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# Class CL_Surface

Image class in ClanLib.
Contained in: global
Derived from: none
Derived by: none
Group: Display (Display 2D)

#include <ClanLib/display.h>

### public function member index:

### Static_init:

``static` `CL_Surface`*` | `load` | `(`const` `std::string`& `resource_id`, `CL_ResourceManager`* `manager`)`;
``static` `CL_Surface`*` | `create` | `(`CL_SurfaceProvider`* `provider`, `bool` `delete_provider`=false)`;
``static` `CL_Surface`*` | `create_dynamic` | `(`CL_SurfaceProvider`* `provider`, `bool` `delete_provider`=false)`;

### Construction:

`` | `CL_Surface` | `()`;
`` | `CL_Surface` | `(`CL_SurfaceProvider`* `provider`, `bool` `delete_provider` = false, `bool` `dynamic` = false)`;
`` | `CL_Surface` | `(`const` `std::string`& `resource_id`, `CL_ResourceManager`* `manager`)`;
`` | `CL_Surface` | `(`const` `std::string`& `filename`, `bool` `dynamic` = false)`;
`` | `CL_Surface` | `(`const` `CL_Surface`& `surface`)`;
``virtual`` | `~CL_Surface` | `()`;

### Operations:

``operator`` | `bool` | `() `const``;
``const` `CL_Surface`&` | `operator``=` | `(`const` `CL_Surface`& `surf`)`;
``void`` | `reload` | `()`;
``CL_SurfaceProvider`*` | `get_provider` | `() `const``;
``void`` | `put_screen` | `(`int` `x`, `int` `y`, `int` `spr_no`=0, `CL_DisplayCard`* `card`=NULL)`;
``void`` | `put_screen` | `(`int` `x`, `int` `y`, `float` `scale_x`, `float` `scale_y`, `int` `spr_no`=0, `CL_DisplayCard`* `card`=NULL)`;
``void`` | `put_screen` | `(`int` `x`, `int` `y`, `int` `size_x`, `int` `size_y`, `int` `spr_no`=0, `CL_DisplayCard`* `card`=NULL)`;
``void`` | `put_target` | `(`int` `x`, `int` `y`, `int` `spr_no`, `CL_Target`* `target`)`;
``unsigned` `int`` | `get_width` | `() `const``;
``unsigned` `int`` | `get_height` | `() `const``;
``unsigned` `int`` | `get_num_frames` | `() `const``;
``bool`` | `is_video` | `(`CL_DisplayCard`* `card` = NULL) `const``;
``bool`` | `is_loaded` | `(`CL_DisplayCard`* `card` = NULL) `const``;
``bool`` | `convert_video` | `(`CL_DisplayCard`* `card` = NULL)`;
``bool`` | `convert_system` | `(`CL_DisplayCard`* `card` = NULL)`;
``void`` | `flush` | `(`CL_DisplayCard`* `card` = NULL)`;
``int`` | `get_reference_count` | `()`;

### Implementation:

`` | `CL_Surface` | `(`class` `CL_Surface_Generic`* `impl`)`;

## Description:

This class is used to draw 2D images onto the backbuffer or to a CL_Target renderer target.
In ClanLib, a surface is understood to be an image represented in a form, where it is most suitable for as fast rendering as possible. Unlike many other libraries, it is not possible to get direct access to the surface data.
A surface uses a CL_SurfaceProvider surface provider to load its data. It is passed at creation time, and you can either roll your own provider, or use one already available in ClanLib.
It is also possible to create a surface from a resource source. This will allow you to load an image using a resource ID instead of directly specifying the image in your source code.
Dynamic surfaces
If you have an image which changes very frequently (eg. each frame), you want to use a dynamic surface instead. The difference is that the surface won't cache the image, and it won't convert it to another image format more suitable for the display target. Note that this is only faster if you change your image very frequently - otherwise a normal surface is the best solution.
When constructing your own images, you will most likely find the CL_Canvas canvas surface provider interesting. This class will make it easier to create a custom drawing area where you can draw your image.
All surfaceproviders is a CL_Target renderer target. However, most of the normal surface providers are "read only", meaning that their image data will only remain intact during a lock session. This is because the providers consume less memory when the image is only available, when someone needs it. Only the CL_Canvas canvas provider will not destroy the image.
A surface can blit (draw itself) itself to the backbuffer, or to a renderer target. This means that you can use the surface to draw one surface provider to another.

## Function Member Descriptions:

CL_Surface::CL_Surface - Empty constructor, you need to assign a surface to the
CL_Surface object first before it becomes useable
`` `CL_Surface` `()`;

CL_Surface::CL_Surface - This function creates a CL_Surface.
If dynamic is true, the surface will be a dynamic blitter. If false, it will be a caching blitter.
`` `CL_Surface` `(`CL_SurfaceProvider`* `provider`, `bool` `delete_provider` = false, `bool` `dynamic` = false)`;

> provider - Image source.
> delete_provider - If true, the surface will delete the provider when deleted itself.
> dynamic - If true, a dynamic blitter will be chosen. If false, a caching blitter will be used.
> Returns - The surface created.

