Class PShape

java.lang.Object
processing.core.PShape
All Implemented Interfaces:
PConstants
Direct Known Subclasses:
PShapeOBJ, PShapeOpenGL, PShapeSVG

public class PShape extends Object implements PConstants
Datatype for storing shapes. Before a shape is used, it must be loaded with the loadShape() or created with the createShape(). The shape() function is used to draw the shape to the display window. Processing can currently load and display SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) and OBJ shapes. OBJ files can only be opened using the P3D renderer. The loadShape() function supports SVG files created with Inkscape and Adobe Illustrator. It is not a full SVG implementation, but offers some straightforward support for handling vector data.

The PShape object contains a group of methods that can operate on the shape data. Some of the methods are listed below, but the full list used for creating and modifying shapes is available here in the Processing Javadoc.

To create a new shape, use the createShape() function. Do not use the syntax new PShape().

Advanced

In-progress class to handle shape data, currently to be considered of alpha or beta quality. Major structural work may be performed on this class after the release of Processing 1.0. Such changes may include:
  • addition of proper accessors to read shape vertex and coloring data (this is the second most important part of having a PShape class after all).
  • a means of creating PShape objects ala beginShape() and endShape().
  • load(), update(), and cache methods ala PImage, so that shapes can have renderer-specific optimizations, such as vertex arrays in OpenGL.
  • splitting this class into multiple classes to handle different varieties of shape data (primitives vs collections of vertices vs paths)
  • change of package declaration, for instance moving the code into package processing.shape (if the code grows too much).

For the time being, this class and its shape() and loadShape() friends in PApplet exist as placeholders for more exciting things to come. If you'd like to work with this class, make a subclass (see how PShapeSVG works) and you can play with its internal methods all you like.

Library developers are encouraged to create PShape objects when loading shape data, so that they can eventually hook into the bounty that will be the PShape interface, and the ease of loadShape() and shape().

See Also:
Usage:
Web & Application
  • Field Details

    • PRIMITIVE

      public static final int PRIMITIVE
      A line, ellipse, arc, image, etc.
      See Also:
    • PATH

      public static final int PATH
      A series of vertex, curveVertex, and bezierVertex calls.
      See Also:
    • GEOMETRY

      public static final int GEOMETRY
      Collections of vertices created with beginShape().
      See Also:
    • OUTSIDE_BEGIN_END_ERROR

      public static final String OUTSIDE_BEGIN_END_ERROR
      See Also:
    • INSIDE_BEGIN_END_ERROR

      public static final String INSIDE_BEGIN_END_ERROR
      See Also:
    • NO_SUCH_VERTEX_ERROR

      public static final String NO_SUCH_VERTEX_ERROR
      See Also:
    • NO_VERTICES_ERROR

      public static final String NO_VERTICES_ERROR
      See Also:
    • NOT_A_SIMPLE_VERTEX

      public static final String NOT_A_SIMPLE_VERTEX
      See Also:
    • PER_VERTEX_UNSUPPORTED

      public static final String PER_VERTEX_UNSUPPORTED
      See Also:
    • width

      public float width
      The width of the PShape document.
      See Also:
      Usage:
      web_application
    • height

      public float height
      The height of the PShape document.
      See Also:
      Usage:
      web_application
    • depth

      public float depth
    • colorMode

      public int colorMode
      The current colorMode
    • colorModeX

      public float colorModeX
      Max value for red (or hue) set by colorMode
    • colorModeY

      public float colorModeY
      Max value for green (or saturation) set by colorMode
    • colorModeZ

      public float colorModeZ
      Max value for blue (or value) set by colorMode
    • colorModeA

      public float colorModeA
      Max value for alpha set by colorMode
  • Constructor Details

    • PShape

      public PShape()
    • PShape

      public PShape(int family)
    • PShape

      public PShape(PGraphics g, int family)
    • PShape

      public PShape(PGraphics g, int kind, float... params)
  • Method Details

    • setFamily

      public void setFamily(int family)
    • setKind

      public void setKind(int kind)
    • setName

      public void setName(String name)
    • getName

      public String getName()
    • isVisible

      public boolean isVisible()
      Returns a boolean value true if the image is set to be visible, false if not. This value can be modified with the setVisible() method.

