Example code is available for importing into android studio. An example use of a ninepatch is the backgrounds used by standard android buttons. The patched image is created using the tool draw9patch which is shipped with android sdk and is available in its tools directory. Using this image, we can reduce the asset size but still get good quality of buttons. Nine patch 9 patch images are normal images with an additional 1 pixel border. A tutorial for 9 patch image files in android with example source code. A simple guide to 9patch for android ui radley marx. Autostretch trim edge transparency trim stretch region. The official documentation linked to in the other answers is ok i suppose, but it really lacks in examples. Better 9 patch tool is a software that is used to create nine patch images, and it can be used instead the draw9patch which is included in android developer tools adt.
An xml file in the values directory does not define a single resource, but instead can define multiple resources. Create resizable 9 patch images android studio tutorial youtube. For further information about creating a 9patch image, see android draw 9patch documentation. The following video demonstrate the creation of a simple android 9 patch image to use with your android projects. I also have an android viewer to browse and test the 9patch. This article will show you how to use the android studio nine patch tool to create and use the nine patch image. The draw 9patch tool is a wysiwyg editor included in android studio that allows you to create bitmap images that automatically resize to accommodate the contents of the view and the size of the screen. But i couldnt find an easy solution that outlines the steps for creating shadows around views in android. You can imagine a scenario where a bitmap is used as a background for a textview. In this video we will learn, how to create resizable 9patch png images in android studio, which dont look stretched or distorted when changing their size. What you need to know to use 9 patch splash screens. Most of the examples talk about creating a 9 patch image, but implementation details are usually left at a high level. Png by xenio2000 xda developers was founded by developers, for developers. Nine patch image is an android special image format which can make the background image scaled correctly.
Locate the sdk folder and you can find the application in toolsdraw9patch. Youll need the png image with which youd like to create a ninepatch. Some times you may encounter below exception when build android project after create 9 patch image. A 9patch image can be created in android studios 9patch tool but considering we are all xamarin developers, there is a free utility, simple ninepatch generator, that can. Inside this folder will be the draw 9 patch program. A ninepatch drawable graphic is a stretchable bitmap image, which android will automatically resize to accommodate the contents of the view in which you have placed it as the background. Heres a quick guide to creating a ninepatch graphic using the draw 9patch tool in android studio. To create a 9patch image, you can use the draw9patch tool available in c. Create resizable bitmaps 9patch files android developers. Nicks post above with the good 9 patch tutorial that provides a working project download file, saved the day. Android interview questions and answers discussion in general, a ninepatch image allows resizing that can be used as background or other image size requirements for the target device. In this post, i will outline the process right from the beginning. You need to run the draw9patch command from your sdk sdktools directory to launch the draw 9 patch tool. Adding shadows to views in android using 9patch image.
Working with 9patch nine patch images in android knowledge. This is a topic that has been discussed quite a lot in the past. So the image can be used in different size android devices such as mobile phone, android pad etc. How to use 9patch images for resizable backgrounds in android. It can be used to load image, show image and edit image. Edit stretch regions and layout margins load any image including existing. The simplest example would be if you were to take a rounded div and slice it up into 9 squares like you would a tictactoe board. And, because the scaled regions are marked within the image file, scaling can be customized to each file. Nine patch generator for android an online tool to. An example use of a nine patch image is the background.
Adding 9patch images to your android splash screen. Android 9 patch image files for buttons and borders tek eye. A 9patch is a special kind of png image, the android operating system reads the borders of these images to understand how to stretch the image itself and the content within the image such as text imagine setting a background image with text over top, this is a very common use. Xamarin android 9patch image splashscreen xamarin help. A ninepatchdrawable graphic is a stretchable bitmap image, which android will automatically resize to accommodate the contents of the view in which you have placed it as the background.
