# Patterns

Patterns are the paint with which cairo draws. The primary use of patterns is as the source for all cairo drawing operations, although they can also be used as masks, that is, as the brush too.

A cairo Pattern is created by using one of the PatternType constructors listed below, or implicitly through Context.set_source_<type>() methods.

## class Pattern()

Pattern is the abstract base class from which all the other pattern classes derive. It cannot be instantiated directly.

class `cairo.``Pattern`
  `get_extend`()

    Returns: | the current extend strategy used for drawing the Pattern.
    Return type: | cairo.Extend

    Gets the current extend mode for the Pattern. See `cairo.Extend` attributes for details on the semantics of each extend strategy.

  `get_matrix`()

    Returns: | a new `Matrix` which stores a copy of the Pattern’s transformation matrix

  `get_filter`()

    Returns: | the current filter used for resizing the pattern.
    Return type: | cairo.Filter

    New in version 1.12.0: Used to be a method of `SurfacePattern` before

  `set_filter`(filter)

    Parameters: | filter (cairo.Filter) – a filter describing the filter to use for resizing the pattern

    Note that you might want to control filtering even when you do not have an explicit Pattern object, (for example when using `Context.set_source_surface()`). In these cases, it is convenient to use `Context.get_source()` to get access to the pattern that cairo creates implicitly. For example:

        context.set_source_surface(image, x, y)
        surfacepattern.set_filter(context.get_source(), cairo.FILTER_NEAREST)

    New in version 1.12.0: Used to be a method of `SurfacePattern` before

  `set_extend`(extend)

    Parameters: | extend (cairo.Extend) – an extend describing how the area outside of the Pattern will be drawn

    Sets the mode to be used for drawing outside the area of a Pattern.

    The default extend mode is `cairo.Extend.NONE` for `SurfacePattern` and `cairo.Extend.PAD` for `Gradient` Patterns.

  `set_matrix`(matrix)

    Parameters: | matrix – a `Matrix`

    Sets the Pattern’s transformation matrix to matrix. This matrix is a transformation from user space to pattern space.

    When a Pattern is first created it always has the identity matrix for its transformation matrix, which means that pattern space is initially identical to user space.

    Important: Please note that the direction of this transformation matrix is from user space to pattern space. This means that if you imagine the flow from a Pattern to user space (and on to device space), then coordinates in that flow will be transformed by the inverse of the Pattern matrix.

    For example, if you want to make a Pattern appear twice as large as it does by default the correct code to use is:

        matrix = cairo.Matrix(xx=0.5,yy=0.5)
        pattern.set_matrix(matrix)

    Meanwhile, using values of 2.0 rather than 0.5 in the code above would cause the Pattern to appear at half of its default size.

    Also, please note the discussion of the user-space locking semantics of `Context.set_source`.

## class SolidPattern(`Pattern`)

class `cairo.``SolidPattern`(red, green, blue, alpha=1.0)

  Parameters:

  - red (float) – red component of the color
  - green (float) – green component of the color
  - blue (float) – blue component of the color
  - alpha (float) – alpha component of the color

  Returns: | a new SolidPattern
  Raises: | `MemoryError` in case of no memory

  Creates a new SolidPattern corresponding to a translucent color. The color components are floating point numbers in the range 0 to 1. If the values passed in are outside that range, they will be clamped.

  `get_rgba`()

    Returns: | (red, green, blue, alpha) a tuple of float

    Gets the solid color for a SolidPattern.

    New in version 1.4.

## class SurfacePattern(`Pattern`)

class `cairo.``SurfacePattern`(surface)

  Parameters: | surface – a cairo `Surface`
  Returns: | a newly created SurfacePattern for the given surface.
  Raises: | `MemoryError` in case of no memory.

  `get_surface`()

    Returns: | the `Surface` of the SurfacePattern.

    New in version 1.4.

## class Gradient(`Pattern`)

Gradient is an abstract base class from which other Pattern classes derive. It cannot be instantiated directly.

class `cairo.``Gradient`
  `add_color_stop_rgb`(offset, red, green, blue)

    Parameters:

    - offset (float) – an offset in the range [0.0 .. 1.0]
    - red (float) – red component of color
    - green (float) – green component of color
    - blue (float) – blue component of color

    Adds an opaque color stop to a Gradient pattern. The offset specifies the location along the gradient’s control vector. For example, a LinearGradient’s control vector is from (x0,y0) to (x1,y1) while a RadialGradient’s control vector is from any point on the start circle to the corresponding point on the end circle.

