Visual basic create graphics form picturebox then draw shapes - vb.net

Question

On form load event I create graphics from an empty (no image) picturebox called PB_Pixel_Layout.
Private Sub Main_From_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
Pixel_Graphics = PB_Pixel_Layout.CreateGraphics
End Sub
I then draw a bunch of filled ellipses through the SetPixel(). The ellipses get drawn on the picturebox but takes 2 cycles of the the SetPixel() to show. There is also a double window image when the program starts the causes a lag and not sure what is causing the problem but I assume I have not setup the graphics correctly. I tried to run by creating a bitmap at run time instead of using a picturebox and it worked fine so the issue is narrowed down to the create graphics from picturebox. I also tried to loading an image to the picturebox properties but did not make a difference.
Private Sub SetPixel_Grid_Bitmap()
Pen_Grid = New Pen(Color.Gray)
Selected_Pen = New Pen(Color.Yellow)
'draw
For Col = 0 To intColumnCount
For Row = 0 To intRowCount
B_Color = Color.FromArgb(intPatternColorsRed(strhexPixelHexValue(intCounter + intBank)), intPatternColorsGreen(strhexPixelHexValue(intCounter + intBank)), intPatternColorsBlue(strhexPixelHexValue(intCounter + intBank)))
Brush_B = New SolidBrush(B_Color)
'// Grid
Pixel_Graphics.DrawEllipse(Pen_Grid, StartLocation.X + (Col * (intScale + 6)), StartLocation.Y + (Row * (intScale + 6)), intScale, intScale)
'// Fill with color
Pixel_Graphics.FillEllipse(Brush_B, StartLocation.X + (Col * (intScale + 6)) + 2, StartLocation.Y + (Row * (intScale + 6)) + 2, intScale - 4, intScale - 4)
'// Selected
If ArrPixelData_Array(intCounter)(P_Selected) = 1 Then
Pixel_Graphics.DrawEllipse(Selected_Pen, StartLocation.X + (Col * (intScale + 6)), StartLocation.Y + (Row * (intScale + 6)), intScale, intScale)
End If
intCounter = intCounter + 1
Next Row
Next Col
End Sub
Here is the update
Public Sub RefreshDrawing()
bm = New Bitmap(PB_Pixel_Layout.Width, PB_Pixel_Layout.Height)
Using g As Graphics = Graphics.FromImage(BB)
g.SmoothingMode = SmoothingMode.AntiAlias
g.InterpolationMode = Drawing2D.InterpolationMode.HighQualityBicubic
g.TextRenderingHint = System.Drawing.Text.TextRenderingHint.AntiAlias
End Using
PB_Pixel_Layout.Image = bm ' assign drawn bitmap to picturebox
End Sub

Answer 1

I would suggest to declare a global bitmap
Dim bm As Bitmap
And create a refresh function like (just a general suggestion):
Public Sub RefreshDrawing()
bm = New Bitmap(Me.Drawing.Width, Me.Drawing.Height)
Using g = Graphics.FromImage(bm)
g.SmoothingMode = SmoothingMode.AntiAlias
g.InterpolationMode = Drawing2D.InterpolationMode.HighQualityBicubic
g.TextRenderingHint = System.Drawing.Text.TextRenderingHint.AntiAlias
Dim r as New RectangleF (200, 100, 400, 300)
g.FillEllipse(pDrwStyle.dstBrush, r) ' draw inside points (area)
g.DrawEllipse(pDrwStyle.dstPen, Rectangle.Round(r)) ' draw ellipse border
End Using
Me.PictureBox1.Image = bm ' assign drawn bitmap to picturebox
End Sub
And in you load event (and perhaps a Refresh button) put simply:
Call RefreshDrawing()
This is very fast and reliable way of drawing graphics.
I would suggest not to use Paint event. Only for temporary drawing, such as drawing in MouseMove mode and such.

Answer 2

As an Alternate suggestion, you could draw it all to a buffer then render that when required.
Like this:
Dim myContext As New BufferedGraphicsContext
Dim mybuff As System.Drawing.BufferedGraphics
(As Globals)
Then add this* before you start drawing anything.
mybuff = myContext.Allocate(picturebox1.CreateGraphics, rectangle)
mybuff.Graphics.CompositingMode = Drawing2D.CompositingMode.SourceOver
mybuff.Graphics.CompositingQuality = Drawing2D.CompositingQuality.AssumeLinear
mybuff.Graphics.SmoothingMode = Drawing2D.SmoothingMode.None
mybuff.Graphics.InterpolationMode = CType(Drawing2D.QualityMode.Low, Drawing2D.InterpolationMode)
mybuff.Graphics.PixelOffsetMode = Drawing2D.PixelOffsetMode.None
*Only first line is required the rest is an example custom configuration.
rectangle is the size of your buffer, it needs to be at least as large as the images destination (picturebox1)
To draw into the buffer just type mybuff.Graphics...
eg.
mybuff.Graphics.FillRectangle(colbrush,50,50, 4, 4)
mybuff.Graphics.FillEllipse(colbrush, 100, 100, 50, 30)
...
When done building the image it needs to be rendered/painted onto the target (picturebox1) like so:
mybuff.Render
The render does not need to come directly after the drawing it can be called from anywhere in your code. So its up to you when it is painted and how often.
Also doing it like this is much faster than drawing directly to a target.
Lastly dispose of my buff and mycontext when you are done with them.
[EDIT]
Forgot to mention that you can also render the buffer to other targets like so:
Mybuff.Render(picturebox2.CreateGraphics)
Mybuff.Render(picturebox47.CreateGraphics)