Programming WPF, 2nd Edition

Chapter 13. Graphics

WPF makes it easy to build visually stunning applications. It offers a rich array of drawing capabilities, and it is built to exploit the full power of modern graphics cards. This enables designers to create intricate designs and use animation to bring the UI to life much more easily than before.

WPF's graphics architecture is not just for designers. The key aspect of the graphics system is its deep integration with the rest of the programming model. It is easy to add graphical elements to any part of your application without the disconcerting change in programming techniques required by many user interface technologies.

Because WPF is a presentation technology, graphics are an important and substantial part of the framework. It would be possible to fill a whole book on WPF's graphical capabilities alone, so we can only really scratch the surface here. In this chapter, we will look at the fundamental concepts behind using graphics in WPF applications. In later chapters we will look at animation, media, and 3D support.

Graphics Fundamentals

WPF makes it easy to use graphics in your application, and to exploit the power of your graphics hardware. Many aspects of the graphics architecture contribute to this goal. The most important of these is integration.

Integration

Graphical elements can be integrated into any part of your user interface. Many GUI technologies split graphics into a separate world. This requires a "gearshift" when moving from a world of buttons, text ...