    The color is specified in the same way as in `Context.set_source_rgb()`.

    If two (or more) stops are specified with identical offset values, they will be sorted according to the order in which the stops are added, (stops added earlier will compare less than stops added later). This can be useful for reliably making sharp color transitions instead of the typical blend.

  `add_color_stop_rgba`(offset, red, green, blue, alpha)

    Parameters:

    - offset (float) – an offset in the range [0.0 .. 1.0]
    - red (float) – red component of color
    - green (float) – green component of color
    - blue (float) – blue component of color
    - alpha (float) – alpha component of color

    Adds an opaque color stop to a Gradient pattern. The offset specifies the location along the gradient’s control vector. For example, a LinearGradient’s control vector is from (x0,y0) to (x1,y1) while a RadialGradient’s control vector is from any point on the start circle to the corresponding point on the end circle.

    The color is specified in the same way as in `Context.set_source_rgb()`.

    If two (or more) stops are specified with identical offset values, they will be sorted according to the order in which the stops are added, (stops added earlier will compare less than stops added later). This can be useful for reliably making sharp color transitions instead of the typical blend.

  `get_color_stops_rgba`()

    Returns: | a list of (offset, red, green, blue, alpha) tuples of float
    Return type: | list

    Gets the color and offset information for all color stops specified in the given gradient pattern.

    New in version 1.14.

## class LinearGradient(`Gradient`)

class `cairo.``LinearGradient`(x0, y0, x1, y1)

  Parameters:

  - x0 (float) – x coordinate of the start point
  - y0 (float) – y coordinate of the start point
  - x1 (float) – x coordinate of the end point
  - y1 (float) – y coordinate of the end point

  Returns: | a new LinearGradient
  Raises: | `MemoryError` in case of no memory

  Create a new LinearGradient along the line defined by (x0, y0) and (x1, y1). Before using the Gradient pattern, a number of color stops should be defined using `Gradient.add_color_stop_rgb()` or `Gradient.add_color_stop_rgba()`

  Note: The coordinates here are in pattern space. For a new Pattern, pattern space is identical to user space, but the relationship between the spaces can be changed with `Pattern.set_matrix()`

  `get_linear_points`()

    Returns:

    (x0, y0, x1, y1) - a tuple of float
    - x0: return value for the x coordinate of the first point
    - y0: return value for the y coordinate of the first point
    - x1: return value for the x coordinate of the second point
    - y1: return value for the y coordinate of the second point

    Gets the gradient endpoints for a LinearGradient.

    New in version 1.4.

## class RadialGradient(`Gradient`)

class `cairo.``RadialGradient`(cx0, cy0, radius0, cx1, cy1, radius1)

  Parameters:

  - cx0 (float) – x coordinate for the center of the start circle
  - cy0 (float) – y coordinate for the center of the start circle
  - radius0 (float) – radius of the start circle
  - cx1 (float) – x coordinate for the center of the end circle
  - cy1 (float) – y coordinate for the center of the end circle
  - radius1 (float) – radius of the end circle

  Returns: | the newly created RadialGradient
  Raises: | `MemoryError` in case of no memory

  Creates a new RadialGradient pattern between the two circles defined by (cx0, cy0, radius0) and (cx1, cy1, radius1). Before using the gradient pattern, a number of color stops should be defined using `Gradient.add_color_stop_rgb()` or `Gradient.add_color_stop_rgba()`.

  Note: The coordinates here are in pattern space. For a new pattern, pattern space is identical to user space, but the relationship between the spaces can be changed with `Pattern.set_matrix()`.

  `get_radial_circles`()

    Returns:

    (x0, y0, r0, x1, y1, r1) - a tuple of float
    - x0: return value for the x coordinate of the center of the first circle
    - y0: return value for the y coordinate of the center of the first circle
    - r0: return value for the radius of the first circle
    - x1: return value for the x coordinate of the center of the second circle
    - y1: return value for the y coordinate of the center of the second circle
    - r1: return value for the radius of the second circle

    Gets the Gradient endpoint circles for a RadialGradient, each specified as a center coordinate and a radius.

