cairo_t

cairo_t — The cairo drawing context

Functions

cairo_t * cairo_create ()
cairo_t * cairo_reference ()
void cairo_destroy ()
cairo_status_t cairo_status ()
void cairo_save ()
void cairo_restore ()
cairo_surface_t * cairo_get_target ()
void cairo_push_group ()
void cairo_push_group_with_content ()
cairo_pattern_t * cairo_pop_group ()
void cairo_pop_group_to_source ()
cairo_surface_t * cairo_get_group_target ()
void cairo_set_source_rgb ()
void cairo_set_source_rgba ()
void cairo_set_source ()
void cairo_set_source_surface ()
cairo_pattern_t * cairo_get_source ()
void cairo_set_antialias ()
cairo_antialias_t cairo_get_antialias ()
void cairo_set_dash ()
int cairo_get_dash_count ()
void cairo_get_dash ()
void cairo_set_fill_rule ()
cairo_fill_rule_t cairo_get_fill_rule ()
void cairo_set_line_cap ()
cairo_line_cap_t cairo_get_line_cap ()
void cairo_set_line_join ()
cairo_line_join_t cairo_get_line_join ()
void cairo_set_line_width ()
double cairo_get_line_width ()
void cairo_set_miter_limit ()
double cairo_get_miter_limit ()
void cairo_set_operator ()
cairo_operator_t cairo_get_operator ()
void cairo_set_tolerance ()
double cairo_get_tolerance ()
void cairo_clip ()
void cairo_clip_preserve ()
void cairo_clip_extents ()
cairo_bool_t cairo_in_clip ()
void cairo_reset_clip ()
void cairo_rectangle_list_destroy ()
cairo_rectangle_list_t * cairo_copy_clip_rectangle_list ()
void cairo_fill ()
void cairo_fill_preserve ()
void cairo_fill_extents ()
cairo_bool_t cairo_in_fill ()
void cairo_mask ()
void cairo_mask_surface ()
void cairo_paint ()
void cairo_paint_with_alpha ()
void cairo_stroke ()
void cairo_stroke_preserve ()
void cairo_stroke_extents ()
cairo_bool_t cairo_in_stroke ()
void cairo_copy_page ()
void cairo_show_page ()
unsigned int cairo_get_reference_count ()
cairo_status_t cairo_set_user_data ()
void * cairo_get_user_data ()
void cairo_set_hairline ()
cairo_bool_t cairo_get_hairline ()

Types and Values

Description

cairo_t is the main object used when drawing with cairo. To draw with cairo, you create a cairo_t, set the target surface, and drawing options for the cairo_t, create shapes with functions like cairo_move_to() and cairo_line_to(), and then draw shapes with cairo_stroke() or cairo_fill().

cairo_t's can be pushed to a stack via cairo_save(). They may then safely be changed, without losing the current state. Use cairo_restore() to restore to the saved state.

Functions

cairo_create ()

cairo_t *
cairo_create (cairo_surface_t *target);

Creates a new cairo_t with all graphics state parameters set to default values and with target as a target surface. The target surface should be constructed with a backend-specific function such as cairo_image_surface_create() (or any other cairo_backend_surface_create() variant).

This function references target , so you can immediately call cairo_surface_destroy() on it if you don't need to maintain a separate reference to it.

Parameters

target

target surface for the context

 

Returns

a newly allocated cairo_t with a reference count of 1. The initial reference count should be released with cairo_destroy() when you are done using the cairo_t. This function never returns NULL. If memory cannot be allocated, a special cairo_t object will be returned on which cairo_status() returns CAIRO_STATUS_NO_MEMORY. If you attempt to target a surface which does not support writing (such as cairo_mime_surface_t) then a CAIRO_STATUS_WRITE_ERROR will be raised. You can use this object normally, but no drawing will be done.

Since: 1.0


cairo_reference ()

cairo_t *
cairo_reference (cairo_t *cr);

Increases the reference count on cr by one. This prevents cr from being destroyed until a matching call to cairo_destroy() is made.

Use cairo_get_reference_count() to get the number of references to a cairo_t.

Parameters

cr

a cairo_t

 

Returns

the referenced cairo_t.

Since: 1.0


cairo_destroy ()

void
cairo_destroy (cairo_t *cr);

Decreases the reference count on cr by one. If the result is zero, then cr and all associated resources are freed. See cairo_reference().

Parameters

cr

a cairo_t

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_status ()

cairo_status_t
cairo_status (cairo_t *cr);

Checks whether an error has previously occurred for this context.

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Returns

the current status of this context, see cairo_status_t

Since: 1.0


cairo_save ()

void
cairo_save (cairo_t *cr);

Makes a copy of the current state of cr and saves it on an internal stack of saved states for cr . When cairo_restore() is called, cr will be restored to the saved state. Multiple calls to cairo_save() and cairo_restore() can be nested; each call to cairo_restore() restores the state from the matching paired cairo_save().

It isn't necessary to clear all saved states before a cairo_t is freed. If the reference count of a cairo_t drops to zero in response to a call to cairo_destroy(), any saved states will be freed along with the cairo_t.

Parameters

cr

a cairo_t

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_restore ()

void
cairo_restore (cairo_t *cr);

Restores cr to the state saved by a preceding call to cairo_save() and removes that state from the stack of saved states.

Parameters

cr

a cairo_t

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_get_target ()

cairo_surface_t *
cairo_get_target (cairo_t *cr);

Gets the target surface for the cairo context as passed to cairo_create().

