Canvas (lv_canvas)

Overview

A Canvas inherits from Image and extends it, enabling the user to draw anything. Rectangles, text, images, lines, arcs, etc. can be drawn here using LVGL's extensive drawing engine.

Parts and Styles

  • LV_PART_MAIN Uses the typical rectangle and image style properties.

Usage

Buffer

The Canvas needs a buffer in which to store the drawn image. To assign a buffer to a Canvas, use lv_canvas_set_buffer(canvas, buffer, width, height, LV_COLOR_FORMAT_...). Where buffer is a static buffer (not just a local variable) to hold the image of the Canvas. For example for a 100x50 ARGB8888 buffer: static uint8_t buffer[100 * 50 * 4].

Or you can use static uint8_t buffer[LV_CANVAS_BUF_SIZE(width, height, bits_per_pixel, stride_in_bytes)].

Canvas supports all the color formats like LV_COLOR_FORMAT_ARGB8888 or LV_COLOR_FORMAT_I2. See the full list in the Color formats section.

Indexed colors

For indexed color formats (LV_COLOR_FORMAT_I1/2/4/8), the palette needs to be populated for all palette indices that will be used using lv_canvas_set_palette(canvas, index, color). For example, the following sets pixels with index==3 to red.

lv_canvas_set_palette(canvas, 3, lv_color_hex(0xff0000))

Drawing

To set an individual pixel's color on the Canvas, use lv_canvas_set_px(canvas, x, y, color, opa). With indexed color formats (LV_COLOR_FORMAT_I1/2/4/8) pass the color index as the color argument.

lv_canvas_fill_bg(canvas, lv_color_hex(0x00ff00), LV_OPA_50) fills the whole Canvas to blue with 50% opacity. Note that if the current color format doesn't support colors (e.g. LV_COLOR_FORMAT_A8) the color will be ignored. Similarly, if opacity is not supported (e.g. LV_COLOR_FORMAT_RGB565), it will be ignored.

An array of pixels can be copied to the Canvas with lv_canvas_copy_buf(canvas, buffer_to_copy, x, y, width, height). The color format of the buffer and Canvas need to match.

To draw something to the Canvas use LVGL's draw functions directly. See the examples for more details.

The draw functions can draw to any color format to which LVGL can render. Typically this means LV_COLOR_FORMAT_RGB565, LV_COLOR_FORMAT_RGB888, LV_COLOR_FORMAT_XRGB888, and LV_COLOR_FORMAT_ARGB8888.

Events

No special events are sent by Canvas Widgets.

Further Reading

Learn more about Base-Widget Events emitted by all Widgets.

Learn more about Events.

Keys

No Keys are processed by Canvas Widgets.

Further Reading

Learn more about Keys.

Example

Drawing on the Canvas and rotate

#include "../../lv_examples.h"
#if LV_USE_CANVAS && LV_BUILD_EXAMPLES

#define CANVAS_WIDTH  200
#define CANVAS_HEIGHT  150

void lv_example_canvas_1(void)
{
    lv_draw_rect_dsc_t rect_dsc;
    lv_draw_rect_dsc_init(&rect_dsc);
    rect_dsc.radius = 10;
    rect_dsc.bg_opa = LV_OPA_COVER;
    rect_dsc.bg_grad.dir = LV_GRAD_DIR_VER;
    rect_dsc.bg_grad.stops[0].color = lv_palette_main(LV_PALETTE_RED);
    rect_dsc.bg_grad.stops[0].opa = LV_OPA_100;
    rect_dsc.bg_grad.stops[1].color = lv_palette_main(LV_PALETTE_BLUE);
    rect_dsc.bg_grad.stops[1].opa = LV_OPA_50;
    rect_dsc.border_width = 2;
    rect_dsc.border_opa = LV_OPA_90;
    rect_dsc.border_color = lv_color_white();
    rect_dsc.shadow_width = 5;
    rect_dsc.shadow_offset_x = 5;
    rect_dsc.shadow_offset_y = 5;