    New in version 1.4.

## class MeshPattern(`Pattern`)

class `cairo.``MeshPattern`

  Raises: | Error –
  Return type: | MeshPattern

  New in version 1.14.

  Create a new mesh pattern.

  Mesh patterns are tensor-product patch meshes (type 7 shadings in PDF). Mesh patterns may also be used to create other types of shadings that are special cases of tensor-product patch meshes such as Coons patch meshes (type 6 shading in PDF) and Gouraud-shaded triangle meshes (type 4 and 5 shadings in PDF).

  Mesh patterns consist of one or more tensor-product patches, which should be defined before using the mesh pattern. Using a mesh pattern with a partially defined patch as source or mask will put the context in an error status with a status of `cairo.Status.INVALID_MESH_CONSTRUCTION`.

  A tensor-product patch is defined by 4 Bézier curves (side 0, 1, 2, 3) and by 4 additional control points (P0, P1, P2, P3) that provide further control over the patch and complete the definition of the tensor-product patch. The corner C0 is the first point of the patch.

  Degenerate sides are permitted so straight lines may be used. A zero length line on one side may be used to create 3 sided patches.

            C1     Side 1       C2
             +---------------+
             |               |
             |  P1       P2  |
             |               |
      Side 0 |               | Side 2
             |               |
             |               |
             |  P0       P3  |
             |               |
             +---------------+
           C0     Side 3        C3

  Each patch is constructed by first calling `begin_patch()`, then `move_to()` to specify the first point in the patch (C0). Then the sides are specified with calls to `curve_to()` and `line_to()`.

  The four additional control points (P0, P1, P2, P3) in a patch can be specified with `set_control_point()`.

  At each corner of the patch (C0, C1, C2, C3) a color may be specified with `set_corner_color_rgb()` or `set_corner_color_rgba()`. Any corner whose color is not explicitly specified defaults to transparent black.

  A Coons patch is a special case of the tensor-product patch where the control points are implicitly defined by the sides of the patch. The default value for any control point not specified is the implicit value for a Coons patch, i.e. if no control points are specified the patch is a Coons patch.

  A triangle is a special case of the tensor-product patch where the control points are implicitly defined by the sides of the patch, all the sides are lines and one of them has length 0, i.e. if the patch is specified using just 3 lines, it is a triangle. If the corners connected by the 0-length side have the same color, the patch is a Gouraud-shaded triangle.

  Patches may be oriented differently to the above diagram. For example the first point could be at the top left. The diagram only shows the relationship between the sides, corners and control points. Regardless of where the first point is located, when specifying colors, corner 0 will always be the first point, corner 1 the point between side 0 and side 1 etc.

  Calling `end_patch()` completes the current patch. If less than 4 sides have been defined, the first missing side is defined as a line from the current point to the first point of the patch (C0) and the other sides are degenerate lines from C0 to C0. The corners between the added sides will all be coincident with C0 of the patch and their color will be set to be the same as the color of C0.

  Additional patches may be added with additional calls to `begin_patch()`/`end_patch()`.

      # Add a Coons patch
      pattern = cairo.MeshPattern()
      pattern.begin_patch()
      pattern.move_to(0, 0)
      pattern.curve_to(30, -30, 60, 30, 100, 0)
      pattern.curve_to(60, 30, 130, 60, 100, 100)
      pattern.curve_to(60, 70, 30, 130, 0, 100)
      pattern.curve_to(30, 70, -30, 30, 0, 0)
      pattern.set_corner_color_rgb(0, 1, 0, 0)
      pattern.set_corner_color_rgb(1, 0, 1, 0)
      pattern.set_corner_color_rgb(2, 0, 0, 1)
      pattern.set_corner_color_rgb(3, 1, 1, 0)
      pattern.end_patch()

      # Add a Gouraud-shaded triangle
      pattern = cairo.MeshPattern()
      pattern.begin_patch()
      pattern.move_to(100, 100)
      pattern.line_to(130, 130)
      pattern.line_to(130, 70)
      pattern.set_corner_color_rgb(0, 1, 0, 0)
      pattern.set_corner_color_rgb(1, 0, 1, 0)
      pattern.set_corner_color_rgb(2, 0, 0, 1)
      pattern.end_patch()

  When two patches overlap, the last one that has been added is drawn over the first one.

