// Create a frame & gets its layered pane
JFrame f = new JFrame();
f.addWindowListener(new BasicWindowMonitor());
JLayeredPane lp = f.getLayeredPane();
// Create 3 buttons
JButton top = new JButton();
top.setBackground(Color.white);
top.setBounds(20, 20, 50, 50);
JButton middle = new JButton();
middle.setBackground(Color.gray);
middle.setBounds(40, 40, 50, 50);
JButton bottom = new JButton();
bottom.setBackground(Color.black);
bottom.setBounds(60, 60, 50, 50);
// Place the buttons in different layers
lp.add(middle, new Integer(2));
lp.add(top, new Integer(3));
lp.add(bottom, new Integer(1));
// Show the frame
f.setSize(150, 150);
f.setVisible(true);