    lv_draw_label_dsc_t label_dsc;
    lv_draw_label_dsc_init(&label_dsc);
    label_dsc.color = lv_palette_main(LV_PALETTE_ORANGE);
    label_dsc.text = "Some text on text canvas";
    /*Create a buffer for the canvas*/
    LV_DRAW_BUF_DEFINE_STATIC(draw_buf_16bpp, CANVAS_WIDTH, CANVAS_HEIGHT, LV_COLOR_FORMAT_RGB565);
    LV_DRAW_BUF_INIT_STATIC(draw_buf_16bpp);

    lv_obj_t * canvas = lv_canvas_create(lv_screen_active());
    lv_canvas_set_draw_buf(canvas, &draw_buf_16bpp);
    lv_obj_center(canvas);
    lv_canvas_fill_bg(canvas, lv_palette_lighten(LV_PALETTE_GREY, 3), LV_OPA_COVER);

    lv_layer_t layer;
    lv_canvas_init_layer(canvas, &layer);

    lv_area_t coords_rect = {30, 20, 100, 70};
    lv_draw_rect(&layer, &rect_dsc, &coords_rect);

    lv_area_t coords_text = {40, 80, 100, 120};
    lv_draw_label(&layer, &label_dsc, &coords_text);

    lv_canvas_finish_layer(canvas, &layer);

    /*Test the rotation. It requires another buffer where the original image is stored.
     *So use previous canvas as image and rotate it to the new canvas*/
    LV_DRAW_BUF_DEFINE_STATIC(draw_buf_32bpp, CANVAS_WIDTH, CANVAS_HEIGHT, LV_COLOR_FORMAT_ARGB8888);
    LV_DRAW_BUF_INIT_STATIC(draw_buf_32bpp);

    /*Create a canvas and initialize its palette*/
    canvas = lv_canvas_create(lv_screen_active());
    lv_canvas_set_draw_buf(canvas, &draw_buf_32bpp);
    lv_canvas_fill_bg(canvas, lv_color_hex3(0xccc), LV_OPA_COVER);
    lv_obj_center(canvas);

    lv_canvas_fill_bg(canvas, lv_palette_lighten(LV_PALETTE_GREY, 1), LV_OPA_COVER);

    lv_canvas_init_layer(canvas, &layer);
    lv_image_dsc_t img;
    lv_draw_buf_to_image(&draw_buf_16bpp, &img);
    lv_draw_image_dsc_t img_dsc;
    lv_draw_image_dsc_init(&img_dsc);
    img_dsc.rotation = 120;
    img_dsc.src = &img;
    img_dsc.pivot.x = CANVAS_WIDTH / 2;
    img_dsc.pivot.y = CANVAS_HEIGHT / 2;

    lv_area_t coords_img = {0, 0, CANVAS_WIDTH - 1, CANVAS_HEIGHT - 1};
    lv_draw_image(&layer, &img_dsc, &coords_img);

    lv_canvas_finish_layer(canvas, &layer);
}

#endif

Transparent Canvas with chroma keying

#include "../../lv_examples.h"
#if LV_USE_CANVAS && LV_BUILD_EXAMPLES

#define CANVAS_WIDTH  80
#define CANVAS_HEIGHT  40

/**
 * Create a transparent canvas with transparency
 */
void lv_example_canvas_2(void)
{
    lv_obj_set_style_bg_color(lv_screen_active(), lv_palette_lighten(LV_PALETTE_RED, 5), 0);

    /*Create a buffer for the canvas*/
    LV_DRAW_BUF_DEFINE_STATIC(draw_buf, CANVAS_WIDTH, CANVAS_HEIGHT, LV_COLOR_FORMAT_ARGB8888);
    LV_DRAW_BUF_INIT_STATIC(draw_buf);

