>I am using GIF files for my menu images. I like it as I can define a transparent back color. However, I have find that whatever is white is not being displayed. Basically, white appears as transparent. But, my transparent color is not white. So, is it good to use GIF file instead of BMP/MSK files for menu item images?

Hi Michel,
I also prefer using of GIFs - the reason is the same.
But VFP accept "white" color in every image(BMP, GIF, PNG, etc. ) as background and made it transparent. Nevertheless that my transparent color in GIFs is purple or blue or green.
That's why I was forced to made a small trick. I do not use "standard white"(255,255,255) I use "gray white"(251,251,251)

Is is good to use GIF versus BMP/MSK? this is difficult question.
I prefer GIFs. Rainer Becker(www.visualextend.com) prefer to use BMP/MSK in update of framework. If you ask 10 different developers - you will receive 10 different answers - what and why they prefer.