This function will always return a valid pointer, but the result can be a "nil" surface if cr is already in an error state, (ie. cairo_status() != CAIRO_STATUS_SUCCESS). A nil surface is indicated by cairo_surface_status() != CAIRO_STATUS_SUCCESS.

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Returns

the target surface. This object is owned by cairo. To keep a reference to it, you must call cairo_surface_reference().

Since: 1.0


cairo_push_group ()

void
cairo_push_group (cairo_t *cr);

Temporarily redirects drawing to an intermediate surface known as a group. The redirection lasts until the group is completed by a call to cairo_pop_group() or cairo_pop_group_to_source(). These calls provide the result of any drawing to the group as a pattern, (either as an explicit object, or set as the source pattern).

This group functionality can be convenient for performing intermediate compositing. One common use of a group is to render objects as opaque within the group, (so that they occlude each other), and then blend the result with translucence onto the destination.

Groups can be nested arbitrarily deep by making balanced calls to cairo_push_group()/cairo_pop_group(). Each call pushes/pops the new target group onto/from a stack.

The cairo_push_group() function calls cairo_save() so that any changes to the graphics state will not be visible outside the group, (the pop_group functions call cairo_restore()).

By default the intermediate group will have a content type of CAIRO_CONTENT_COLOR_ALPHA. Other content types can be chosen for the group by using cairo_push_group_with_content() instead.

As an example, here is how one might fill and stroke a path with translucence, but without any portion of the fill being visible under the stroke:

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cairo_push_group (cr);
cairo_set_source (cr, fill_pattern);
cairo_fill_preserve (cr);
cairo_set_source (cr, stroke_pattern);
cairo_stroke (cr);
cairo_pop_group_to_source (cr);
cairo_paint_with_alpha (cr, alpha);

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Since: 1.2


cairo_push_group_with_content ()

void
cairo_push_group_with_content (cairo_t *cr,
                               cairo_content_t content);

Temporarily redirects drawing to an intermediate surface known as a group. The redirection lasts until the group is completed by a call to cairo_pop_group() or cairo_pop_group_to_source(). These calls provide the result of any drawing to the group as a pattern, (either as an explicit object, or set as the source pattern).

The group will have a content type of content . The ability to control this content type is the only distinction between this function and cairo_push_group() which you should see for a more detailed description of group rendering.

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

content

a cairo_content_t indicating the type of group that will be created

 

Since: 1.2


cairo_pop_group ()

cairo_pattern_t *
cairo_pop_group (cairo_t *cr);

Terminates the redirection begun by a call to cairo_push_group() or cairo_push_group_with_content() and returns a new pattern containing the results of all drawing operations performed to the group.

The cairo_pop_group() function calls cairo_restore(), (balancing a call to cairo_save() by the push_group function), so that any changes to the graphics state will not be visible outside the group.

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Returns

a newly created (surface) pattern containing the results of all drawing operations performed to the group. The caller owns the returned object and should call cairo_pattern_destroy() when finished with it.

Since: 1.2


cairo_pop_group_to_source ()

void
cairo_pop_group_to_source (cairo_t *cr);

Terminates the redirection begun by a call to cairo_push_group() or cairo_push_group_with_content() and installs the resulting pattern as the source pattern in the given cairo context.

The behavior of this function is equivalent to the sequence of operations:

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cairo_pattern_t *group = cairo_pop_group (cr);
cairo_set_source (cr, group);
cairo_pattern_destroy (group);

but is more convenient as their is no need for a variable to store the short-lived pointer to the pattern.

The cairo_pop_group() function calls cairo_restore(), (balancing a call to cairo_save() by the push_group function), so that any changes to the graphics state will not be visible outside the group.

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Since: 1.2


cairo_get_group_target ()

cairo_surface_t *
cairo_get_group_target (cairo_t *cr);

Gets the current destination surface for the context. This is either the original target surface as passed to cairo_create() or the target surface for the current group as started by the most recent call to cairo_push_group() or cairo_push_group_with_content().

This function will always return a valid pointer, but the result can be a "nil" surface if cr is already in an error state, (ie. cairo_status() != CAIRO_STATUS_SUCCESS). A nil surface is indicated by cairo_surface_status() != CAIRO_STATUS_SUCCESS.

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Returns

the target surface. This object is owned by cairo. To keep a reference to it, you must call cairo_surface_reference().

Since: 1.2


cairo_set_source_rgb ()

void
cairo_set_source_rgb (cairo_t *cr,
                      double red,
                      double green,
                      double blue);

Sets the source pattern within cr to an opaque color. This opaque color will then be used for any subsequent drawing operation until a new source pattern is set.

The color components are floating point numbers in the range 0 to

  1. If the values passed in are outside that range, they will be clamped.

The default source pattern is opaque black, (that is, it is equivalent to cairo_set_source_rgb(cr, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0)).

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

red

red component of color

 

green

green component of color

 

blue

blue component of color

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_set_source_rgba ()

void
cairo_set_source_rgba (cairo_t *cr,
                       double red,
                       double green,
                       double blue,
                       double alpha);

Sets the source pattern within cr to a translucent color. This color will then be used for any subsequent drawing operation until a new source pattern is set.

The color and alpha components are floating point numbers in the range 0 to 1. If the values passed in are outside that range, they will be clamped.

Note that the color and alpha values are not premultiplied.

The default source pattern is opaque black, (that is, it is equivalent to cairo_set_source_rgba(cr, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0)).

