The Basics of Drawing Graphics onto Windows Forms

Introduction

GDI+ consists of the set of .NET base classes that are available to control custom drawing on the screen. These classes arrange for the appropriate instructions to be sent to the graphics device drivers to ensure the correct output is placed on the screen. GDI provides a level of abstraction, hiding the differences between different video cards. You simply call on the Windows API function to do the specific task, and internally the GDI figures out how to get the client's particular video card to do whatever it is you want when they run your particular piece of code.

Not only this, but the client has several display devices - for example - monitors and printers - GDI achieves the task of making the printer look the same onscreen as far as the application is concerned. If the client wants to print something instead of displaying it, your application will simply inform the system that the output device is the printer and then call the same API functions in exactly the same way. As you can see, the device-context (DC) object is a very powerful mechanism. Having said that, we can also use this layer of abstraction to draw onto a Windows Form. This paper will therefore begin with an example of a basic Windows Forms development in order to demonstrate how to draw graphics onto a Windows Form, or a control on that form. The focus of this article will be on graphics.

The Form object is used to represent any Window in your application. When creating a main window, you must follow two mandatory steps:

Derive a new custom class from System.Windows.Forms.Form
Configure the application's Main() method to call System.Windows.Forms.Application.Run(), passing an instance of your new Form derived as a class argument.

Here is an example:

C# File: MyForm.cs

using System;
using System.Windows.Forms;
public class MyForm : System.Windows.Forms.Form
{
    public MyForm()
    {
        Text = "No Graphics";
    }
    public static void Main()
    {
        Application.Run(new MyForm());
    }
}

To compile:

C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.050727>csc /target:winexe MyForm.cs

So now we have a blank form. So what do we do to learn how to use graphics? If you use Visual Studio 2005 you probably know that the .NET Framework 2.0 supports partial classes. With Visual Studio 2005, a Windows Form is completely defined with a single C# source file. The code generated by the IDE was separated from your code by using regions, therefore taking advantage of partial classes.

By default, each form named Form111 corresponds to two files; Form111.cs which contains your code and Form111.Designer.cs, which contains the code generated by the IDE. The code, however, is usually generated by dragging and dropping controls. One of the simplest uses for the System.Drawing namespace is specifying the location of the controls in a Windows Forms application. More to the point, user-defined types are often referred to as structures.

To draw lines and shapes you must follow these steps:

Create a Graphics object by calling System.Windows.Forms.Control.CreateGraphics method. The Graphics object contains the Windows DC you need to draw with. The device control created is associated with the display device, and also with the Window.
Create a Pen object
Call a member of the Graphics class to draw on the control using the Pen

Here is an example of a Form with a line drawn at a 60 degree angle from the upper-most left hand corner:

//File: DrawLine.cs
using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Drawing.Drawing2D;
using System.Collections;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Data;
public class MainForm : System.Windows.Forms.Form
{
    private System.ComponentModel.Container components;
    public MainForm()
    {
        InitializeComponent();
        CenterToScreen();
        SetStyle(ControlStyles.ResizeRedraw, true); 
    } 
    //  Clean up any resources being used.
    protected override void Dispose(bool disposing)
    {
        if (disposing)
        {
            if (components != null)
            {
                components.Dispose();
            }
        }
        base.Dispose(disposing);
    }
    #region Windows Form Designer generated code
    private void InitializeComponent()
    {
        this.AutoScaleBaseSize = new System.Drawing.Size(5, 13);
        this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(292, 273);
        this.Text = "Fun with graphics";
        this.Resize += new System.EventHandler(this.Form1_Resize);
        this.Paint += new System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventHandler(this.MainForm_Paint); 
    }
    #endregion 
    [STAThread]
    static void Main()
    {
        Application.Run(new MainForm());
    }
    private void MainForm_Paint(object sender, System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs e)
    {
        //create a graphics object from the form
        Graphics g = this.CreateGraphics();
        // create  a  pen object with which to draw
        Pen p = new Pen(Color.Red, 7);  // draw the line 
        // call a member of the graphics class
        g.DrawLine(p, 1, 1, 100, 100);
    }
    private void Form1_Resize(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
    {
        // Invalidate();  See ctor!
    }
}

