The LayeredWindowHelper component provides easy access to the user interface visual enhancements provided by Windows 2000 and above. Windows 2000 introduced the concept of layered windows, allowing forms to be completely owner drawn and fully support transparent and semi-transparent graphics. This simple concept has provided the operating systems with a mechanism to enhance visual appearance, including the use of drop shadows, semi-transparent selection rectangles and clearer drag-drop operations.

The components within this library offer .NET developers access to this functionality and provide several controls that replicate Windows 2000 and XP features.