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

red

red component of color

 

green

green component of color

 

blue

blue component of color

 

alpha

alpha component of color

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_set_source ()

void
cairo_set_source (cairo_t *cr,
                  cairo_pattern_t *source);

Sets the source pattern within cr to source . This pattern will then be used for any subsequent drawing operation until a new source pattern is set.

Note: The pattern's transformation matrix will be locked to the user space in effect at the time of cairo_set_source(). This means that further modifications of the current transformation matrix will not affect the source pattern. See cairo_pattern_set_matrix().

The default source pattern is a solid pattern that is opaque black, (that is, it is equivalent to cairo_set_source_rgb(cr, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0)).

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

source

a cairo_pattern_t to be used as the source for subsequent drawing operations.

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_set_source_surface ()

void
cairo_set_source_surface (cairo_t *cr,
                          cairo_surface_t *surface,
                          double x,
                          double y);

This is a convenience function for creating a pattern from surface and setting it as the source in cr with cairo_set_source().

The x and y parameters give the user-space coordinate at which the surface origin should appear. (The surface origin is its upper-left corner before any transformation has been applied.) The x and y parameters are negated and then set as translation values in the pattern matrix.

Other than the initial translation pattern matrix, as described above, all other pattern attributes, (such as its extend mode), are set to the default values as in cairo_pattern_create_for_surface(). The resulting pattern can be queried with cairo_get_source() so that these attributes can be modified if desired, (eg. to create a repeating pattern with cairo_pattern_set_extend()).

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

surface

a surface to be used to set the source pattern

 

x

User-space X coordinate for surface origin

 

y

User-space Y coordinate for surface origin

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_get_source ()

cairo_pattern_t *
cairo_get_source (cairo_t *cr);

Gets the current source pattern for cr .

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Returns

the current source pattern. This object is owned by cairo. To keep a reference to it, you must call cairo_pattern_reference().

Since: 1.0


cairo_set_antialias ()

void
cairo_set_antialias (cairo_t *cr,
                     cairo_antialias_t antialias);

Set the antialiasing mode of the rasterizer used for drawing shapes. This value is a hint, and a particular backend may or may not support a particular value. At the current time, no backend supports CAIRO_ANTIALIAS_SUBPIXEL when drawing shapes.

Note that this option does not affect text rendering, instead see cairo_font_options_set_antialias().

Parameters

cr

a cairo_t

 

antialias

the new antialiasing mode

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_get_antialias ()

cairo_antialias_t
cairo_get_antialias (cairo_t *cr);

Gets the current shape antialiasing mode, as set by cairo_set_antialias().

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Returns

the current shape antialiasing mode.

Since: 1.0


cairo_set_dash ()

void
cairo_set_dash (cairo_t *cr,
                const double *dashes,
                int num_dashes,
                double offset);

Sets the dash pattern to be used by cairo_stroke(). A dash pattern is specified by dashes , an array of positive values. Each value provides the length of alternate "on" and "off" portions of the stroke. The offset specifies an offset into the pattern at which the stroke begins.

Each "on" segment will have caps applied as if the segment were a separate sub-path. In particular, it is valid to use an "on" length of 0.0 with CAIRO_LINE_CAP_ROUND or CAIRO_LINE_CAP_SQUARE in order to distributed dots or squares along a path.

Note: The length values are in user-space units as evaluated at the time of stroking. This is not necessarily the same as the user space at the time of cairo_set_dash().

If num_dashes is 0 dashing is disabled.

If num_dashes is 1 a symmetric pattern is assumed with alternating on and off portions of the size specified by the single value in dashes .

If any value in dashes is negative, or if all values are 0, then cr will be put into an error state with a status of CAIRO_STATUS_INVALID_DASH.

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

dashes

an array specifying alternate lengths of on and off stroke portions

 

num_dashes

the length of the dashes array

 

offset

an offset into the dash pattern at which the stroke should start

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_get_dash_count ()

int
cairo_get_dash_count (cairo_t *cr);

This function returns the length of the dash array in cr (0 if dashing is not currently in effect).

See also cairo_set_dash() and cairo_get_dash().

Parameters

cr

a cairo_t

 

Returns

the length of the dash array, or 0 if no dash array set.

Since: 1.4


cairo_get_dash ()

void
cairo_get_dash (cairo_t *cr,
                double *dashes,
                double *offset);

Gets the current dash array. If not NULL, dashes should be big enough to hold at least the number of values returned by cairo_get_dash_count().

Parameters

cr

a cairo_t

 

dashes

return value for the dash array, or NULL

 

offset

return value for the current dash offset, or NULL

 

Since: 1.4


cairo_set_fill_rule ()

void
cairo_set_fill_rule (cairo_t *cr,
                     cairo_fill_rule_t fill_rule);

Set the current fill rule within the cairo context. The fill rule is used to determine which regions are inside or outside a complex (potentially self-intersecting) path. The current fill rule affects both cairo_fill() and cairo_clip(). See cairo_fill_rule_t for details on the semantics of each available fill rule.

The default fill rule is CAIRO_FILL_RULE_WINDING.

Parameters

cr

a cairo_t

 

fill_rule

a fill rule, specified as a cairo_fill_rule_t

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_get_fill_rule ()

cairo_fill_rule_t
cairo_get_fill_rule (cairo_t *cr);

Gets the current fill rule, as set by cairo_set_fill_rule().

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Returns

the current fill rule.

Since: 1.0


cairo_set_line_cap ()

void
cairo_set_line_cap (cairo_t *cr,
                    cairo_line_cap_t line_cap);

Sets the current line cap style within the cairo context. See cairo_line_cap_t for details about how the available line cap styles are drawn.