      The default visibility of a shape is usually controlled by whatever program created the SVG file. For instance, this parameter is controlled by showing or hiding the shape in the layers palette in Adobe Illustrator.
      See Also:
      Usage:
      web_application
    • setVisible

      public void setVisible(boolean visible)
      Sets the shape to be visible or invisible. This is determined by the value of the visible parameter.

      The default visibility of a shape is usually controlled by whatever program created the SVG file. For instance, this parameter is controlled by showing or hiding the shape in the layers palette in Adobe Illustrator.
      Parameters:
      visible - "false" makes the shape invisible and "true" makes it visible
      See Also:
      Usage:
      web_application
    • disableStyle

      public void disableStyle()
      Disables the shape's style data and uses Processing's current styles. Styles include attributes such as colors, stroke weight, and stroke joints.

      Advanced

      Overrides this shape's style information and uses PGraphics styles and colors. Identical to ignoreStyles(true). Also disables styles for all child shapes.
      See Also:
      Usage:
      web_application
    • enableStyle

      public void enableStyle()
      Enables the shape's style data and ignores Processing's current styles. Styles include attributes such as colors, stroke weight, and stroke joints.
      See Also:
      Usage:
      web_application
    • getWidth

      public float getWidth()
      Get the width of the drawing area (not necessarily the shape boundary).
    • getHeight

      public float getHeight()
      Get the height of the drawing area (not necessarily the shape boundary).
    • getDepth

      public float getDepth()
      Get the depth of the shape area (not necessarily the shape boundary). Only makes sense for 3D PShape subclasses, such as PShape3D.
    • is2D

      public boolean is2D()
      Return true if this shape is 2D. Defaults to true.
    • is3D

      public boolean is3D()
      Return true if this shape is 3D. Defaults to false.
    • set3D

      public void set3D(boolean val)
    • textureMode

      public void textureMode(int mode)
    • texture

      public void texture(PImage tex)
    • noTexture

      public void noTexture()
    • beginContour

      public void beginContour()
      The beginContour() and endContour() methods make it possible to define shapes with other shapes cut out of them. For example, the inside of a letter 'O'. These two functions are always used together, you'll never use one without the other. Between them, define the geometry you want to create. As you'll see when you run the example above, the second smaller shape is cut out of the first larger shape.

      The exterior shape and the interior contour must wind in opposite directions. This means that if the points of the geometry for the exterior shape are described in a clockwise order, the points on the interior shape are defined in a counterclockwise order.
      See Also:
    • endContour

      public void endContour()
      The beginContour() and endContour() methods make it possible to define shapes with other shapes cut out of them. For example, the inside of a letter 'O'. These two functions are always used together, you'll never use one without the other. Between them, define the geometry you want to create. As you'll see when you run the example above, the second smaller shape is cut out of the first larger shape.

      The exterior shape and the interior contour must wind in opposite directions. This means that if the points of the geometry for the exterior shape are described in a clockwise order, the points on the interior shape are defined in a counterclockwise order.
      See Also:
    • vertex

      public void vertex(float x, float y)
    • vertex

      public void vertex(float x, float y, float u, float v)
    • vertex

      public void vertex(float x, float y, float z)
    • vertex

      public void vertex(float x, float y, float z, float u, float v)
    • normal

      public void normal(float nx, float ny, float nz)
    • attribPosition

      public void attribPosition(String name, float x, float y, float z)
    • attribNormal

      public void attribNormal(String name, float nx, float ny, float nz)
    • attribColor

      public void attribColor(String name, int color)
    • attrib

      public void attrib(String name, float... values)
    • attrib

      public void attrib(String name, int... values)
    • attrib

      public void attrib(String name, boolean... values)
    • beginShape

      public void beginShape()
      This method is used to start a custom shape created with the createShape() function. It's always and only used with createShape().
      See Also:
    • beginShape

