Is it possible to Alpha Blend a VCL control on a TForm?

Question

Is it possible to Alpha Blend or implement a similar effect for a VCL control on a TForm?

For example, consider the following screenshot where two TPanels are place

Answer 1

You can do this in Delphi, too. The basic idea is to place the control into an autosized, borderles form with alpha blending enabled.

According to the article you linked to, in the MouseDown event add the following lines:

  P := TWinControl(Sender).ClientToScreen(Point(0,0));
  frm := TForm.Create(nil);
  TWinControl(Sender).Parent := frm;
  frm.BorderStyle := bsNone;
  frm.AlphaBlend := true;
  frm.AlphaBlendValue := 128;
  frm.AutoSize := true;
  frm.Left := P.X;
  frm.Top := P.Y;
  frm.Position := poDesigned;
  frm.Show;

In the MouseMove event set the Left and Top properties of the controls parent:

  GetCursorPos(newPos);

  Screen.Cursor := crSize;
  Parent.Left := Parent.Left - oldPos.X + newPos.X;
  Parent.Top := Parent.Top - oldPos.Y + newPos.Y;
  oldPos := newPos;

and in the MouseUp event release the form, set the controls parent back to the original parent and translate the screen position to the new position relative to it:

frm := TWinControl(Sender).Parent;
P := Point(frm.Left, frm.Top);
P := ScreenToClient(P);
TWinControl(Sender).Parent := Self;
TWinControl(Sender).Left := P.X;
TWinControl(Sender).Top := P.Y;
frm.Free;
Screen.Cursor := crDefault;
ReleaseCapture;
inReposition := False;