System.Drawing Namespace ()

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Microsoft Visual Studio 2008/.NET Framework 3.5

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.NET Framework Class Library

System.Drawing Namespace

The System.Drawing namespace provides access to GDI+ basic graphics functionality. More advanced functionality is provided in the System.Drawing.Drawing2D, System.Drawing.Imaging, and System.Drawing.Text namespaces.

The Graphics class provides methods for drawing to the display device. Classes such as Rectangle and Point encapsulate GDI+ primitives. The Pen class is used to draw lines and curves, while classes derived from the abstract class Brush are used to fill the interiors of shapes.

Caution:
Classes within the System.Drawing namespace are not supported for use within a Windows or ASP.NET service. Attempting to use these classes from within one of these application types may produce unexpected problems, such as diminished service performance and run-time exceptions.

Classes

	Class	Description
	Bitmap	Encapsulates a GDI+ bitmap, which consists of the pixel data for a graphics image and its attributes. A Bitmap is an object used to work with images defined by pixel data.
	Brush	Defines objects used to fill the interiors of graphical shapes such as rectangles, ellipses, pies, polygons, and paths.
	Brushes	Brushes for all the standard colors. This class cannot be inherited.
	BufferedGraphics	Provides a graphics buffer for double buffering.
	BufferedGraphicsContext	Provides methods for creating graphics buffers that can be used for double buffering.
	BufferedGraphicsManager	Provides access to the main buffered graphics context object for the application domain.
	ColorConverter	Converts colors from one data type to another. Access this class through the TypeDescriptor.
	ColorTranslator	Translates colors to and from GDI+ Color structures. This class cannot be inherited.
	Font	Defines a particular format for text, including font face, size, and style attributes. This class cannot be inherited.
	FontConverter	Converts Font objects from one data type to another.
	FontConverter..::.FontNameConverter	Infrastructure. FontConverter..::.FontNameConverter is a type converter that is used to convert a font name to and from various other representations.
	FontConverter..::.FontUnitConverter	Infrastructure. Converts font units to and from other unit types.
	FontFamily	Defines a group of type faces having a similar basic design and certain variations in styles. This class cannot be inherited.
	Graphics	Encapsulates a GDI+ drawing surface. This class cannot be inherited.
	Icon	Represents a Windows icon, which is a small bitmap image used to represent an object. Icons can be thought of as transparent bitmaps, although their size is determined by the system.
	IconConverter	Converts an Icon object from one data type to another. Access this class through the TypeDescriptor object.
	Image	An abstract base class that provides functionality for the Bitmap and Metafile descended classes.
	ImageAnimator	Animates an image that has time-based frames.
	ImageConverter	ImageConverter is a class that can be used to convert Image objects from one data type to another. Access this class through the TypeDescriptor object.
	ImageFormatConverter	ImageFormatConverter is a class that can be used to convert ImageFormat objects from one data type to another. Access this class through the TypeDescriptor object.
	Pen	Defines an object used to draw lines and curves. This class cannot be inherited.
	Pens	Pens for all the standard colors. This class cannot be inherited.
	PointConverter	Converts a Point object from one data type to another. Access this class through the TypeDescriptor object.
	RectangleConverter	Converts rectangles from one data type to another. Access this class through the TypeDescriptor.
	Region	Describes the interior of a graphics shape composed of rectangles and paths. This class cannot be inherited.
	SizeConverter	The SizeConverter class is used to convert from one data type to another. Access this class through the TypeDescriptor object.
	SizeFConverter	Converts SizeF objects from one type to another.
	SolidBrush	Defines a brush of a single color. Brushes are used to fill graphics shapes, such as rectangles, ellipses, pies, polygons, and paths. This class cannot be inherited.
	StringFormat	Encapsulates text layout information (such as alignment, orientation and tab stops) display manipulations (such as ellipsis insertion and national digit substitution) and OpenType features. This class cannot be inherited.
	SystemBrushes	Each property of the SystemBrushes class is a SolidBrush that is the color of a Windows display element.
	SystemColors	Each property of the SystemColors class is a Color structure that is the color of a Windows display element.
	SystemFonts	Specifies the fonts used to display text in Windows display elements.
	SystemIcons	Each property of the SystemIcons class is an Icon object for Windows system-wide icons. This class cannot be inherited.
	SystemPens	Each property of the SystemPens class is a Pen that is the color of a Windows display element and that has a width of 1 pixel.
	TextureBrush	Each property of the TextureBrush class is a Brush object that uses an image to fill the interior of a shape. This class cannot be inherited.
	ToolboxBitmapAttribute	Allows you to specify an icon to represent a control in a container, such as the Microsoft Visual Studio Form Designer.

Structures

	Structure	Description
	CharacterRange	Specifies a range of character positions within a string.
	Color	Represents an ARGB (alpha, red, green, blue) color.
	Point	Represents an ordered pair of integer x- and y-coordinates that defines a point in a two-dimensional plane.
	PointF	Represents an ordered pair of floating-point x- and y-coordinates that defines a point in a two-dimensional plane.
	Rectangle	Stores a set of four integers that represent the location and size of a rectangle. For more advanced region functions, use a Region object.
	RectangleF	Stores a set of four floating-point numbers that represent the location and size of a rectangle. For more advanced region functions, use a Region object.
	Size	Stores an ordered pair of integers, typically the width and height of a rectangle.
	SizeF	Stores an ordered pair of floating-point numbers, typically the width and height of a rectangle.

Interfaces

	Interface	Description
	IDeviceContext	Defines methods for obtaining and releasing an existing handle to a Windows device context.

Delegates

	Delegate	Description
	Graphics..::.DrawImageAbort	Provides a callback method for deciding when the DrawImage method should prematurely cancel execution and stop drawing an image.
	Graphics..::.EnumerateMetafileProc	Provides a callback method for the EnumerateMetafile method.
	Image..::.GetThumbnailImageAbort	Provides a callback method for determining when the GetThumbnailImage method should prematurely cancel execution.

Enumerations

	Enumeration	Description
	ContentAlignment	Specifies alignment of content on the drawing surface.
	CopyPixelOperation	Determines how the source color in a copy pixel operation is combined with the destination color to result in a final color.
	FontStyle	Specifies style information applied to text.
	GraphicsUnit	Specifies the unit of measure for the given data.
	KnownColor	Specifies the known system colors.
	RotateFlipType	Specifies the direction of an image's rotation and the axis used to flip the image.
	StringAlignment	Specifies the alignment of a text string relative to its layout rectangle.
	StringDigitSubstitute	The StringDigitSubstitute enumeration specifies how to substitute digits in a string according to a user's locale or language.
	StringFormatFlags	Specifies the display and layout information for text strings.
	StringTrimming	Specifies how to trim characters from a string that does not completely fit into a layout shape.
	StringUnit	Specifies the units of measure for a text string.