      public void beginShape(int kind)
    • endShape

      public void endShape()
      This method is used to complete a custom shape created with the createShape() function. It's always and only used with createShape().
      See Also:
    • endShape

      public void endShape(int mode)
    • strokeWeight

      public void strokeWeight(float weight)
    • strokeJoin

      public void strokeJoin(int join)
    • strokeCap

      public void strokeCap(int cap)
    • noFill

      public void noFill()
    • fill

      public void fill(int rgb)
    • fill

      public void fill(int rgb, float alpha)
    • fill

      public void fill(float gray)
    • fill

      public void fill(float gray, float alpha)
    • fill

      public void fill(float x, float y, float z)
    • fill

      public void fill(float x, float y, float z, float a)
    • noStroke

      public void noStroke()
    • stroke

      public void stroke(int rgb)
    • stroke

      public void stroke(int rgb, float alpha)
    • stroke

      public void stroke(float gray)
    • stroke

      public void stroke(float gray, float alpha)
    • stroke

      public void stroke(float x, float y, float z)
    • stroke

      public void stroke(float x, float y, float z, float alpha)
    • noTint

      public void noTint()
    • tint

      public void tint(int rgb)
    • tint

      public void tint(int rgb, float alpha)
    • tint

      public void tint(float gray)
    • tint

      public void tint(float gray, float alpha)
    • tint

      public void tint(float x, float y, float z)
    • tint

      public void tint(float x, float y, float z, float alpha)
    • ambient

      public void ambient(int rgb)
    • ambient

      public void ambient(float gray)
    • ambient

      public void ambient(float x, float y, float z)
    • specular

      public void specular(int rgb)
    • specular

      public void specular(float gray)
    • specular

      public void specular(float x, float y, float z)
    • emissive

      public void emissive(int rgb)
    • emissive

      public void emissive(float gray)
    • emissive

      public void emissive(float x, float y, float z)
    • shininess

      public void shininess(float shine)
    • bezierDetail

      public void bezierDetail(int detail)
    • bezierVertex

      public void bezierVertex(float x2, float y2, float x3, float y3, float x4, float y4)
    • bezierVertex

      public void bezierVertex(float x2, float y2, float z2, float x3, float y3, float z3, float x4, float y4, float z4)
    • quadraticVertex

      public void quadraticVertex(float cx, float cy, float x3, float y3)
    • quadraticVertex

      public void quadraticVertex(float cx, float cy, float cz, float x3, float y3, float z3)
    • curveDetail

      public void curveDetail(int detail)
    • curveTightness

      public void curveTightness(float tightness)
    • curveVertex

      public void curveVertex(float x, float y)
    • curveVertex

      public void curveVertex(float x, float y, float z)
    • draw

      public void draw(PGraphics g)
      Called by the following (the shape() command adds the g) PShape s = loadShape("blah.svg"); shape(s);
    • getParent

      public PShape getParent()
    • getChildCount

      public int getChildCount()
      Returns the number of children within the PShape.
    • getChildren

      public PShape[] getChildren()
    • getChild

      public PShape getChild(int index)
      Extracts a child shape from a parent shape. Specify the name of the shape with the target parameter. The shape is returned as a PShape object, or null is returned if there is an error.
      Parameters:
      index - the layer position of the shape to get
      See Also:
      Usage:
      web_application
    • getChild

      public PShape getChild(String target)
      Parameters:
      target - the name of the shape to get
    • findChild

      public PShape findChild(String target)
      Same as getChild(name), except that it first walks all the way up the hierarchy to the eldest grandparent, so that children can be found anywhere.
    • addChild

      public void addChild(PShape who)
      Adds a child PShape to a parent PShape that is defined as a GROUP. In the example, the three shapes path, rectangle, and circle are added to a parent PShape variable named house that is a GROUP.
      Parameters:
      who - any variable of type PShape
      See Also:
    • addChild

      public void addChild(PShape who, int idx)
      Parameters:
      idx - the layer position in which to insert the new child
    • removeChild

