> such as for showDialogBoxes?
What are you talking about? There is no such method.
> is it possible to have background images for JOptionPanes
Where in the option pane. Have you read the tutorial? the option pane is divided into multiple areas. Do you want the image in the background of the entire dialog? Do you just want the image where the icon is? or where the message is?
Since you questions isn't very detatailed we can't really give an answer.
So your best option is to create a custom dialog and add your own image. Search the forum using "background image" to see how this can be done.