Image in JPanel not appearing immediately

Question

I am using getImage to read files and save them and then setting these images to the backgrounds of jpanels. However, when the applet is first loaded, the images aren't visible. Only, if I resize it or scroll up and down, do the images appear. What is the problem?

@Override
public void init(){

    setSize(800, 600);
    setLayout(new FlowLayout());

    setup();

    box1.setText(texts[0]);
    box2.setText(texts[1]);
    box3.setText(texts[2]);
    box4.setText(texts[3]);


    add(box1);
    add(box2);
    add(box3);
    add(box4);

    add(testPanel);
    add(localPanel);
    add(background2);
}

public void setup(){


    box1 = new JTextArea();
    box2 = new JTextArea();
    box3 = new JTextArea();
    box4 = new JTextArea();


    box1.setText(texts[0]);
    box2.setText(texts[1]);
    box3.setText(texts[2]);
    box4.setText(texts[3]);

            //*********** this loads immediately **********//
    Image back2 = getImage(getDocumentBase(), "blank_blue.png");
    background2 = new JLabel(new ImageIcon(back2));

    panelBack = getImage(getDocumentBase(), "CardBar.png");

    localPanel = new JPanel(){
        @Override
        public void paintComponent(Graphics g){
            super.paintComponent(g);
            Graphics2D g2d = (Graphics2D) g;
            g2d.drawImage(panelBack, 0, 0, null);
        }
    };

    localPanel.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(100, 400));

}

Answer 1

The image may not be read it when the component is initially painted. Try:

//g2d.drawImage(panelBack, 0, 0, null);
g2d.drawImage(panelBack, 0, 0, this);