i am trying to get an image as my background and make everything else transparant.

exactly what has been done here - http://www.zelaron.com/forums/index.php?styleid=73

but with my own style and background

I am also having trouble tryin to get this. I see how above here how WW has it done but where is the "forum list table tag"?

Its easy just place the code WW said in any on of your tables in the admin cp. For example if you place that code in your First Alternating Table Background Color table and second Alternating Table Background Color table. Your forum home cats will be transparent. :D Hope this helps. And i would use WW advise when he says not to use it as your deafult style. It does kill the scrolling and loading time like crazy.

-Nem

Maybe a visiual would help me :D I do not know what tables you mean. I am tryin I just do not know what I am looking for and exactly where.

Okay, I didn't specify exactly where because it will depend upon your template set. With a default template set, edit the forumhome template, and add the style to the table tag after the line
If you start a new table for each catagory like we do, this will go in a different place which will only exist on your template set ^_^. Basicly add that to any table that you want to make partially transparent.

And I cannot stress enough how much this slows down rendering on the average computer.

If you want to make all your tables transparent use the code style="filter:alpha(opacity=75);"
in a form like:
If you want single rows or columns to have transparent use it like:
or
Keep in mind that the contents of the table will also reflect the opacity change, in other words the text will also have a transparency.

Yeah he is 110% correct on that, I would also not suggest using it as a default style. Gotta be nice with those with 56k connections and slower computers :p