    /*Create a canvas and initialize its palette*/
    lv_obj_t * canvas = lv_canvas_create(lv_screen_active());
    lv_canvas_set_draw_buf(canvas, &draw_buf);
    lv_obj_center(canvas);

    /*Red background (There is no dedicated alpha channel in indexed images so LV_OPA_COVER is ignored)*/
    lv_canvas_fill_bg(canvas, lv_palette_main(LV_PALETTE_BLUE), LV_OPA_COVER);

    /*Create hole on the canvas*/
    uint32_t x;
    uint32_t y;
    for(y = 10; y < 20; y++) {
        for(x = 5; x < 75; x++) {
            lv_canvas_set_px(canvas, x, y, lv_palette_main(LV_PALETTE_BLUE), LV_OPA_50);
        }
    }

    for(y = 20; y < 30; y++) {
        for(x = 5; x < 75; x++) {
            lv_canvas_set_px(canvas, x, y, lv_palette_main(LV_PALETTE_BLUE), LV_OPA_20);
        }
    }

    for(y = 30; y < 40; y++) {
        for(x = 5; x < 75; x++) {
            lv_canvas_set_px(canvas, x, y, lv_palette_main(LV_PALETTE_BLUE), LV_OPA_0);
        }
    }
}
#endif

Draw a rectangle to the canvas

#include "../../lv_examples.h"
#if LV_USE_CANVAS && LV_BUILD_EXAMPLES

#define CANVAS_WIDTH  50
#define CANVAS_HEIGHT  50

/**
 * Draw a rectangle to the canvas
 */
void lv_example_canvas_3(void)
{
    /*Create a buffer for the canvas*/
    LV_DRAW_BUF_DEFINE_STATIC(draw_buf, CANVAS_WIDTH, CANVAS_HEIGHT, LV_COLOR_FORMAT_ARGB8888);
    LV_DRAW_BUF_INIT_STATIC(draw_buf);

    /*Create a canvas and initialize its palette*/
    lv_obj_t * canvas = lv_canvas_create(lv_screen_active());
    lv_canvas_set_draw_buf(canvas, &draw_buf);

    lv_canvas_fill_bg(canvas, lv_color_hex3(0xccc), LV_OPA_COVER);
    lv_obj_center(canvas);

    lv_layer_t layer;
    lv_canvas_init_layer(canvas, &layer);

    lv_draw_rect_dsc_t dsc;
    lv_draw_rect_dsc_init(&dsc);
    dsc.bg_color = lv_palette_main(LV_PALETTE_RED);
    dsc.border_color = lv_palette_main(LV_PALETTE_BLUE);
    dsc.border_width = 3;
    dsc.outline_color = lv_palette_main(LV_PALETTE_GREEN);
    dsc.outline_width = 2;
    dsc.outline_pad = 2;
    dsc.outline_opa = LV_OPA_50;
    dsc.radius = 5;
    dsc.border_width = 3;

    lv_area_t coords = {10, 10, 40, 30};

    lv_draw_rect(&layer, &dsc, &coords);

    lv_canvas_finish_layer(canvas, &layer);
}
#endif

Draw a label to the canvas

#include "../../lv_examples.h"
#if LV_USE_CANVAS && LV_FONT_MONTSERRAT_18 && LV_BUILD_EXAMPLES

#define CANVAS_WIDTH  50
#define CANVAS_HEIGHT  50

/**
 * Draw a text to the canvas
 */
void lv_example_canvas_4(void)
{
    /*Create a buffer for the canvas*/
    LV_DRAW_BUF_DEFINE_STATIC(draw_buf, CANVAS_WIDTH, CANVAS_HEIGHT, LV_COLOR_FORMAT_ARGB8888);
    LV_DRAW_BUF_INIT_STATIC(draw_buf);

