanelFor example:
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.Font;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.image.BufferedImage;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.net.URL;
import javax.imageio.ImageIO;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
public class Assignment2 extends JPanel
private static final String FILE_PATH = "myImageFile.jpg"; // !! change this
private static final String NET_URL_PATH = "http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Mooring_bollard_at_sunset%2C_Lyme_Regis.jpg/800px-Mooring_bollard_at_sunset%2C_Lyme_Regis.jpg";
// Photo by Michael Maggs, Wikimedia Commons: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Mooring_bollard_at_sunset%2C_Lyme_Regis.jpg
private BufferedImage image = null;
public Assignment2()
    try
      // first load the image
      //image = ImageIO.read(new File(FILE_PATH));
      image = ImageIO.read(new URL(NET_URL_PATH));
    catch (IOException e)
      e.printStackTrace();
    // then set up the JPanel. Try to avoid using the "null" layout
    JLabel titleLabel = new JLabel("My Title Goes Here");
    titleLabel.setFont(titleLabel.getFont().deriveFont(Font.BOLD, 36));
    titleLabel.setForeground(Color.lightGray);
    JPanel titlePanel = new JPanel();
    titlePanel.setOpaque(false);
    titlePanel.add(titleLabel);
    setPreferredSize(new Dimension(800, 590));
    setLayout(new BorderLayout());
    add(titlePanel, BorderLayout.NORTH);
@Override // here's where I paint my background:
protected void paintComponent(Graphics g)
    super.paintComponent(g);
    if (image != null)
      g.drawImage(image, 0, 0, this);
private static void createAndShowUI()
    // Then I only create my JFrame when I need it. I don't override it.
    // This way, I can use this same code in a JApplet, or a JDialog, or whatever
    JFrame frame = new JFrame("Assignment2");
    frame.getContentPane().add(new Assignment2()); // and add the JPanel to the JFrame here
    frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
    frame.pack();
    frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
    frame.setVisible(true);
public static void main(String[] args)
    java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable()
      public void run()
        createAndShowUI();
}Edited by: Encephalopathic on May 26, 2008 4:11 PM

Can anyone suggest me a simple way to add a background image to JFrame ?

I want to add a background image to JFrame in a simple way rather than overiding the paint method or paintComponent method. Just like adding an image to JButton or JLabel using two or three lines of code. Is it possible ? r there any methods for this purpose ? if so pls give the code.

JFrame as such does not provide an option to set a background image.
Extending JPanel, over-riding its paintComponent() and setting it as the contentPane of JFrame is one way of doing it. Though you have to do the overriding, it is not very complex though.

Adding background image to JFrame

This is the code I have now. I want to add a background image to the JFrame, and it needs to be where i type the file name of the image into the program code and it loads it from my computer.
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
class GUIFrame extends JFrame implements ActionListener, KeyListener
     Display myDisplay;
     Button guess;
     Button solve;
     TextField input;
     JTextArea guessedLetters;
     MenuBar myBar;
     Menu fileMenu;
     MenuItem fileNewGame;
     MenuItem fileQuit;
     * constructor sets title of GUI window
     GUIFrame()
          super("Hangman");
          setSize(1000,600);
          guess = new Button("Guess");
          guess.setFocusable(false);
          solve = new Button("Solve");
          solve.setFocusable(false);
          input = new TextField(20);
          guessedLetters=new JTextArea(10,10);
          guessedLetters.setEditable(false);
          myBar=new MenuBar();
          fileMenu=new Menu("File");
          fileNewGame=new MenuItem("New Game");
          fileQuit=new MenuItem("Quit");
          myDisplay = new Display();     //make an instance of the window
          setLayout(new FlowLayout());     //How things are added to our Frame
          add(myDisplay);
          add(guess);
          add(solve);
          add(input);
          add(guessedLetters);
          setMenuBar(myBar);
          myBar.add(fileMenu);
          fileMenu.add(fileNewGame);
          fileMenu.add(fileQuit);
          addKeyListener(this);
          guess.addActionListener(this);
          solve.addActionListener(this);
          setVisible(true);     //make the frame visible
     * exectues when user presses a button.
     public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
     public void keyPressed(KeyEvent e)
     public void keyReleased(KeyEvent e)
     public void keyTyped(KeyEvent e)
}

