C# Signature:

/// <summary>Releases a device context (DC), freeing it for use by other applications.</summary>
/// <remarks><para>The effect of the ReleaseDC function depends on the type of DC. It
/// frees only common and window DCs. It has no effect on class or private DCs.</para>
/// <para>The application must call the ReleaseDC function for each call to the
/// GetWindowDC function and for each call to the GetDC function that retrieves a
/// common DC. </para><para>An application cannot use the ReleaseDC function to release
/// a DC that was created by calling the CreateDC function; instead, it must use the
/// DeleteDC function. ReleaseDC must be called from the same thread that called
/// GetDC.</para></remarks>
/// <param name="hWnd">Handle to the window whose DC is to be released.</param>
/// <param name="hDC">Handle to the DC to be released.</param>
/// <returns>The return value indicates whether the DC was released. If the DC was
/// released, the return value is 1. If the DC was not released, the return value is
/// zero.</returns>
[DllImport("user32.dll")]
static extern int ReleaseDC(IntPtr hWnd, IntPtr hDC);

VB Signature:

Declare Function ReleaseDC Lib "user32.dll" _
   (hWnd As IntPtr, hDC As IntPtr) As Integer

Notes:

The application must call the ReleaseDC function for each call to the GetWindowDC function and for each call to the GetDC function that retrieves a common DC.

An application cannot use the ReleaseDC function to release a DC that was created by calling the CreateDC function; instead, it must use the DeleteDC function. ReleaseDC must be called from the same thread that called GetDC.

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Sample Code:

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Alternative Managed API:

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