      public void removeChild(int idx)
      Remove the child shape with index idx.
    • addName

      public void addName(String nom, PShape shape)
      Add a shape to the name lookup table.
    • getChildIndex

      public int getChildIndex(PShape who)
      Returns the index of child who.
    • getTessellation

      public PShape getTessellation()
      Returns a PShape holding the tessellated geometry of this shape, composed entirely of triangles.
    • beginTessellation

      public void beginTessellation()
    • beginTessellation

      public void beginTessellation(int kind)
    • endTessellation

      public void endTessellation()
    • getFamily

      public int getFamily()
      The shape type, one of GROUP, PRIMITIVE, PATH, or GEOMETRY.
    • getKind

      public int getKind()
    • getParams

      public float[] getParams()
    • getParams

      public float[] getParams(float[] target)
    • getParam

      public float getParam(int index)
    • setPath

      public void setPath(int vcount, float[][] verts)
    • getVertexCount

      public int getVertexCount()
      The getVertexCount() method returns the number of vertices that make up a PShape. In the above example, the value 4 is returned by the getVertexCount() method because 4 vertices are defined in setup().
      See Also:
    • getVertex

      public PVector getVertex(int index)
      The getVertex() method returns a PVector with the coordinates of the vertex point located at the position defined by the index parameter. This method works when shapes are created as shown in the example above, but won't work properly when a shape is defined explicitly (e.g. createShape(RECT, 20, 20, 80, 80).
      Parameters:
      index - the location of the vertex
      See Also:
    • getVertex

      public PVector getVertex(int index, PVector vec)
      Parameters:
      vec - PVector to assign the data to
    • getVertexX

      public float getVertexX(int index)
    • getVertexY

      public float getVertexY(int index)
    • getVertexZ

      public float getVertexZ(int index)
    • setVertex

      public void setVertex(int index, float x, float y)
      The setVertex() method defines the coordinates of the vertex point located at the position defined by the index parameter. This method works when shapes are created as shown in the example above, but won't work properly when a shape is defined explicitly (e.g. createShape(RECT, 20, 20, 80, 80).
      Parameters:
      index - the location of the vertex
      x - the x value for the vertex
      y - the y value for the vertex
      See Also:
    • setVertex

      public void setVertex(int index, float x, float y, float z)
      Parameters:
      z - the z value for the vertex
    • setVertex

      public void setVertex(int index, PVector vec)
      Parameters:
      vec - the PVector to define the x, y, z coordinates
    • getNormal

      public PVector getNormal(int index)
    • getNormal

      public PVector getNormal(int index, PVector vec)
    • getNormalX

      public float getNormalX(int index)
    • getNormalY

      public float getNormalY(int index)
    • getNormalZ

      public float getNormalZ(int index)
    • setNormal

      public void setNormal(int index, float nx, float ny, float nz)
    • getTextureU

      public float getTextureU(int index)
    • getTextureV

      public float getTextureV(int index)
    • setTextureUV

      public void setTextureUV(int index, float u, float v)
    • setTextureMode

      public void setTextureMode(int mode)
    • setTexture

      public void setTexture(PImage tex)
    • getFill

      public int getFill(int index)
    • setFill

      public void setFill(boolean fill)
    • setFill

      public void setFill(int fill)
      The setFill() method defines the fill color of a PShape. This method is used after shapes are created or when a shape is defined explicitly (e.g. createShape(RECT, 20, 20, 80, 80)) as shown in the above example. When a shape is created with beginShape() and endShape(), its attributes may be changed with fill() and stroke() within beginShape() and endShape(). However, after the shape is created, only the setFill() method can define a new fill value for the PShape.
    • setFill

