The WPImageList (VCL only) is a component to hold various bitmaps in variants to be used at different resolutions. The most important advantage of a WPImageList ist the transparancy control. While a standard ImageList used to only know black and white masks, the WPImageList works with PNG files and alpha channels.
With WPImageList you have partly transparent gylphs also in Delphi 7
- you only need PNG support (by adding ImageEn, PNGlib or GraphicEx) - see file WPINC.INC.
Unlike the regular ImageList it just stores one bitmap for each resolution, not a collection of bitmaps. Each single bitmap is expected to consist of rows and columns of single icon images.
This concept makes it easy to synchronize and update the images. To create such images automatically at different resolutions, we recommend the program Affinity Designer (“Serif” and “Affinity” are both registered trademarks of Serif Europe Ltd).
The WPImageList can be used by the TWPToolsBar - in that case the loaded images must include the icons in a predefined order. We provide samples and also the source project with the PRO edition of WPTools.
The WPImageList can also populate a standard TImageList. To do so assign the property LinkedImageList and call UpdateLinkedList in code or in the designer in the context menu.