As with the other stroke parameters, the current line cap style is examined by cairo_stroke(), and cairo_stroke_extents(), but does not have any effect during path construction.

The default line cap style is CAIRO_LINE_CAP_BUTT.

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

line_cap

a line cap style

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_get_line_cap ()

cairo_line_cap_t
cairo_get_line_cap (cairo_t *cr);

Gets the current line cap style, as set by cairo_set_line_cap().

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Returns

the current line cap style.

Since: 1.0


cairo_set_line_join ()

void
cairo_set_line_join (cairo_t *cr,
                     cairo_line_join_t line_join);

Sets the current line join style within the cairo context. See cairo_line_join_t for details about how the available line join styles are drawn.

As with the other stroke parameters, the current line join style is examined by cairo_stroke(), and cairo_stroke_extents(), but does not have any effect during path construction.

The default line join style is CAIRO_LINE_JOIN_MITER.

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

line_join

a line join style

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_get_line_join ()

cairo_line_join_t
cairo_get_line_join (cairo_t *cr);

Gets the current line join style, as set by cairo_set_line_join().

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Returns

the current line join style.

Since: 1.0


cairo_set_line_width ()

void
cairo_set_line_width (cairo_t *cr,
                      double width);

Sets the current line width within the cairo context. The line width value specifies the diameter of a pen that is circular in user space, (though device-space pen may be an ellipse in general due to scaling/shear/rotation of the CTM).

Note: When the description above refers to user space and CTM it refers to the user space and CTM in effect at the time of the stroking operation, not the user space and CTM in effect at the time of the call to cairo_set_line_width(). The simplest usage makes both of these spaces identical. That is, if there is no change to the CTM between a call to cairo_set_line_width() and the stroking operation, then one can just pass user-space values to cairo_set_line_width() and ignore this note.

As with the other stroke parameters, the current line width is examined by cairo_stroke(), and cairo_stroke_extents(), but does not have any effect during path construction.

The default line width value is 2.0.

Parameters

cr

a cairo_t

 

width

a line width

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_get_line_width ()

double
cairo_get_line_width (cairo_t *cr);

This function returns the current line width value exactly as set by cairo_set_line_width(). Note that the value is unchanged even if the CTM has changed between the calls to cairo_set_line_width() and cairo_get_line_width().

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Returns

the current line width.

Since: 1.0


cairo_set_miter_limit ()

void
cairo_set_miter_limit (cairo_t *cr,
                       double limit);

Sets the current miter limit within the cairo context.

If the current line join style is set to CAIRO_LINE_JOIN_MITER (see cairo_set_line_join()), the miter limit is used to determine whether the lines should be joined with a bevel instead of a miter. Cairo divides the length of the miter by the line width. If the result is greater than the miter limit, the style is converted to a bevel.

As with the other stroke parameters, the current line miter limit is examined by cairo_stroke(), and cairo_stroke_extents(), but does not have any effect during path construction.

The default miter limit value is 10.0, which will convert joins with interior angles less than 11 degrees to bevels instead of miters. For reference, a miter limit of 2.0 makes the miter cutoff at 60 degrees, and a miter limit of 1.414 makes the cutoff at 90 degrees.

A miter limit for a desired angle can be computed as: miter limit = 1/sin(angle/2)

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

limit

miter limit to set

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_get_miter_limit ()

double
cairo_get_miter_limit (cairo_t *cr);

Gets the current miter limit, as set by cairo_set_miter_limit().

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Returns

the current miter limit.

Since: 1.0


cairo_set_operator ()

void
cairo_set_operator (cairo_t *cr,
                    cairo_operator_t op);

Sets the compositing operator to be used for all drawing operations. See cairo_operator_t for details on the semantics of each available compositing operator.

The default operator is CAIRO_OPERATOR_OVER.

Parameters

cr

a cairo_t

 

op

a compositing operator, specified as a cairo_operator_t

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_get_operator ()

cairo_operator_t
cairo_get_operator (cairo_t *cr);

Gets the current compositing operator for a cairo context.

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Returns

the current compositing operator.

Since: 1.0


cairo_set_tolerance ()

void
cairo_set_tolerance (cairo_t *cr,
                     double tolerance);

Sets the tolerance used when converting paths into trapezoids. Curved segments of the path will be subdivided until the maximum deviation between the original path and the polygonal approximation is less than tolerance . The default value is 0.1. A larger value will give better performance, a smaller value, better appearance. (Reducing the value from the default value of 0.1 is unlikely to improve appearance significantly.) The accuracy of paths within Cairo is limited by the precision of its internal arithmetic, and the prescribed tolerance is restricted to the smallest representable internal value.

Parameters

cr

a cairo_t

 

tolerance

the tolerance, in device units (typically pixels)

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_get_tolerance ()

double
cairo_get_tolerance (cairo_t *cr);

Gets the current tolerance value, as set by cairo_set_tolerance().

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Returns

the current tolerance value.

Since: 1.0


cairo_clip ()

void
cairo_clip (cairo_t *cr);

Establishes a new clip region by intersecting the current clip region with the current path as it would be filled by cairo_fill() and according to the current fill rule (see cairo_set_fill_rule()).

After cairo_clip(), the current path will be cleared from the cairo context.

The current clip region affects all drawing operations by effectively masking out any changes to the surface that are outside the current clip region.

Calling cairo_clip() can only make the clip region smaller, never larger. But the current clip is part of the graphics state, so a temporary restriction of the clip region can be achieved by calling cairo_clip() within a cairo_save()/cairo_restore() pair. The only other means of increasing the size of the clip region is cairo_reset_clip().

