Here is a code fragment extracted from the WM_PAINT message handler within a window's proc function, which shows how to read a background image from a windows bitmap (*.bmp) file and display the image centered in the window:

INTEGER                        :: rval, background_color
TYPE(T_PAINTSTRUCT)    :: ps
TYPE(T_RECT)                :: clientRect
INTEGER                        :: WndWidth, WndHeight
INTEGER                        :: imageWidth, imageHeight
INTEGER(HANDLE)           :: hbitmapImage
INTEGER(HANDLE)           :: hdcBitmap
INTEGER(HANDLE)           :: hgdiobjectOld
CHARACTER(LEN=256)    :: fname


fname = 'c:\somepath\somefile.bmp'//CHAR(0)
hbitmapImage = LoadImage (ghInstance, fname, IMAGE_BITMAP, 0, 0,  &
                                            LR_LOADFROMFILE)

rval = GetClientRect(hwnd, clientRect)
WndWidth  = clientRect%right  - clientRect%left
WndHeight = clientRect%bottom - clientRect%top

!  create a device context for the current window
rval = BeginPaint	(hwnd, ps)

! Erase the background
CALL fill_rectangle (ps%hdc, background_color, clientRect)

! Draw the image
CALL GetBitmapSize (hbitmapImage, ps%hdc, imageWidth, imageHeight)
hdcBitmap	    = CreateCompatibleDC (ps%hdc)
hgdiobjectOld = SelectObject (hdcBitmap, hbitmapImage)
rval		    = BitBlt  (ps%hdc,				     &
				 (WndWidth-imageWidth)/2,     &
				 (WndHeight-imageHeight)/2,   &
				 imageWidth,			     &
				 imageHeight,			     &
				 hdcBitmap, 0, 0, SRCCOPY)

!	clean up
rval = SelectObject  (hdcBitmap, hgdiobjectOld)
rval = DeleteDC      (hdcBitmap)
rval = DeleteObject (hbitmapImage)
rval = EndPaint       (hwnd, ps)



!==== seperate utility used in the above code ====
! Fills width and height with the dimensions, in pixels, of the
! bitmap specified by the bitmap handle, using the metrics of the
! provided device context.
SUBROUTINE GetBitmapSize (hbitmap, hDC, width, height)
    IMPLICIT NONE
    INTEGER(HANDLE), INTENT(IN) :: hbitmap
    INTEGER(HANDLE), INTENT(IN) :: hDC
    INTEGER, INTENT(OUT)           :: width
    INTEGER, INTENT(OUT)           :: height
    TYPE(T_BITMAPINFO)             :: bitmapInfo
    INTEGER                               :: rval

    bitmapInfo%bmiHeader%biBitCount = 0
    bitmapInfo%bmiHeader%biSize     = SIZEOF(bitmapInfo%bmiHeader)
    rval = GetDIBits (hDC, hbitmap, 0, 0, 0, LOC(bitmapInfo), &
                             DIB_RGB_COLORS)

    IF (rval == 0) THEN
        ! error
    ELSE
        width   = bitmapInfo%bmiHeader%biWidth
        height = bitmapInfo%bmiHeader%biHeight
    END IF
END SUBROUTINE GetBitmapSize