If you want static bitmaps in your forms and the users are not allowed to change them you can use a RES file instead of loading Bitmaps in the Delphi IDE. This also makes your EXE smaller! Example:
Unit Unit1;
Interface
Uses
x,y,z;
Type
...
Implementation
{$R BitIco.res}
...
procedure ...
begin
// Watch out for upper and lower case
Image1.Picture.Bitmap.Handle := LoadBitmap(HInstance, 'Name of Bitmap');
// or:
Image1.Picture.Icon.Handle := LoadIcon(HInstance, 'Name of Icon');
...
end;
Don't forget that the names are treated case-sensitive!