I would like to create ninepatch images for mobile and web. Included as part of the android sdk is a draw 9 patch utility. For example one xml file may hold a list of string values, while another xml file may hold a list of color values. Usually background images have a fixed height and width, but sometimes. You can use 9patch images in the splash screens of your android applications. Nine patch bitmaps are another, very useful way of customizing the appearance of android views. Android provides a tool to draw the nine patch bitmap.
As far as i know, this type of image can help the developers to reduce apk size from assets side. Selected parts of the image are scaled horizontally or vertically based on indicators drawn within the image. Png image which is needful for android app developers where they require to wrap any content within a background image without pixelating the background image. This article discusses the use of the 9 patch file in android and how to create them with the draw 9 patch tool provided by the android sdk. Creating a 9patch image background in android studio youtube. This app helps to manipulate graphical resources for android apps and themes. An example of a 9patch image is embedded below left is the 9patch graphic, right is an example of use in an app. A ninepatch is defined and saved in the drawable folder and setting the background works the same as with any image. Android on several occasions i had to create simple buttons that use different background color than the default gray.
How to get an android splash screen implemented using a 9. Heres a quick guide to create a ninepatch graphic using the draw 9patch tool. A ninepatch is like any png image but contains an extra 1pixelwide border. There are various tools to generate 9patch, one of which is provided in the sdk itself. Android interview questions and answers all india exams.
When you want to use an image as a view object background, for example, you need to use a bubble chat image as a chat app text message background, you. Here are the main implementation details that worked for me once you have a 9 patch image ready to go. Different between ninepatch image vs regular bitmap image in android. These files are compiled into an android application in a binary format. A 9 patch image file is a specially formatted file so that android knows which areasportions of the image can or cannot be scaled. Nine patch is a stretchable bitmap image, and which android automatically resizes to accommodate the contents of the view. Android determines if an image is scaled using nine patch scaling instead of uniform scaling via the file name, it must have. The ninepatch refers to the way you can resize the image. However, im having trouble getting this to work for android using a 9patch image, but it looks like the image is being scaled normally, not respecting the guides i have in the image. It is now a valuable resource for people who want to make the most of their mobile devices, from customizing the look and feel to adding new functionality.
Create resizable 9 patch images android studio tutorial. The below image illustrates an example of a 9patch image to be used as android splash screen. With this tool, you can create a nine patched image more easily and more efficiently than before. Start with a png image, put it in any drawable folder in your project. Getting started in android development part 10 nine. How to draw ninepatch images with photoshop android. The view is where you have placed the image as the background. In order to use 9 patch splash images within your app you need to change a few things, including where the files are located and you need to tweak a few settings. A nine patch is like any png image but contains an extra 1pixelwide border. Once i have started integrating ninepatch file format support into swing components i noticed that its really inconvenient to use. Below is basic guide map i got from a simple guide to 9patch for android ui. In this video we will learn, how to create resizable 9patch png images in android studio, which dont look stretched or distorted when. Here i am sharing my experience of working with drawable resources in android, through this article you will learn to use bitmap and ninepatch drawable resources which is the first two of ten resources available in android. Nine patch 9patch images are normal images with an additional 1 pixel border.
The corners remain unscaled, the sides are scaled in one direction and the center is scaled in both dimensions. This great example how to use ninepath and other design features in interfaces of android. Navigate to the folder where you installed the sdk. Android 9patch imageshow they work and how to create them. You need to delete the original png image after create the 9 patch png image to resolve this problem. Different between ninepatch image vs regular bitmap image. Today im going to discuss about 9 patch image and how to use 9 patch png in android apps. As you know there is a standard wysiwyg editor for ninepatch. One of androids most wellknown points to consider in application development is the requirement to support a variety of different screen sizes and orientations in an application. Forms app with a 9patch image so that the core of the image remains at its set size regardless of screen size, but with the edges being expanded to fill the screen or that is the hope. Android will not show these guide lines, which are used to determine how the image should be rendered. An example use of a ninepatch image is the background used by androids standard button widget, which must stretch to accommodate the text or image inside the button.