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_clip_preserve ()

void
cairo_clip_preserve (cairo_t *cr);

Establishes a new clip region by intersecting the current clip region with the current path as it would be filled by cairo_fill() and according to the current fill rule (see cairo_set_fill_rule()).

Unlike cairo_clip(), cairo_clip_preserve() preserves the path within the cairo context.

The current clip region affects all drawing operations by effectively masking out any changes to the surface that are outside the current clip region.

Calling cairo_clip_preserve() can only make the clip region smaller, never larger. But the current clip is part of the graphics state, so a temporary restriction of the clip region can be achieved by calling cairo_clip_preserve() within a cairo_save()/cairo_restore() pair. The only other means of increasing the size of the clip region is cairo_reset_clip().

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_clip_extents ()

void
cairo_clip_extents (cairo_t *cr,
                    double *x1,
                    double *y1,
                    double *x2,
                    double *y2);

Computes a bounding box in user coordinates covering the area inside the current clip.

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

x1

left of the resulting extents

 

y1

top of the resulting extents

 

x2

right of the resulting extents

 

y2

bottom of the resulting extents

 

Since: 1.4


cairo_in_clip ()

cairo_bool_t
cairo_in_clip (cairo_t *cr,
               double x,
               double y);

Tests whether the given point is inside the area that would be visible through the current clip, i.e. the area that would be filled by a cairo_paint() operation.

See cairo_clip(), and cairo_clip_preserve().

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

x

X coordinate of the point to test

 

y

Y coordinate of the point to test

 

Returns

A non-zero value if the point is inside, or zero if outside.

Since: 1.10


cairo_reset_clip ()

void
cairo_reset_clip (cairo_t *cr);

Reset the current clip region to its original, unrestricted state. That is, set the clip region to an infinitely large shape containing the target surface. Equivalently, if infinity is too hard to grasp, one can imagine the clip region being reset to the exact bounds of the target surface.

Note that code meant to be reusable should not call cairo_reset_clip() as it will cause results unexpected by higher-level code which calls cairo_clip(). Consider using cairo_save() and cairo_restore() around cairo_clip() as a more robust means of temporarily restricting the clip region.

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_rectangle_list_destroy ()

void
cairo_rectangle_list_destroy (cairo_rectangle_list_t *rectangle_list);

Unconditionally frees rectangle_list and all associated references. After this call, the rectangle_list pointer must not be dereferenced.

Parameters

rectangle_list

a rectangle list, as obtained from cairo_copy_clip_rectangle_list()

 

Since: 1.4


cairo_copy_clip_rectangle_list ()

cairo_rectangle_list_t *
cairo_copy_clip_rectangle_list (cairo_t *cr);

Gets the current clip region as a list of rectangles in user coordinates. Never returns NULL.

The status in the list may be CAIRO_STATUS_CLIP_NOT_REPRESENTABLE to indicate that the clip region cannot be represented as a list of user-space rectangles. The status may have other values to indicate other errors.

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Returns

the current clip region as a list of rectangles in user coordinates, which should be destroyed using cairo_rectangle_list_destroy().

Since: 1.4


cairo_fill ()

void
cairo_fill (cairo_t *cr);

A drawing operator that fills the current path according to the current fill rule, (each sub-path is implicitly closed before being filled). After cairo_fill(), the current path will be cleared from the cairo context. See cairo_set_fill_rule() and cairo_fill_preserve().

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_fill_preserve ()

void
cairo_fill_preserve (cairo_t *cr);

A drawing operator that fills the current path according to the current fill rule, (each sub-path is implicitly closed before being filled). Unlike cairo_fill(), cairo_fill_preserve() preserves the path within the cairo context.

See cairo_set_fill_rule() and cairo_fill().

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_fill_extents ()

void
cairo_fill_extents (cairo_t *cr,
                    double *x1,
                    double *y1,
                    double *x2,
                    double *y2);

Computes a bounding box in user coordinates covering the area that would be affected, (the "inked" area), by a cairo_fill() operation given the current path and fill parameters. If the current path is empty, returns an empty rectangle ((0,0), (0,0)). Surface dimensions and clipping are not taken into account.

Contrast with cairo_path_extents(), which is similar, but returns non-zero extents for some paths with no inked area, (such as a simple line segment).

Note that cairo_fill_extents() must necessarily do more work to compute the precise inked areas in light of the fill rule, so cairo_path_extents() may be more desirable for sake of performance if the non-inked path extents are desired.

See cairo_fill(), cairo_set_fill_rule() and cairo_fill_preserve().

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

x1

left of the resulting extents

 

y1

top of the resulting extents

 

x2

right of the resulting extents

 

y2

bottom of the resulting extents

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_in_fill ()

cairo_bool_t
cairo_in_fill (cairo_t *cr,
               double x,
               double y);

Tests whether the given point is inside the area that would be affected by a cairo_fill() operation given the current path and filling parameters. Surface dimensions and clipping are not taken into account.

See cairo_fill(), cairo_set_fill_rule() and cairo_fill_preserve().

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

x

X coordinate of the point to test

 

y

Y coordinate of the point to test

 

Returns

A non-zero value if the point is inside, or zero if outside.

Since: 1.0


cairo_mask ()

void
cairo_mask (cairo_t *cr,
            cairo_pattern_t *pattern);

A drawing operator that paints the current source using the alpha channel of pattern as a mask. (Opaque areas of pattern are painted with the source, transparent areas are not painted.)