    /*Create a canvas and initialize its palette*/
    lv_obj_t * canvas = lv_canvas_create(lv_screen_active());
    lv_canvas_set_draw_buf(canvas, &draw_buf);
    lv_canvas_fill_bg(canvas, lv_color_hex3(0xccc), LV_OPA_COVER);
    lv_obj_center(canvas);

    lv_layer_t layer;
    lv_canvas_init_layer(canvas, &layer);

    lv_draw_label_dsc_t dsc;
    lv_draw_label_dsc_init(&dsc);
    dsc.color = lv_palette_main(LV_PALETTE_RED);
    dsc.font = &lv_font_montserrat_18;
    dsc.decor = LV_TEXT_DECOR_UNDERLINE;
    dsc.text = "Hello";

    lv_area_t coords = {10, 10, 30, 60};

    lv_draw_label(&layer, &dsc, &coords);

    lv_canvas_finish_layer(canvas, &layer);

}
#endif

Draw an arc to the canvas

#include "../../lv_examples.h"
#if LV_USE_CANVAS && LV_BUILD_EXAMPLES

#define CANVAS_WIDTH  50
#define CANVAS_HEIGHT  50

/**
 * Draw an arc to the canvas
 */
void lv_example_canvas_5(void)
{
    /*Create a buffer for the canvas*/
    LV_DRAW_BUF_DEFINE_STATIC(draw_buf, CANVAS_WIDTH, CANVAS_HEIGHT, LV_COLOR_FORMAT_ARGB8888);
    LV_DRAW_BUF_INIT_STATIC(draw_buf);

    /*Create a canvas and initialize its palette*/
    lv_obj_t * canvas = lv_canvas_create(lv_screen_active());
    lv_canvas_set_draw_buf(canvas, &draw_buf);
    lv_canvas_fill_bg(canvas, lv_color_hex3(0xccc), LV_OPA_COVER);
    lv_obj_center(canvas);

    lv_layer_t layer;
    lv_canvas_init_layer(canvas, &layer);

    lv_draw_arc_dsc_t dsc;
    lv_draw_arc_dsc_init(&dsc);
    dsc.color = lv_palette_main(LV_PALETTE_RED);
    dsc.width = 5;
    dsc.center.x = 25;
    dsc.center.y = 25;
    dsc.width = 10;
    dsc.radius = 15;
    dsc.start_angle = 0;
    dsc.end_angle = 220;

    lv_draw_arc(&layer, &dsc);

    lv_canvas_finish_layer(canvas, &layer);

}
#endif

Draw an image to the canvas

#include "../../lv_examples.h"
#if LV_USE_CANVAS && LV_BUILD_EXAMPLES

#define CANVAS_WIDTH  50
#define CANVAS_HEIGHT  50

/**
 * Draw an image to the canvas
 */
void lv_example_canvas_6(void)
{
    /*Create a buffer for the canvas*/
    static uint8_t cbuf[LV_CANVAS_BUF_SIZE(CANVAS_WIDTH, CANVAS_HEIGHT, 32, LV_DRAW_BUF_STRIDE_ALIGN)];

    /*Create a canvas and initialize its palette*/
    lv_obj_t * canvas = lv_canvas_create(lv_screen_active());
    lv_canvas_set_buffer(canvas, cbuf, CANVAS_WIDTH, CANVAS_HEIGHT, LV_COLOR_FORMAT_ARGB8888);
    lv_canvas_fill_bg(canvas, lv_color_hex3(0xccc), LV_OPA_COVER);
    lv_obj_center(canvas);

    lv_layer_t layer;
    lv_canvas_init_layer(canvas, &layer);

