code: private static ImageIcon createImageIcon(String path) {
          java.net.URL imgURL = GraphPanel.class.getResource(path);
          if (imgURL != null)
              return new ImageIcon(imgURL);
          else {
              throw new RuntimeException("Couldn't find file: " + path);
              //log.error("Couldn't find file: " + path);
              //return null;
          }
      }
docs: Returns an ImageIcon, or null if the path was invalid.