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

pattern

a cairo_pattern_t

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_mask_surface ()

void
cairo_mask_surface (cairo_t *cr,
                    cairo_surface_t *surface,
                    double surface_x,
                    double surface_y);

A drawing operator that paints the current source using the alpha channel of surface as a mask. (Opaque areas of surface are painted with the source, transparent areas are not painted.)

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

surface

a cairo_surface_t

 

surface_x

X coordinate at which to place the origin of surface

 

surface_y

Y coordinate at which to place the origin of surface

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_paint ()

void
cairo_paint (cairo_t *cr);

A drawing operator that paints the current source everywhere within the current clip region.

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_paint_with_alpha ()

void
cairo_paint_with_alpha (cairo_t *cr,
                        double alpha);

A drawing operator that paints the current source everywhere within the current clip region using a mask of constant alpha value alpha . The effect is similar to cairo_paint(), but the drawing is faded out using the alpha value.

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

alpha

alpha value, between 0 (transparent) and 1 (opaque)

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_stroke ()

void
cairo_stroke (cairo_t *cr);

A drawing operator that strokes the current path according to the current line width, line join, line cap, and dash settings. After cairo_stroke(), the current path will be cleared from the cairo context. See cairo_set_line_width(), cairo_set_line_join(), cairo_set_line_cap(), cairo_set_dash(), and cairo_stroke_preserve().

Note: Degenerate segments and sub-paths are treated specially and provide a useful result. These can result in two different situations:

  1. Zero-length "on" segments set in cairo_set_dash(). If the cap style is CAIRO_LINE_CAP_ROUND or CAIRO_LINE_CAP_SQUARE then these segments will be drawn as circular dots or squares respectively. In the case of CAIRO_LINE_CAP_SQUARE, the orientation of the squares is determined by the direction of the underlying path.

  2. A sub-path created by cairo_move_to() followed by either a cairo_close_path() or one or more calls to cairo_line_to() to the same coordinate as the cairo_move_to(). If the cap style is CAIRO_LINE_CAP_ROUND then these sub-paths will be drawn as circular dots. Note that in the case of CAIRO_LINE_CAP_SQUARE a degenerate sub-path will not be drawn at all, (since the correct orientation is indeterminate).

In no case will a cap style of CAIRO_LINE_CAP_BUTT cause anything to be drawn in the case of either degenerate segments or sub-paths.

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_stroke_preserve ()

void
cairo_stroke_preserve (cairo_t *cr);

A drawing operator that strokes the current path according to the current line width, line join, line cap, and dash settings. Unlike cairo_stroke(), cairo_stroke_preserve() preserves the path within the cairo context.

See cairo_set_line_width(), cairo_set_line_join(), cairo_set_line_cap(), cairo_set_dash(), and cairo_stroke_preserve().

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_stroke_extents ()

void
cairo_stroke_extents (cairo_t *cr,
                      double *x1,
                      double *y1,
                      double *x2,
                      double *y2);

Computes a bounding box in user coordinates covering the area that would be affected, (the "inked" area), by a cairo_stroke() operation given the current path and stroke parameters. If the current path is empty, returns an empty rectangle ((0,0), (0,0)). Surface dimensions and clipping are not taken into account.

Note that if the line width is set to exactly zero, then cairo_stroke_extents() will return an empty rectangle. Contrast with cairo_path_extents() which can be used to compute the non-empty bounds as the line width approaches zero.

Note that cairo_stroke_extents() must necessarily do more work to compute the precise inked areas in light of the stroke parameters, so cairo_path_extents() may be more desirable for sake of performance if non-inked path extents are desired.

See cairo_stroke(), cairo_set_line_width(), cairo_set_line_join(), cairo_set_line_cap(), cairo_set_dash(), and cairo_stroke_preserve().

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

x1

left of the resulting extents

 

y1

top of the resulting extents

 

x2

right of the resulting extents

 

y2

bottom of the resulting extents

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_in_stroke ()

cairo_bool_t
cairo_in_stroke (cairo_t *cr,
                 double x,
                 double y);

Tests whether the given point is inside the area that would be affected by a cairo_stroke() operation given the current path and stroking parameters. Surface dimensions and clipping are not taken into account.

See cairo_stroke(), cairo_set_line_width(), cairo_set_line_join(), cairo_set_line_cap(), cairo_set_dash(), and cairo_stroke_preserve().

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

x

X coordinate of the point to test

 

y

Y coordinate of the point to test

 

Returns

A non-zero value if the point is inside, or zero if outside.

Since: 1.0


cairo_copy_page ()

void
cairo_copy_page (cairo_t *cr);

Emits the current page for backends that support multiple pages, but doesn't clear it, so, the contents of the current page will be retained for the next page too. Use cairo_show_page() if you want to get an empty page after the emission.

This is a convenience function that simply calls cairo_surface_copy_page() on cr 's target.

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_show_page ()

void
cairo_show_page (cairo_t *cr);

Emits and clears the current page for backends that support multiple pages. Use cairo_copy_page() if you don't want to clear the page.

This is a convenience function that simply calls cairo_surface_show_page() on cr 's target.

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_get_reference_count ()

unsigned int
cairo_get_reference_count (cairo_t *cr);

Returns the current reference count of cr .

Parameters

cr

a cairo_t

 

Returns

the current reference count of cr . If the object is a nil object, 0 will be returned.

Since: 1.4


cairo_set_user_data ()

cairo_status_t
cairo_set_user_data (cairo_t *cr,
                     const cairo_user_data_key_t *key,
                     void *user_data,
                     cairo_destroy_func_t destroy);

Attach user data to cr . To remove user data from a surface, call this function with the key that was used to set it and NULL for data .

