To convert a pcx file to an optimized masked bitmap (MBM) file, with see- through parts over colour 0 pixels, use the pcx2mbm.exe program like this: pcx2mbm full_pcx_name full_mbm_name e.g pcx2mbm sph.pcx sph.mbm I would advise the use of mbm files for any large images in which you want to have a few transparent areas. This optimized format is faaassst. Do not forget to use the load and put functions for mbm files, rather than pcxs.