Fading A Bitmap / PictureBox

The code works by creating a memory compatible DC and Bitmap to that of the picture within the PictureBox. The PictureBox is then cleared and has it's background set to various shades of gray (eventually black) - the bitmap is then 'blitted' to the PictureBox and each pixel is 'AND'ed with the background colour to achieve the fade effect.

'
' Form1 with a PictureBox (picture1) and a command button (command1)
'
'
private Declare Function BitBlt Lib "gdi32" (byval hDestDC as Long, _
    byval x as Long, byval y as Long, byval nWidth as Long, _
    byval nHeight as Long, byval hSrcDC as Long, byval xSrc as Long, _
    byval ySrc as Long, byval dwRop as Long) as Long
private Declare Function CreateCompatibleDC Lib "gdi32" _
    (byval hdc as Long) as Long
private Declare Function CreateCompatibleBitmap Lib "gdi32" _
    (byval hdc as Long, byval nWidth as Long, byval nHeight as Long) _
        as Long
private Declare Function DeleteDC Lib "gdi32" (byval hdc as Long) as Long
private Declare Function DeleteObject Lib "gdi32" _
    (byval hObject as Long) as Long
private Declare Function SelectObject Lib "gdi32" (byval hdc as Long, _
    byval hObject as Long) as Long
'
private Declare Sub Sleep Lib "kernel32" (byval dwMilliseconds as Long)
'
private Const SRCAND = &H8800C6
private Const SRCCOPY = &HCC0020
'
private Sub Command1_Click()
    Dim lDC as Long
    Dim lBMP as Long
    Dim W as Integer
    Dim H as Integer
    Dim lColor as Long
'    
    Screen.MousePointer = vbHourglass
'    
    W = ScaleX(Picture1.Picture.Width, vbHimetric, vbPixels)
    H = ScaleY(Picture1.Picture.Height, vbHimetric, vbPixels)
    '
    ' Create Memory Compatible Bitmap to that in Picture1
    '
    lBMP = CreateCompatibleBitmap(Picture1.hdc, W, H)
    '
    ' Create Compatible DC in memory
    '
    lDC = CreateCompatibleDC(Picture1.hdc)
    '
    ' Select the Bitmap into the memory DC
    '
    Call SelectObject(lDC, lBMP)
    BitBlt lDC, 0, 0, W, H, Picture1.hdc, 0, 0, SRCCOPY
    '
    ' Quickly clear the Picture in Picture1
    '
    Picture1 = LoadPicture("")
    
    for lColor = 255 to 0 step -3
        '
        ' set the backcolor to a gray scale -> black
        '
        Picture1.BackColor = RGB(lColor, lColor, lColor)
        '
        ' Copy the bitmap into the picturebox 'AND' with the backcolor
        '
        BitBlt Picture1.hdc, 0, 0, W, H, lDC, 0, 0, SRCAND
        '
        ' Pause for a bit
        '
        Sleep 15
    next
    '
    ' Clear up our DC's and Bitmaps
    '
    Call DeleteDC(lDC)
    Call DeleteObject(lBMP)
    Screen.MousePointer = vbDefault
'    
End Sub
'

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