Parameters

cr

a cairo_t

 

key

the address of a cairo_user_data_key_t to attach the user data to

 

user_data

the user data to attach to the cairo_t

 

destroy

a cairo_destroy_func_t which will be called when the cairo_t is destroyed or when new user data is attached using the same key.

 

Returns

CAIRO_STATUS_SUCCESS or CAIRO_STATUS_NO_MEMORY if a slot could not be allocated for the user data.

Since: 1.4


cairo_get_user_data ()

void *
cairo_get_user_data (cairo_t *cr,
                     const cairo_user_data_key_t *key);

Return user data previously attached to cr using the specified key. If no user data has been attached with the given key this function returns NULL.

Parameters

cr

a cairo_t

 

key

the address of the cairo_user_data_key_t the user data was attached to

 

Returns

the user data previously attached or NULL.

Since: 1.4


cairo_set_hairline ()

void
cairo_set_hairline (cairo_t *cr,
                    cairo_bool_t set_hairline);

Sets lines within the cairo context to be hairlines. Hairlines are logically zero-width lines that are drawn at the thinnest renderable width possible in the current context.

On surfaces with native hairline support, the native hairline functionality will be used. Surfaces that support hairlines include:

  • pdf/ps: Encoded as 0-width line.

  • win32_printing: Rendered with PS_COSMETIC pen.

  • svg: Encoded as 1px non-scaling-stroke.

  • script: Encoded with set-hairline function.

Cairo will always render hairlines at 1 device unit wide, even if an anisotropic scaling was applied to the stroke width. In the wild, handling of this situation is not well-defined. Some PDF, PS, and SVG renderers match Cairo's output, but some very popular implementations (Acrobat, Chrome, rsvg) will scale the hairline unevenly. As such, best practice is to reset any anisotropic scaling before calling cairo_stroke(). See https://cairographics.org/cookbook/ellipses/ for an example.

Parameters

cr

a cairo_t

 

set_hairline

whether or not to set hairline mode

 

Since: 1.18


cairo_get_hairline ()

cairo_bool_t
cairo_get_hairline (cairo_t *cr);

Returns whether or not hairline mode is set, as set by cairo_set_hairline().

Parameters

cr

a cairo context

 

Returns

whether hairline mode is set.

Since: 1.18

Types and Values

cairo_t

typedef struct _cairo cairo_t;

A cairo_t contains the current state of the rendering device, including coordinates of yet to be drawn shapes.

Cairo contexts, as cairo_t objects are named, are central to cairo and all drawing with cairo is always done to a cairo_t object.

Memory management of cairo_t is done with cairo_reference() and cairo_destroy().

Since: 1.0


enum cairo_antialias_t

Specifies the type of antialiasing to do when rendering text or shapes.

As it is not necessarily clear from the above what advantages a particular antialias method provides, since 1.12, there is also a set of hints: CAIRO_ANTIALIAS_FAST : Allow the backend to degrade raster quality for speed CAIRO_ANTIALIAS_GOOD : A balance between speed and quality CAIRO_ANTIALIAS_BEST : A high-fidelity, but potentially slow, raster mode

These make no guarantee on how the backend will perform its rasterisation (if it even rasterises!), nor that they have any differing effect other than to enable some form of antialiasing. In the case of glyph rendering, CAIRO_ANTIALIAS_FAST and CAIRO_ANTIALIAS_GOOD will be mapped to CAIRO_ANTIALIAS_GRAY , with CAIRO_ANTALIAS_BEST being equivalent to CAIRO_ANTIALIAS_SUBPIXEL .

The interpretation of CAIRO_ANTIALIAS_DEFAULT is left entirely up to the backend, typically this will be similar to CAIRO_ANTIALIAS_GOOD .

Members

CAIRO_ANTIALIAS_DEFAULT

Use the default antialiasing for the subsystem and target device, since 1.0

 

CAIRO_ANTIALIAS_NONE

Use a bilevel alpha mask, since 1.0

 

CAIRO_ANTIALIAS_GRAY

Perform single-color antialiasing (using shades of gray for black text on a white background, for example), since 1.0

 

CAIRO_ANTIALIAS_SUBPIXEL

Perform antialiasing by taking advantage of the order of subpixel elements on devices such as LCD panels, since 1.0

 

CAIRO_ANTIALIAS_FAST

Hint that the backend should perform some antialiasing but prefer speed over quality, since 1.12

 

CAIRO_ANTIALIAS_GOOD

The backend should balance quality against performance, since 1.12

 

CAIRO_ANTIALIAS_BEST

Hint that the backend should render at the highest quality, sacrificing speed if necessary, since 1.12

 

Since: 1.0


enum cairo_fill_rule_t

cairo_fill_rule_t is used to select how paths are filled. For both fill rules, whether or not a point is included in the fill is determined by taking a ray from that point to infinity and looking at intersections with the path. The ray can be in any direction, as long as it doesn't pass through the end point of a segment or have a tricky intersection such as intersecting tangent to the path. (Note that filling is not actually implemented in this way. This is just a description of the rule that is applied.)

The default fill rule is CAIRO_FILL_RULE_WINDING.

New entries may be added in future versions.

Members

CAIRO_FILL_RULE_WINDING

If the path crosses the ray from left-to-right, counts +1. If the path crosses the ray from right to left, counts -1. (Left and right are determined from the perspective of looking along the ray from the starting point.) If the total count is non-zero, the point will be filled. (Since 1.0)

 

CAIRO_FILL_RULE_EVEN_ODD

Counts the total number of intersections, without regard to the orientation of the contour. If the total number of intersections is odd, the point will be filled. (Since 1.0)

 

Since: 1.0


enum cairo_line_cap_t

Specifies how to render the endpoints of the path when stroking.

