Java tutorial
import java.awt.Dimension; import java.awt.Graphics; import java.awt.GridBagLayout; import java.awt.GridLayout; import java.awt.image.BufferedImage; import java.net.URL; import javax.imageio.ImageIO; import javax.swing.JButton; import javax.swing.JFrame; import javax.swing.JPanel; import javax.swing.JTabbedPane; public class Main { static BufferedImage bg = null; public static void main(String[] args) { try { bg = ImageIO.read(new URL("http://www.java2s.com/style/download.png")); } catch (Exception ex) { System.out.println(ex); } JPanel tabPanel = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout()) { @Override protected void paintComponent(Graphics g) { super.paintComponent(g); g.drawImage(bg, 0, 0, getWidth(), getHeight(), this); } @Override public Dimension getPreferredSize() { return new Dimension(400, 300); } }; JPanel buttons = new JPanel(new GridLayout(4, 1, 15, 15)); buttons.setOpaque(false); for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++) { buttons.add(new JButton("Button")); } tabPanel.add(buttons); JTabbedPane tabPane = new JTabbedPane(); tabPane.add("Panel with Bachground", tabPanel); JFrame frame = new JFrame(); frame.setContentPane(tabPane); frame.pack(); frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE); frame.setVisible(true); } }