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Trail: 2D Graphics
Lesson: Advanced Topics in Java2D
Advanced Topics in Java2D
Transforming Shapes, Text, and Images
Clipping the Drawing Region
Compositing Graphics
Controlling Rendering Quality
Constructing Complex Shapes from Geometry Primitives
Supporting User Interaction
Home Page > 2D Graphics > Advanced Topics in Java2D
Transforming Shapes, Text, and Images

> You can modify the transform attribute in the `Graphics2D` context to move, rotate, scale, and shear graphics primitives when they are rendered. The transform attribute is defined by an instance of the `AffineTransform` class. An affine transform is a transformation such as translate, rotate, scale, or shear in which parallel lines remain parallel even after being transformed.

> The `Graphics2D` class provides several methods for changing the transform attribute. You can construct a new `AffineTransform` and change the `Graphics2D` transform attribute by calling `transform`.

> `AffineTransform` defines the following factory methods to make it easier to construct new transforms:

> - `getRotateInstance`
> - `getScaleInstance`
> - `getShearInstance`
> - `getTranslateInstance`

> Alternatively you can use one of the `Graphics2D` transformation methods to modify the current transform. When you call one of these convenience methods, the resulting transform is concatenated with the current transform and is applied during rendering:

> - `rotate`--to specify an angle of rotation in radians
> - `scale`--to specify a scaling factor in the x and y directions
> - `shear`--to specify a shearing factor in the x and y directions
> - `translate`--to specify a translation offset in the x and y directions

> You can also construct an `AffineTransform` object directly and concatenate it with the current transform by calling the `transform` method.

> The `drawImage` method is also overloaded to allow you to specify an `AffineTransform` that is applied to the image as it is rendered. Specifying a transform when you call `drawImage` does not affect the `Graphics2D` transform attribute.

### Example: Transform

> The following program is the same as `StrokeandFill`, but also allows the user to choose a transformation to apply to the selected object when it is rendered.

> > Note: If you don't see the applet running above, you need to install release 6 of the JDK.

> > `Transform.java` contains the complete code for this applet.

> > When a transform is chosen from the Transform menu, the transform is concatenated onto the `AffineTransform` `at`:

> > >     public void setTrans(int transIndex) {
> > >         // Sets the AffineTransform.
> > >         switch ( transIndex ) {
> > >         case 0 : at.setToIdentity();
> > >                  at.translate(w/2, h/2); break;
> > >         case 1 : at.rotate(Math.toRadians(45)); break;
> > >         case 2 : at.scale(0.5, 0.5); break;
> > >         case 3 : at.shear(0.5, 0.0); break;
> > >         }
> > >     }

> > Before displaying the shape corresponding to the menu choices, the application first retrieves the current transform from the `Graphics2D` object:

> > >     AffineTransform saveXform = g2.getTransform();

> > This transform will be restored to the `Graphics2D` after rendering.

> > After retrieving the current transform, another `AffineTransform`, `toCenterAt`, is created that causes shapes to be rendered in the center of the panel. The `at` `AffineTransform` is concatenated onto `toCenterAt`:

> > >     AffineTransform toCenterAt = new AffineTransform();
> > >     toCenterAt.concatenate(at);
> > >     toCenterAt.translate(-(r.width/2), -(r.height/2));

> > The `toCenterAt` transform is concatenated onto the `Graphics2D` transform with the `transform` method:

> > >     g2.transform(toCenterAt);

> > After rendering is completed, the original transform is restored using the `setTransform` method:

> > >     g2.setTransform(saveXform);

> > > Note: Never use the `setTransform` method to concatenate a coordinate transform onto an existing transform. The `setTransform` method overwrites the `Graphics2D` object's current transform, which might be needed for other reasons, such as positioning Swing and lightweight components in a window. Use these steps to perform transformations:
> > > 1. Use the `getTransform` method to get the current transform.
> > > 2. Use `transform`, `translate`, `scale`, `shear`, or `rotate` to concatenate a transform.
> > > 3. Perform the rendering.
> > > 4. Restore the original transform using the `setTransform` method.

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