How to draw a gradient-filled circle in NGraphics?

Use a RadialGradientBrush or LinearGradientBrush with the FillEllipse method. For example, create a brush with gradient stops and apply it to an ellipse, as shown in the Pens and Brushes section for similar effects.

NGraphics vs SkiaSharp: which is better for .NET graphics?

NGraphics offers a simpler, more unified API for cross-platform vector graphics with retained mode support, while SkiaSharp is more feature-rich and widely used but can be heavier. Choose NGraphics for lightweight, consistent APIs across .NET platforms, especially with Xamarin.

Can NGraphics handle SVG animation?

No, NGraphics focuses on static vector graphics rendering and SVG import/export. It does not support SVG animations; you would need to implement animation separately using its drawing API or combine it with other libraries.

How to export a drawing to PNG in NGraphics?

Create an IImageCanvas using Platforms.Current.CreateImageCanvas, draw your graphics, then call GetImage().SaveAsPng() with a file path. The Getting Started example demonstrates this with a simple house drawing.

Is NGraphics good for game development?

It's suitable for 2D vector-based UI elements or simple graphics in games, but not for high-performance 3D rendering or complex game engines. Use it for HUDs or menu graphics where cross-platform consistency is key.

How to use NGraphics with Xamarin.Forms?

Integrate by creating custom renderers or views that use NGraphics canvases for drawing. For example, override OnPaint in a custom control to render vector graphics, leveraging the platform-specific canvases like CGContextCanvas for iOS.

Open-Awesome

NGraphics

MITC#v0.5.0

A cross-platform .NET library for rendering vector graphics with a unified API for immediate and retained mode graphics.

GitHub

729 stars130 forks0 contributors

What is NGraphics?

NGraphics is a cross-platform library for rendering vector graphics on .NET. It provides a unified API for both immediate and retained mode graphics, allowing developers to draw shapes, paths, and images across multiple platforms using high-quality native renderers. It solves the problem of fragmented graphics APIs by offering a consistent interface for Android, iOS, Mac, Windows, and more.

Target Audience

.NET developers building cross-platform applications with custom UI widgets, interactive graphics, or SVG/PNG import/export functionality, particularly those using Xamarin or multi-platform .NET frameworks.

Value Proposition

Developers choose NGraphics for its unified API that abstracts platform-specific graphics details, enabling consistent vector graphics rendering across all supported .NET environments without sacrificing native performance or quality.

Overview

NGraphics is a cross platform library for rendering vector graphics on .NET. It provides a unified API for both immediate and retained mode graphics using high quality native renderers.

Use Cases

Best For

Building cross-platform UI widgets with custom vector graphics
Creating interactive views with retained mode graphics for performance
Importing and exporting SVG files in .NET applications
Generating PNG images from vector drawings programmatically
Developing graphics-rich applications on Xamarin for iOS and Android
Prototyping vector graphics with a live preview editor on OS X

Not Ideal For

Projects needing high-level, pre-styled UI components with minimal drawing code
Teams not using OS X for development, due to the OS X-only live preview editor
Applications requiring advanced 3D graphics or complex particle systems
Simple graphics tasks where direct platform-specific APIs are sufficient

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cross-Platform Consistency

Provides a unified API across Android, iOS, Mac, Windows, and more using native renderers like CoreGraphics and Direct2D, ensuring high performance without platform-specific code.

Dual Mode Graphics

Supports both immediate and retained mode graphics, allowing for flexible use cases from real-time UI rendering to cached drawings, as highlighted in the Retained Mode section.

SVG and PNG Handling

Easily imports and exports SVG and PNG files, enabling programmatic graphics manipulation and generation, demonstrated in examples like the icon and cat drawings.

Live Preview Editor

Includes an OS X editor with live preview to speed up drawing development, allowing quick iteration without full project compiles, as described in the Editor section.

Cons

No Built-in Layering

The README admits there's no multi-layering within elements, requiring multiple draws for complex effects, which can increase code complexity and reduce efficiency.

OS X-Limited Tooling

The live preview editor is only available for OS X, making it less useful for developers on Windows or Linux who rely on cross-platform design workflows.

Platform Dependency Overhead

Relies on platform-specific graphics APIs (e.g., Direct2D for Windows, CoreGraphics for iOS/Mac), which can complicate setup and maintenance, especially for multi-target projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

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