      public void setFill(int index, int fill)
    • getTint

      public int getTint(int index)
    • setTint

      public void setTint(boolean tint)
    • setTint

      public void setTint(int fill)
    • setTint

      public void setTint(int index, int tint)
    • getStroke

      public int getStroke(int index)
    • setStroke

      public void setStroke(boolean stroke)
    • setStroke

      public void setStroke(int stroke)
      The setStroke() method defines the outline color of a PShape. This method is used after shapes are created or when a shape is defined explicitly (e.g. createShape(RECT, 20, 20, 80, 80)) as shown in the above example. When a shape is created with beginShape() and endShape(), its attributes may be changed with fill() and stroke() within beginShape() and endShape(). However, after the shape is created, only the setStroke() method can define a new stroke value for the PShape.
    • setStroke

      public void setStroke(int index, int stroke)
    • getStrokeWeight

      public float getStrokeWeight(int index)
    • setStrokeWeight

      public void setStrokeWeight(float weight)
    • setStrokeWeight

      public void setStrokeWeight(int index, float weight)
    • setStrokeJoin

      public void setStrokeJoin(int join)
    • setStrokeCap

      public void setStrokeCap(int cap)
    • getAmbient

      public int getAmbient(int index)
    • setAmbient

      public void setAmbient(int ambient)
    • setAmbient

      public void setAmbient(int index, int ambient)
    • getSpecular

      public int getSpecular(int index)
    • setSpecular

      public void setSpecular(int specular)
    • setSpecular

      public void setSpecular(int index, int specular)
    • getEmissive

      public int getEmissive(int index)
    • setEmissive

      public void setEmissive(int emissive)
    • setEmissive

      public void setEmissive(int index, int emissive)
    • getShininess

      public float getShininess(int index)
    • setShininess

      public void setShininess(float shine)
    • setShininess

      public void setShininess(int index, float shine)
    • getVertexCodes

      public int[] getVertexCodes()
    • getVertexCodeCount

      public int getVertexCodeCount()
    • getVertexCode

      public int getVertexCode(int index)
      One of VERTEX, BEZIER_VERTEX, CURVE_VERTEX, or BREAK.
    • isClosed

      public boolean isClosed()
    • contains

      public boolean contains(float x, float y)
      Return true if this x, y coordinate is part of this shape. Only works with PATH shapes or GROUP shapes that contain other GROUPs or PATHs. This method is not imperfect and doesn't account for all cases (not all complex shapes: concave shapes or holes may have issues).
    • translate

      public void translate(float x, float y)
      Specifies an amount to displace the shape. The x parameter specifies left/right translation, the y parameter specifies up/down translation, and the z parameter specifies translations toward/away from the screen. Subsequent calls to the method accumulates the effect. For example, calling translate(50, 0) and then translate(20, 0) is the same as translate(70, 0). This transformation is applied directly to the shape, it's not refreshed each time draw() is run.

      Using this method with the z parameter requires using the P3D parameter in combination with size.
      Parameters:
      x - left/right translation
      y - up/down translation
      See Also:
      Usage:
      web_application
    • translate

      public void translate(float x, float y, float z)
      Parameters:
      z - forward/back translation
    • rotateX

      public void rotateX(float angle)
      Rotates a shape around the x-axis the amount specified by the angle parameter. Angles should be specified in radians (values from 0 to TWO_PI) or converted to radians with the radians() method.

      Shapes are always rotated around the upper-left corner of their bounding box. Positive numbers rotate objects in a clockwise direction. Subsequent calls to the method accumulates the effect. For example, calling rotateX(HALF_PI) and then rotateX(HALF_PI) is the same as rotateX(PI). This transformation is applied directly to the shape, it's not refreshed each time draw() is run.

      This method requires a 3D renderer. You need to use P3D as a third parameter for the size() function as shown in the example above.
      Parameters:
      angle - angle of rotation specified in radians
      See Also:
      Usage:
      web_application
    • rotateY

      public void rotateY(float angle)
      Rotates a shape around the y-axis the amount specified by the angle parameter. Angles should be specified in radians (values from 0 to TWO_PI) or converted to radians with the radians() method.

      Shapes are always rotated around the upper-left corner of their bounding box. Positive numbers rotate objects in a clockwise direction. Subsequent calls to the method accumulates the effect. For example, calling rotateY(HALF_PI) and then rotateY(HALF_PI) is the same as rotateY(PI). This transformation is applied directly to the shape, it's not refreshed each time draw() is run.

