I dont hav vb.net... but here's a method that could work... :

use 2 pictures boxes,(if they still exist in vbnet)

1 Tha Mask, : Backcolor = Black, Anything Not Tranparent = White
The other one, tha Picture, Backcolor = White, Other = True Color

PaintPicture PictureMasked.Picture, 0, 0, , , , , , , vbSrcPaint
PaintPicture PictureNormal.Picture, 0, 0, , , , , , , vbSrcAnd

Easy no? Thats to put on a form, (0, 0) iz just the x and y...

If you wanna use those on a picture box, do this:

PictureBox1.PaintPicture PictureMasked.Picture, 0, 0, , , , , , , vbSrcPaint
PictureBox1.PaintPicture PictureNormal.Picture, 0, 0, , , , , , , vbSrcAnd

He' Ya go...

Message from a 17 years ol' kido...