HTML5 Canvas Tutorial: filling shapes, using alpha transparency and gradients - linear and radial

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HTML5 Canvas - drawing shapes and creating gradients

This HTML5 canvas tutorial explains the following:

Drawing shapes, changing the border and filling them.
Linear gradient.
Radial gradient.
Introducing alpha transparency.
Interactive programmes to practise both linear and radial gradients on site.

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Filling the Shapes

In order to fill the closed shapes,
context.fillStyle='colour' property and
context.fill() method can be used.

The 'colour' property can be Hexadecimal such as #FF0000 for red or rgb(255,0,0) or even plain English such as 'red', for the same

The Source Code for Filling:

<canvas id="Canvas_Three" width="400" height="300" style="border:5px solid red;"></canvas>
<script type="text/javascript">
var cv = document.getElementById('Canvas_Three');
var cnt = cv.getContext('2d');
//<-----------------Filling a rectangle in cyan----------------------------------->
cnt.beginPath();
cnt.rect(20, 40, 140, 60);
// filling colour
cnt.fillStyle = 'blue';
cnt.fill();
// border width
cnt.lineWidth = 5;
// border colour
cnt.strokeStyle = 'cyan';
cnt.stroke();
//<-----------------Filling a circle in blue--------------------------------------->
cnt.beginPath();
cnt.arc(200, 150, 50, 0, 2 * Math.PI, false);
// filling colour
cnt.fillStyle = 'green';
cnt.fill();
// border width
cnt.lineWidth = 3;
// border colour
cnt.strokeStyle = 'blue';
cnt.stroke();
//<----------------Filling a segment in red---------------------------------------->
cnt.beginPath();
cnt.arc(300, 220, 50, 0.5*Math.PI, 1.3* Math.PI, true);
// close the two ends of the arc for filling
cnt.closePath();
// border width
cnt.lineWidth = 5;
// fill colour
cnt.fillStyle = 'red';
cnt.fill();
// border colour
cnt.strokeStyle = '#550000';
cnt.stroke();
</script>

Gradients - linear and Radial

Linear Gradient

The getContext() object draws an 'invisible' line, defined by the two pairs of coordinates, on the canvas. Then, the spread of two selected colours are controlled along the line.

First, read the code; then, click the interactive button to see the effect on the canvas.

Gradient Line:

The Code for Linear Gradient

<canvas id="Canvas_Four" width="400" height="300" style="border:5px solid red;"></canvas>
<script type="text/javascript">
var canvas = document.getElementById('Canvas_Four');
var cnt = canvas.getContext('2d');
// Draw a rectangle
cnt.rect(0, 0, canvas.width, canvas.height);
// add linear gradient - defined by a pair of coordinates for a line
var grd = cnt.createLinearGradient(0, 0, 400, 300);
// white for first colour stop
grd.addColorStop(0, 'white');
// green for second colour stop
grd.addColorStop(1, 'green');
cnt.fillStyle = grd;
cnt.fill();
</script>

Radial Gradient

The radial gradient is determined by two co-centric circles - the inner circle and outer circle; they have their own colours which collectively create the gradient.

First, read the code; then, click the interactive button to see the effect on the canvas.

Radii of Inner Circle, Outer Circle and Main Circle

The Code for Radial Gradient:

<canvas id="Canvas_Five" width="400" height="300" style="border:5px solid red;"></canvas>
<script type="text/javascript">
var canvas = document.getElementById('Canvas_Five');
var cnt = canvas.getContext('2d');
cnt.arc(200, 150, 120, 0, 2 * Math.PI, false);
// create radial gradient - inner circle and outer circle with centre(200,150)
var grd = cnt.createRadialGradient(200, 150, 10, 200, 150, 100);
// light blue
grd.addColorStop(0, '#8ED6FF');
// dark blue
grd.addColorStop(1, '#0000FF');
cnt.fillStyle = grd;
cnt.fill();
</script>

Transparency

The transparency of an image drawn on canvas is controlled by context.fillStyle property. The colour is given as rgba where a represents alpha transparencty. Its value can be anything between 0 and 1.

Select the transparency of the larger circle

The Source Code for Alpha Transparency:

<canvas id="Canvas_Six" width="400" height="300" style="border:5px solid red;"></canvas>
<script type="text/javascript">
context_six.beginPath();
context_six.arc(200, 150, 50, 0, 2 * Math.PI, false);
context_six.closePath();
context_six.lineWidth = 5;
context_six.fillStyle = 'rgb(255,0,0)';
context_six.fill();
// begin larger green circle with alpha transparency
context_six.beginPath();
context_six.arc(200, 150, 100, 0, 2 * Math.PI, false);
context_six.closePath();
context_six.lineWidth = 5;
context_six.fillStyle = 'rgba(0,255,0,' + 0.5 + ')';
context_six.fill();
// slider calls the function
function alpha_tra() {
// value of the slider is stored in the variable a
var a = eval(document.getElementById('transp').value);
// begin smaller red circle
context_six.beginPath();
context_six.arc(200, 150, 50, 0, 2 * Math.PI, false);
context_six.closePath();
context_six.lineWidth = 5;
context_six.fillStyle = 'rgb(255,0,0)';
context_six.fill();
// begin larger green circle with alpha transparency
context_six.beginPath();
context_six.arc(200, 150, 100, 0, 2 * Math.PI, false);
context_six.closePath();
context_six.lineWidth = 5;
context_six.fillStyle = 'rgba(0,255,0,' + a + ')';
context_six.fill();
</script>
}

All Canvas Animations