Im looking for instructions on how to make the LayoutControl and its items transparent.

Doesn't seem trivial thing to do.

An example would be well appreciated.

Bjorn, please take a look at this code snippet

            this.layoutControl1.LookAndFeel.Style = DevExpress.LookAndFeel.LookAndFeelStyle.Style3D;//Any nonskin style
            this.layoutControl1.LookAndFeel.UseDefaultLookAndFeel = false;

            this.layoutControlGroup1.AppearanceGroup.BackColor = System.Drawing.Color.Transparent;
            this.layoutControlGroup1.AppearanceGroup.Options.UseBackColor = true;

Thank you very much.