Look in the API under JFileChooser and Scanner to see how to get the file name. One you have it, you can load the file easily using several different methods...
This is even easier, you can paint and image onto anything you like with this method:
g.drawImage(image, 0, 0, null); //where g is the graphics context from the object you want to paint.
Simple as that.
The biggest problem you'll have with painting images onto other objects is making sure the image is loaded before you try to draw it; use ImageIO to load or add your image to a MediaTrakker after your load statement like this:
Image im = (Image)ImageIO.read(new File("c:/myImages/myImage.jgp"));
or
BufferedImage bi = ImageIO.read(new File("c:/myImages/myImage.jgp"));
or
Image image = Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().getImage("c:/myImages/myImage.jgp");
MediaTracker mediaTracker = new MediaTracker(jf);
mediaTracker.addImage(image, 0);
mediaTracker.waitForID(0);
BTW: what this means it that you can paint right onto the graphics content of the JFrame and not have to worry about any other containers if you want.
If you expect the image to last more than just a flash, then you also need to override your paintComponents(Grahics) method to paint your graphics to your screen.

Problem in setting background Image to TabedPane.

Hi Pals,
I created a JFrame which consist of some components. The structure of the added components are given below.
1) I added a JPanel (MainPanel) with background image in a JFrame.
2) I added a JTabbedPane with 7 tabs in the previous JPanel (MainPanel).
3) Each tabs in the JTabbedPane having JPanel with Background Image.
This is my Frame Structure. but i haven't problem to run in JDK1.6,1.5. It is working perfect. But when am run in lower version like 1.3 or 1.4. The design is looking bad. The JTabbedPane overlap the (MainPanel). The background image of the (MainPanel) was hided. I set setOpaque(false) for the JTabbedPane. But it also not working. How can i solve this problem.
By,
Mohan

Your problems appear to stem from your choice of layout manager(s). To get better help sooner, post a [_Short, Self Contained, Compilable and Executable, Example Program (SSCCE)_|http://mindprod.com/jgloss/sscce.html] that clearly demonstrates your problem.
To post code, use the code tags -- [code]Your Code[/code] will display asYour CodeOr use the code button above the editing area and paste your code between the {code}{code} tags it generates.
db

Background image for a JApplet

Hi everybody.
I have a app with some textfields, buttons and some JLabels.
I want to put a image as background.
How can I do that?
Thanks in advance.

JApplet (and JFrame and any root container) has a Container that it uses to hold everything else, its contentPane. I would create a JPanel and make it my applet's contentPane and then add everything to this contentPane. To show an image on the contentPane/JPanel, I'd simply Google Background image jpanel. I'd get and then read this: [http://faq.javaranch.com/java/BackgroundImageOnJPanel]
(I've actually bookmarked this page as it gets asked here so often).

Background image in a JTextArea

How could I place a background image on a JTextArea?

Try this little program :
import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;
public class TextAreaBackgroundImage extends JTextArea {
     Image image;
     public TextAreaBackgroundImage() {
          super();
          image = new ImageIcon("im.jpg").getImage();
          setOpaque(false);
     public void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
          g.drawImage(image,0,0,this);
          super.paintComponent(g);
     public static void main(String[] args) {
          JFrame frame = new JFrame("test");
          frame.getContentPane().add(new JScrollPane(new TextAreaBackgroundImage()));
          frame.setBounds(100,100,500,500);
          frame.setVisible(true);
}------------------------ unformatted version --------------------------
import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;
public class TextAreaBackgroundImage extends JTextArea {
     Image image;
     public TextAreaBackgroundImage() {
          super();
          image = new ImageIcon("im.jpg").getImage();
          setOpaque(false);
     public void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
          g.drawImage(image,0,0,this);
          super.paintComponent(g);
     public static void main(String[] args) {
          JFrame frame = new JFrame("test");
          frame.getContentPane().add(new JScrollPane(new TextAreaBackgroundImage()));
          frame.setBounds(100,100,500,500);
          frame.setVisible(true);
I hope this helps,
Denis

JFrame background image

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