CL_Surface::CL_Surface - Loads a surface from a resource file.
`` `CL_Surface` `(`const` `std::string`& `resource_id`, `CL_ResourceManager`* `manager`)`;

CL_Surface::CL_Surface - Loads a surface from an image file.
`` `CL_Surface` `(`const` `std::string`& `filename`, `bool` `dynamic` = false)`;

CL_Surface::CL_Surface - Make a copy of an other surface, but share the image data.
`` `CL_Surface` `(`const` `CL_Surface`& `surface`)`;

CL_Surface::CL_Surface - Surface Constructor
`` `CL_Surface` `(`class` `CL_Surface_Generic`* `impl`)`;

CL_Surface::bool - You can use this operator to check if the surface is
valid, to do that you write something like this: if (surf) {...}
``operator`` `bool` `() `const``;

CL_Surface::convert_system - convert surface to system memory - never fails! (or serious heap usage!)
``bool`` `convert_system` `(`CL_DisplayCard`* `card` = NULL)`;

CL_Surface::convert_video - returns true if successfully loaded into videomemory, or already there
``bool`` `convert_video` `(`CL_DisplayCard`* `card` = NULL)`;

CL_Surface::create - This function creates a CL_Surface instance being blitted by a caching blitter.
``static` `CL_Surface`*` `create` `(`CL_SurfaceProvider`* `provider`, `bool` `delete_provider`=false)`;

> provider - Image source.
> delete_provider - If true, the surface will delete the provider when deleted itself.
> Returns - The surface created.

CL_Surface::create_dynamic - This function creates a CL_Surface instance being blitted by the dynamic (non caching) blitter.
You don't need to call reload with dynamic surfaces as they do that by themselves.
``static` `CL_Surface`*` `create_dynamic` `(`CL_SurfaceProvider`* `provider`, `bool` `delete_provider`=false)`;

> provider - Image source.
> delete_provider - If true, the surface will delete the provider when deleted itself.
> Returns - The surface created.

CL_Surface::flush - completely flushes surface (removes from video/system-memory)
``void`` `flush` `(`CL_DisplayCard`* `card` = NULL)`;

CL_Surface::get_height - Returns the height of the surface
``unsigned` `int`` `get_height` `() `const``;

CL_Surface::get_num_frames - Returns the number of frames/subsprites in the surface
``unsigned` `int`` `get_num_frames` `() `const``;

CL_Surface::get_provider - Returns the surface provider used by this surface.
``CL_SurfaceProvider`*` `get_provider` `() `const``;

> Returns - Surface provider used by this surface.

CL_Surface::get_reference_count - Return the number of references to this surface
``int`` `get_reference_count` `()`;

CL_Surface::get_width - Returns the width of the surface
``unsigned` `int`` `get_width` `() `const``;

CL_Surface::is_loaded - returns true if loaded in either video- or system-memory
``bool`` `is_loaded` `(`CL_DisplayCard`* `card` = NULL) `const``;

CL_Surface::is_video - returns true if in videomemory
on the specified card (null = current dispcard).
``bool`` `is_video` `(`CL_DisplayCard`* `card` = NULL) `const``;

CL_Surface::load - This function loads a surface from a resource file (usually a datafile).
``static` `CL_Surface`*` `load` `(`const` `std::string`& `resource_id`, `CL_ResourceManager`* `manager`)`;

CL_Surface::operator = - Surface operator
``const` `CL_Surface`&` `operator``=` `(`const` `CL_Surface`& `surf`)`;

CL_Surface::put_screen - Draws the surface onto the backbuffer.
``void`` `put_screen` `(`int` `x`, `int` `y`, `int` `spr_no`=0, `CL_DisplayCard`* `card`=NULL)`;

> x - x coordinate to draw surface.
> y - y coordinate to draw surface.
> spr_no - subsprite number to use.
> card - Display card to be drawn onto. If NULL it will use the currently selected video card by CL_Display.

CL_Surface::put_screen - Draws the surface onto the backbuffer - scaling it to a specified size.
``void`` `put_screen` `(`int` `x`, `int` `y`, `float` `scale_x`, `float` `scale_y`, `int` `spr_no`=0, `CL_DisplayCard`* `card`=NULL)`;

> x - x coordinate to draw surface.
> y - y coordinate to draw surface.
> scale_x - scale x multiplyer.
> scale_y - scale y multiplyer.
> spr_no - subsprite number to use.
> card - Display card to be drawn onto. If NULL it will use the currently selected video card by CL_Display.

CL_Surface::put_screen - Draws the surface onto the backbuffer - scaling it to a specified size.
``void`` `put_screen` `(`int` `x`, `int` `y`, `int` `size_x`, `int` `size_y`, `int` `spr_no`=0, `CL_DisplayCard`* `card`=NULL)`;

> x - x coordinate to draw surface.
> y - y coordinate to draw surface.
> size_x - width of the image when scaled.
> size_y - height of the image when scaled.
> spr_no - subsprite number to use.
> card - Display card to be drawn onto. If NULL it will use the currently selected video card by CL_Display.

CL_Surface::put_target - Draws the surface to a target.
``void`` `put_target` `(`int` `x`, `int` `y`, `int` `spr_no`, `CL_Target`* `target`)`;

> x - x coordinate to draw surface.
> y - y coordinate to draw surface.
> spr_no - subsprite number to use.
> target - target.

CL_Surface::reload - Forces surface to reload surface data from provider.
``void`` `reload` `()`;

CL_Surface::~CL_Surface - Surface Destructor
``virtual`` `~CL_Surface` `()`;

## Variable Member Descriptions:

CL_Surface::impl - Surface Implementation
``CL_Surface_Generic` *` ``impl`;`

CL_Surface::resource - Surface resource, if any.
``CL_Resource`` ``resource`;`