    LV_IMAGE_DECLARE(img_star);
    lv_draw_image_dsc_t dsc;
    lv_draw_image_dsc_init(&dsc);
    dsc.src = &img_star;

    lv_area_t coords = {10, 10, 10 + img_star.header.w - 1, 10 + img_star.header.h - 1};

    lv_draw_image(&layer, &dsc, &coords);

    lv_canvas_finish_layer(canvas, &layer);
}
#endif

Draw a line to the canvas

#include "../../lv_examples.h"
#if LV_USE_CANVAS&& LV_BUILD_EXAMPLES

#define CANVAS_WIDTH  50
#define CANVAS_HEIGHT  50

/**
 * Draw a line to the canvas
 */
void lv_example_canvas_7(void)
{
    /*Create a buffer for the canvas*/
    LV_DRAW_BUF_DEFINE_STATIC(draw_buf, CANVAS_WIDTH, CANVAS_HEIGHT, LV_COLOR_FORMAT_ARGB8888);
    LV_DRAW_BUF_INIT_STATIC(draw_buf);

    /*Create a canvas and initialize its palette*/
    lv_obj_t * canvas = lv_canvas_create(lv_screen_active());
    lv_canvas_set_draw_buf(canvas, &draw_buf);
    lv_canvas_fill_bg(canvas, lv_color_hex3(0xccc), LV_OPA_COVER);
    lv_obj_center(canvas);

    lv_layer_t layer;
    lv_canvas_init_layer(canvas, &layer);

    lv_draw_line_dsc_t dsc;
    lv_draw_line_dsc_init(&dsc);
    dsc.color = lv_palette_main(LV_PALETTE_RED);
    dsc.width = 4;
    dsc.round_end = 1;
    dsc.round_start = 1;
    dsc.p1.x = 15;
    dsc.p1.y = 15;
    dsc.p2.x = 35;
    dsc.p2.y = 10;
    lv_draw_line(&layer, &dsc);

    lv_canvas_finish_layer(canvas, &layer);

}
#endif

Draw a vector graphic to the canvas

#include "../../lv_examples.h"
#if LV_USE_CANVAS && LV_BUILD_EXAMPLES

#if LV_USE_VECTOR_GRAPHIC

#define CANVAS_WIDTH  150
#define CANVAS_HEIGHT 150

/**
 * Draw a path to the canvas
 */
void lv_example_canvas_8(void)
{
    /*Create a buffer for the canvas*/
    LV_DRAW_BUF_DEFINE_STATIC(draw_buf, CANVAS_WIDTH, CANVAS_HEIGHT, LV_COLOR_FORMAT_ARGB8888);
    LV_DRAW_BUF_INIT_STATIC(draw_buf);

    /*Create a canvas and initialize its palette*/
    lv_obj_t * canvas = lv_canvas_create(lv_screen_active());
    lv_canvas_set_draw_buf(canvas, &draw_buf);
    lv_canvas_fill_bg(canvas, lv_color_hex3(0xccc), LV_OPA_COVER);
    lv_obj_center(canvas);

    lv_layer_t layer;
    lv_canvas_init_layer(canvas, &layer);

    lv_vector_dsc_t * dsc = lv_vector_dsc_create(&layer);
    lv_vector_path_t * path = lv_vector_path_create(LV_VECTOR_PATH_QUALITY_MEDIUM);

    lv_fpoint_t pts[] = {{10, 10}, {130, 130}, {10, 130}};
    lv_vector_path_move_to(path, &pts[0]);
    lv_vector_path_line_to(path, &pts[1]);
    lv_vector_path_line_to(path, &pts[2]);
    lv_vector_path_close(path);

    lv_vector_dsc_set_fill_color(dsc, lv_color_make(0x00, 0x80, 0xff));
    lv_vector_dsc_add_path(dsc, path);

    lv_draw_vector(dsc);
    lv_vector_path_delete(path);
    lv_vector_dsc_delete(dsc);

    lv_canvas_finish_layer(canvas, &layer);
}
#else

void lv_example_canvas_8(void)
{
    /*fallback for online examples*/
    lv_obj_t * label = lv_label_create(lv_screen_active());
    lv_label_set_text(label, "Vector graphics is not enabled");
    lv_obj_center(label);
}

#endif /*LV_USE_VECTOR_GRAPHIC*/

#endif

API

lv_canvas.h

lv_types.h