      This method requires a 3D renderer. You need to use P3D as a third parameter for the size() function as shown in the example above.
      Parameters:
      angle - angle of rotation specified in radians
      See Also:
      Usage:
      web_application
    • rotateZ

      public void rotateZ(float angle)
      Rotates a shape around the z-axis the amount specified by the angle parameter. Angles should be specified in radians (values from 0 to TWO_PI) or converted to radians with the radians() method.

      Shapes are always rotated around the upper-left corner of their bounding box. Positive numbers rotate objects in a clockwise direction. Subsequent calls to the method accumulates the effect. For example, calling rotateZ(HALF_PI) and then rotateZ(HALF_PI) is the same as rotateZ(PI). This transformation is applied directly to the shape, it's not refreshed each time draw() is run.

      This method requires a 3D renderer. You need to use P3D as a third parameter for the size() function as shown in the example above.
      Parameters:
      angle - angle of rotation specified in radians
      See Also:
      Usage:
      web_application
    • rotate

      public void rotate(float angle)
      Rotates a shape the amount specified by the angle parameter. Angles should be specified in radians (values from 0 to TWO_PI) or converted to radians with the radians() method.

      Shapes are always rotated around the upper-left corner of their bounding box. Positive numbers rotate objects in a clockwise direction. Transformations apply to everything that happens after and subsequent calls to the method accumulates the effect. For example, calling rotate(HALF_PI) and then rotate(HALF_PI) is the same as rotate(PI). This transformation is applied directly to the shape, it's not refreshed each time draw() is run.
      Parameters:
      angle - angle of rotation specified in radians
      See Also:
      Usage:
      web_application
    • rotate

      public void rotate(float angle, float v0, float v1, float v2)
    • scale

      public void scale(float s)
      Increases or decreases the size of a shape by expanding and contracting vertices. Shapes always scale from the relative origin of their bounding box. Scale values are specified as decimal percentages. For example, the method call scale(2.0) increases the dimension of a shape by 200%. Subsequent calls to the method multiply the effect. For example, calling scale(2.0) and then scale(1.5) is the same as scale(3.0). This transformation is applied directly to the shape, it's not refreshed each time draw() is run.

      Using this method with the z parameter requires using the P3D parameter in combination with size.
      Parameters:
      s - percentage to scale the object
      See Also:
      Usage:
      web_application
    • scale

      public void scale(float x, float y)
    • scale

      public void scale(float x, float y, float z)
      Parameters:
      x - percentage to scale the object in the x-axis
      y - percentage to scale the object in the y-axis
      z - percentage to scale the object in the z-axis
    • resetMatrix

      public void resetMatrix()
      Replaces the current matrix of a shape with the identity matrix. The equivalent function in OpenGL is glLoadIdentity().
      See Also:
      Usage:
      web_application
    • applyMatrix

      public void applyMatrix(PMatrix source)
    • applyMatrix

      public void applyMatrix(PMatrix2D source)
    • applyMatrix

      public void applyMatrix(float n00, float n01, float n02, float n10, float n11, float n12)
    • applyMatrix

      public void applyMatrix(PMatrix3D source)
    • applyMatrix

      public void applyMatrix(float n00, float n01, float n02, float n03, float n10, float n11, float n12, float n13, float n20, float n21, float n22, float n23, float n30, float n31, float n32, float n33)
    • colorMode

      public void colorMode(int mode)
    • colorMode

      public void colorMode(int mode, float max)
      Parameters:
      max - range for all color elements
    • colorMode

      public void colorMode(int mode, float maxX, float maxY, float maxZ)
      Parameters:
      maxX - range for the red or hue depending on the current color mode
      maxY - range for the green or saturation depending on the current color mode
      maxZ - range for the blue or brightness depending on the current color mode
    • colorMode

      public void colorMode(int mode, float maxX, float maxY, float maxZ, float maxA)
      Parameters:
      maxA - range for the alpha