The default line cap style is CAIRO_LINE_CAP_BUTT.

Members

CAIRO_LINE_CAP_BUTT

start(stop) the line exactly at the start(end) point (Since 1.0)

 

CAIRO_LINE_CAP_ROUND

use a round ending, the center of the circle is the end point (Since 1.0)

 

CAIRO_LINE_CAP_SQUARE

use squared ending, the center of the square is the end point (Since 1.0)

 

Since: 1.0


enum cairo_line_join_t

Specifies how to render the junction of two lines when stroking.

The default line join style is CAIRO_LINE_JOIN_MITER.

Members

CAIRO_LINE_JOIN_MITER

use a sharp (angled) corner, see cairo_set_miter_limit() (Since 1.0)

 

CAIRO_LINE_JOIN_ROUND

use a rounded join, the center of the circle is the joint point (Since 1.0)

 

CAIRO_LINE_JOIN_BEVEL

use a cut-off join, the join is cut off at half the line width from the joint point (Since 1.0)

 

Since: 1.0


enum cairo_operator_t

cairo_operator_t is used to set the compositing operator for all cairo drawing operations.

The default operator is CAIRO_OPERATOR_OVER.

The operators marked as unbounded modify their destination even outside of the mask layer (that is, their effect is not bound by the mask layer). However, their effect can still be limited by way of clipping.

To keep things simple, the operator descriptions here document the behavior for when both source and destination are either fully transparent or fully opaque. The actual implementation works for translucent layers too. For a more detailed explanation of the effects of each operator, including the mathematical definitions, see

https://cairographics.org/operators/.

Members

CAIRO_OPERATOR_CLEAR

clear destination layer (bounded) (Since 1.0)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_SOURCE

replace destination layer (bounded) (Since 1.0)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_OVER

draw source layer on top of destination layer (bounded) (Since 1.0)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_IN

draw source where there was destination content (unbounded) (Since 1.0)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_OUT

draw source where there was no destination content (unbounded) (Since 1.0)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_ATOP

draw source on top of destination content and only there (Since 1.0)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_DEST

ignore the source (Since 1.0)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_DEST_OVER

draw destination on top of source (Since 1.0)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_DEST_IN

leave destination only where there was source content (unbounded) (Since 1.0)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_DEST_OUT

leave destination only where there was no source content (Since 1.0)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_DEST_ATOP

leave destination on top of source content and only there (unbounded) (Since 1.0)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_XOR

source and destination are shown where there is only one of them (Since 1.0)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_ADD

source and destination layers are accumulated (Since 1.0)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_SATURATE

like over, but assuming source and dest are disjoint geometries (Since 1.0)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_MULTIPLY

source and destination layers are multiplied. This causes the result to be at least as dark as the darker inputs. (Since 1.10)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_SCREEN

source and destination are complemented and multiplied. This causes the result to be at least as light as the lighter inputs. (Since 1.10)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_OVERLAY

multiplies or screens, depending on the lightness of the destination color. (Since 1.10)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_DARKEN

replaces the destination with the source if it is darker, otherwise keeps the source. (Since 1.10)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_LIGHTEN

replaces the destination with the source if it is lighter, otherwise keeps the source. (Since 1.10)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_COLOR_DODGE

brightens the destination color to reflect the source color. (Since 1.10)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_COLOR_BURN

darkens the destination color to reflect the source color. (Since 1.10)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_HARD_LIGHT

Multiplies or screens, dependent on source color. (Since 1.10)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_SOFT_LIGHT

Darkens or lightens, dependent on source color. (Since 1.10)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_DIFFERENCE

Takes the difference of the source and destination color. (Since 1.10)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_EXCLUSION

Produces an effect similar to difference, but with lower contrast. (Since 1.10)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_HSL_HUE

Creates a color with the hue of the source and the saturation and luminosity of the target. (Since 1.10)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_HSL_SATURATION

Creates a color with the saturation of the source and the hue and luminosity of the target. Painting with this mode onto a gray area produces no change. (Since 1.10)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_HSL_COLOR

Creates a color with the hue and saturation of the source and the luminosity of the target. This preserves the gray levels of the target and is useful for coloring monochrome images or tinting color images. (Since 1.10)

 

CAIRO_OPERATOR_HSL_LUMINOSITY

Creates a color with the luminosity of the source and the hue and saturation of the target. This produces an inverse effect to CAIRO_OPERATOR_HSL_COLOR . (Since 1.10)

 

Since: 1.0


cairo_rectangle_t

typedef struct {
    double x, y, width, height;
} cairo_rectangle_t;

A data structure for holding a rectangle.

Members

double x;

X coordinate of the left side of the rectangle

 

double y;

Y coordinate of the top side of the rectangle

 

double width;

width of the rectangle

 

double height;

height of the rectangle

 

Since: 1.4


cairo_rectangle_list_t

typedef struct {
    cairo_status_t     status;
    cairo_rectangle_t *rectangles;
    int                num_rectangles;
} cairo_rectangle_list_t;

A data structure for holding a dynamically allocated array of rectangles.

Members

cairo_status_t status;

Error status of the rectangle list

 

cairo_rectangle_t *rectangles;

Array containing the rectangles

 

int num_rectangles;

Number of rectangles in this list

 

Since: 1.4

See Also

cairo_surface_t