TO COMPILE:

csc.exe /target:winexe DrawLine.cs

Typically, you specify the Pen class color and width in pixels with the constructor. The code above draws a 7-pixel wide red line from the upper-left corner (1,1,) to a point near the middle of the form (100, 100). Note the following code that draws a pie shape:

//File: DrawPie.cs
using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Drawing.Drawing2D;
using System.Collections;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Data;
public class MainForm : System.Windows.Forms.Form
{
    private System.ComponentModel.Container components;
    public MainForm()
    {
        InitializeComponent();
        CenterToScreen();
        SetStyle(ControlStyles.ResizeRedraw, true);
    }
    protected override void Dispose(bool disposing)
    {
        if (disposing)
        {
            if (components != null)
            {
                components.Dispose();
            }
        }
        base.Dispose(disposing);
    }
    #region Windows Form Designer generated code
    //
    private void InitializeComponent()
    {
        this.AutoScaleBaseSize = new System.Drawing.Size(5, 13);
        this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(292, 273);
        this.Text = "Fun with graphics";
        this.Resize += new System.EventHandler(this.Form1_Resize);
        this.Paint += new System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventHandler(this.MainForm_Paint); 
    }
    #endregion
    [STAThread]
    static void Main()
    {
        Application.Run(new MainForm());
    }
    private void MainForm_Paint(object sender, System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs e)
    { 
        //create a graphics object from the form
        Graphics g = this.CreateGraphics();
        Pen p = new Pen(Color.Blue, 3);
        g.DrawPie(p, 1, 1, 100, 100, -30, 60);
    }
    private void Form1_Resize(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
    {
    }
}

To compile:

csc.exe /target:winexe DrawPie.cs

A structure, or "struct", is a cut-down class that does almost everything a class does, except support inheritance and finalizers. A structure is a composite of other types that make easier to work with related data. The simplest example is System.Drawing.Point, which contain X and Y integer properties that define the horizontal and vertical coordinates of a point.

The Point structure simplifies working with coordinates by providing constructors and members as follows:

// Requires reference to System.Drawing
// Create point
System.Drawing.Point p = new System.Drawing.Point(20, 20);
// move point diagonally
p.Offset(-1, -1)
Console.WriteLine("Point X {0}, Y {1}", p.X, p.Y.);

So as the coordinates of a point define its location, this process also specifies a control's location. Just create a new Point structure by specifying the coordinates relative to the upper-left corner of the form, and use the Point to set the control's Location property.

Graphics.DrawLines, Graphics.DrawPolygons, and Graphics.DrawRectangles accept arrays as parameters to help you draw more complex shapes:

Here is an example of a polygon, but with its contents filled. Notice the code responsible for filling the shape:

DrawPolygonAndFill.cs

using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Drawing.Drawing2D;
using System.Collections;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Data; 
public class MainForm : System.Windows.Forms.Form
{
    private System.ComponentModel.Container components;
    public MainForm()
    {
        InitializeComponent();
        CenterToScreen();
        SetStyle(ControlStyles.ResizeRedraw, true);
    }
    protected override void Dispose(bool disposing)
    {
        if (disposing)
        {
            if (components != null)
            {
                components.Dispose();
            }
        }
        base.Dispose(disposing);
    }
    #region Windows Form Designer generated code
    private void InitializeComponent()
    {
        this.AutoScaleBaseSize = new System.Drawing.Size(5, 13);
        this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(292, 273);
        this.Text = "Fun with graphics";
        this.Resize += new System.EventHandler(this.Form1_Resize);
        this.Paint += new System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventHandler(this.MainForm_Paint); 
    }
    #endregion
    [STAThread]
    static void Main()
    {
        Application.Run(new MainForm());
    }
    private void MainForm_Paint(object sender, System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs e)
    {
        //create a graphics object from the form
        Graphics g = this.CreateGraphics();
        Brush b = new SolidBrush(Color.Maroon);
        Point[] points = new Point[]
        {
            new Point(10, 10),
            new Point(10, 100),
            new Point(50, 65),
            new Point(100, 100),
            new Point(85, 40)};   // Notice the braces, as used in structures
            g.FillPolygon(b, points);
        }
    }
    private void Form1_Resize(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
    {
    }
}

