Add shadow to WS_EX_LAYERED

[Shatronics]

Hi,
I have a pop-up window that is centered in my main application. Its purpose is to display an image with some fade-in/fade-out properties. I would like to have it to drop a shadow, so it's easier to see its dimension. But I had no luck. I tried with CS_DROPSHADOW, but it has no effect. Is it possible to do, or do I need to draw it myself?

Here is the window initialization code:

	//Creates windows class information
	WNDCLASSEX wcex; 

	ZeroMemory(&wcex, sizeof(wcex));

	wcex.cbSize = sizeof(WNDCLASSEX);
	wcex.lpfnWndProc    = StaticWndShow;
	wcex.style			= CS_OWNDC;
	wcex.hInstance      = GetModuleHandle(NULL);
	wcex.hCursor		= LoadCursor(NULL, IDC_ARROW);
	wcex.hbrBackground  = CreateSolidBrush(BACKGROUND);
	wcex.lpszClassName  = NAME;

	//Calls register, any error: create messagebox and exit program.
	if (!RegisterClassEx(&wcex)) { 
		MessageBox(NULL,_T("Window registration failed!"),NULL,NULL);
		PostQuitMessage(0);
	}

	//Creates window.
	HSHOW = CreateWindowEx( 
		WS_EX_LAYERED,
		NAME,
		NAME,
		WS_POPUP | WS_VISIBLE,
		0, 0,
		0, 0,
		hwnd,
		NULL,
		GetModuleHandle(NULL),
		(void*)this);
		
	//If any error occured, calls messagebox and exit program.
	if (!HSHOW) { 
		MessageBox(NULL,_T("Window creation failed!"),NULL,NULL);
		PostQuitMessage(0);
	}

Regards,

Simon H.A.

[modoran]

You should use SetLayeredWindowAttributes function:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms633540(v=vs.85).aspx

[Shatronics]

It's not the transparency I'm having trouble with. I just want a shadow drop like you have with regular windows.

[EssGeEich]

You should stick with UpdateLayeredWindow and draw your own shadow yourself, or discard the layered in favour of regions which also allow for 1bit transparency

[Shatronics]

Okay, I'll just do the shadow myself. Thanks for the answers.

Regards,

Simon H.A.