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How to: Create Figures from Lines, Curves, and Shapes

  • Article

To create a figure, construct a GraphicsPath, and then call methods, such as AddLine and AddCurve, to add primitives to the path.

Example

The following code examples create paths that have figures:

  • The first example creates a path that has a single figure. The figure consists of a single arc. The arc has a sweep angle of –180 degrees, which is counterclockwise in the default coordinate system.

  • The second example creates a path that has two figures. The first figure is an arc followed by a line. The second figure is a line followed by a curve followed by a line. The first figure is left open, and the second figure is closed.

GraphicsPath path = new GraphicsPath();
path.AddArc(175, 50, 50, 50, 0, -180);
e.Graphics.DrawPath(new Pen(Color.FromArgb(128, 255, 0, 0), 4), path);

Dim path As New GraphicsPath()
path.AddArc(175, 50, 50, 50, 0, -180)
e.Graphics.DrawPath(New Pen(Color.FromArgb(128, 255, 0, 0), 4), path)


     // Create an array of points for the curve in the second figure.
     Point[] points = {
new Point(40, 60),
new Point(50, 70),
new Point(30, 90)};

     GraphicsPath path = new GraphicsPath();

     path.StartFigure(); // Start the first figure.
     path.AddArc(175, 50, 50, 50, 0, -180);
     path.AddLine(100, 0, 250, 20);
     // First figure is not closed.

     path.StartFigure(); // Start the second figure.
     path.AddLine(50, 20, 5, 90);
     path.AddCurve(points, 3);
     path.AddLine(50, 150, 150, 180);
     path.CloseFigure(); // Second figure is closed.

     e.Graphics.DrawPath(new Pen(Color.FromArgb(255, 255, 0, 0), 2), path);

' Create an array of points for the curve in the second figure.
Dim points As Point() = { _
   New Point(40, 60), _
   New Point(50, 70), _
   New Point(30, 90)}

Dim path As New GraphicsPath()

path.StartFigure() ' Start the first figure.
path.AddArc(175, 50, 50, 50, 0, -180)
path.AddLine(100, 0, 250, 20)
' First figure is not closed.

path.StartFigure() ' Start the second figure.
path.AddLine(50, 20, 5, 90)
path.AddCurve(points, 3)
path.AddLine(50, 150, 150, 180)
path.CloseFigure() ' Second figure is closed.
e.Graphics.DrawPath(New Pen(Color.FromArgb(255, 255, 0, 0), 2), path)

Compiling the Code

The previous examples are designed for use with Windows Forms, and they require PaintEventArgs e, which is a parameter of the Paint event handler.

See also