Customizing Pens

The color and size of a pen is specified in the Pen constructor, so you can manipulate the pattern and the endcaps. The endcaps are the end of the line, and you can use them to create arrows and other special effects. While pens by default draw straight lines, their properties can be set to one of these values: DashStyle.Dash, DashStyle.DashDot, DashStyle.DashDotDot, DashStyle.Dot, or DashStyle.Solid. Consider this final example:

UsePen.cs

using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Drawing.Drawing2D;
using System.Collections;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Data;
public class MainForm : System.Windows.Forms.Form
{
    private System.ComponentModel.Container components;
    public MainForm()
    { 
        InitializeComponent();
        CenterToScreen();
        SetStyle(ControlStyles.ResizeRedraw, true); 
    } 
    //  Clean up any resources being used.
    protected override void Dispose(bool disposing)
    {
        if (disposing)
        {
            if (components != null)
            {
                components.Dispose();
            }
        }
        base.Dispose(disposing);
    } 
    #region Windows Form Designer generated code
    private void InitializeComponent()
    {
        this.AutoScaleBaseSize = new System.Drawing.Size(5, 13);
        this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(292, 273);
        this.Text = "Learning graphics";
        this.Resize += new System.EventHandler(this.Form1_Resize);
        this.Paint += new System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventHandler(this.MainForm_Paint); 
    }
    #endregion 
    [STAThread]
    static void Main()
    {
        Application.Run(new MainForm());
    }
    private void MainForm_Paint(object sender, System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs e)
    { 
        //create a graphics object from the form
        Graphics g = this.CreateGraphics();
        // create a Pen object
        Pen p = new Pen(Color.Red, 10);
        p.StartCap = LineCap.ArrowAnchor;
        p.EndCap = LineCap.DiamondAnchor;
        g.DrawLine(p, 50, 25, 400, 25);
        p.StartCap = LineCap.SquareAnchor;
        p.EndCap = LineCap.Triangle;
        g.DrawLine(p, 50, 50, 400, 50);
        p.StartCap = LineCap.Flat;
        p.EndCap = LineCap.Round;
        g.DrawLine(p, 50, 75, 400, 75);
        p.StartCap = LineCap.RoundAnchor;
        p.EndCap = LineCap.Square;
        g.DrawLine(p, 50, 100, 400, 100);
    }
    private void Form1_Resize(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
    {
        // Invalidate();  See ctor!
    }
}

The basics underlying principles in this paper indicate the location and size of points so that they for a line or a shape. This should the new developer to understand that these principles can be expanded upon to specify the size and location of controls that are dragged and dropped onto a Windows Form. For instance, if we were to start Visual Studio 2005 and begin a Forms application, we could set that Form background color to white. The designer file and the source file that comprise the application would both reflect that property: the setting of the property would cause the IDE to generate the code in the Form.Designer.cs file. Well, that all for now.

DrawLine.cs

using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Drawing.Drawing2D;
using System.Collections;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Data;
public class MainForm : System.Windows.Forms.Form
{ 
    private System.ComponentModel.Container components; 
    public MainForm()
    { 
        InitializeComponent();
        CenterToScreen();
        SetStyle(ControlStyles.ResizeRedraw, true); 
    } 
    //  Clean up any resources being used.
    protected override void Dispose(bool disposing)
    {
        if (disposing)
        {
            if (components != null)
            {
                components.Dispose();
            }
        }
        base.Dispose(disposing);
    }
    #region Windows Form Designer generated code
    private void InitializeComponent()
    {
        this.AutoScaleBaseSize = new System.Drawing.Size(5, 13);
        this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(292, 273);
        this.Text = "Learning graphics";
        this.Resize += new System.EventHandler(this.Form1_Resize);
        this.Paint += new System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventHandler(this.MainForm_Paint); 
    }
    #endregion 
    [STAThread]
    static void Main()
    {
        Application.Run(new MainForm());
    }
    private void MainForm_Paint(object sender, System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs e)
    { 
        //create a graphics object from the form
        Graphics g = this.CreateGraphics();
        // create  a  pen object with which to draw
        Pen p = new Pen(Color.Red, 7);
        // draw the line
        g.DrawLine(p, 1, 1, 100, 100);
    }
    private void Form1_Resize(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
    {
        // Invalidate();  See ctor!
    }
}