  When a patch folds over itself, points are sorted depending on their parameter coordinates inside the patch. The v coordinate ranges from 0 to 1 when moving from side 3 to side 1; the u coordinate ranges from 0 to 1 when going from side 0 to side

  Points with higher v coordinate hide points with lower v coordinate. When two points have the same v coordinate, the one with higher u coordinate is above. This means that points nearer to side 1 are above points nearer to side 3; when this is not sufficient to decide which point is above (for example when both points belong to side 1 or side 3) points nearer to side 2 are above points nearer to side 0.

  For a complete definition of tensor-product patches, see the PDF specification (ISO32000), which describes the parametrization in detail.

  Note: The coordinates are always in pattern space. For a new pattern, pattern space is identical to user space, but the relationship between the spaces can be changed with `Pattern.set_matrix()`.

  `begin_patch`()

    Raises: | Error –

    Begin a patch in a mesh pattern.

    After calling this function, the patch shape should be defined with `move_to()`, `line_to()` and `curve_to()`.

    After defining the patch, `end_patch()` must be called before using pattern as a source or mask.

  `curve_to`(x1, y1, x2, y2, x3, y3)

    Parameters:

    - x1 (float) – the X coordinate of the first control point
    - y1 (float) – the Y coordinate of the first control point
    - x2 (float) – the X coordinate of the second control point
    - y2 (float) – the Y coordinate of the second control point
    - x3 (float) – the X coordinate of the end of the curve
    - y3 (float) – the Y coordinate of the end of the curve

    Raises: | Error –

    Adds a cubic Bézier spline to the current patch from the current point to position (x3 , y3 ) in pattern-space coordinates, using (x1 , y1 ) and (x2 , y2 ) as the control points.

    If the current patch has no current point before the call to `curve_to()`, this function will behave as if preceded by a call to `pattern.move_to(x1, y1)`.

    After this call the current point will be (x3 , y3 ).

  `end_patch`()

    Raises: | Error –

    Indicates the end of the current patch in a mesh pattern.

    If the current patch has less than 4 sides, it is closed with a straight line from the current point to the first point of the patch as if `line_to()` was used.

  `get_control_point`(patch_num, point_num)

    Parameters:

    - patch_num (int) – the patch number to return data for
    - point_num (int) – he control point number to return data for

    Returns: | a (x, y) tuple of float - coordinates of the control point
    Return type: | tuple
    Raises: | Error –

    Gets the control point point_num of patch patch_num for a mesh pattern.

    `patch_num` can range from 0 to n-1 where n is the number returned by `get_patch_count()`.

    Valid values for `point_num` are from 0 to 3 and identify the control points as explained in `MeshPattern`.

  `get_corner_color_rgba`(patch_num, corner_num)

    Parameters:

    - patch_num (int) – the patch number to return data for
    - corner_num (int) – the corner number to return data for

    Returns: | a (red, green, blue, alpha) tuple of float
    Return type: | tuple
    Raises: | Error –

    Gets the color information in corner `corner_num` of patch `patch_num` for a mesh pattern.

    `patch_num` can range from 0 to n-1 where n is the number returned by `get_patch_count()`.

    Valid values for `corner_num` are from 0 to 3 and identify the corners as explained in `MeshPattern`.

  `get_patch_count`()

    Returns: | number of patches
    Return type: | int

    Gets the number of patches specified in the given mesh pattern.

    The number only includes patches which have been finished by calling `end_patch()`. For example it will be 0 during the definition of the first patch.

  `get_path`(patch_num)

    Parameters: | patch_num (int) – the patch number to return data for
    Returns: | the path defining the patch
    Return type: | Path
    Raises: | Error –

    Gets path defining the patch `patch_num` for a mesh pattern.

    `patch_num` can range from 0 to n-1 where n is the number returned by `get_patch_count()`.

  `line_to`(x, y)

    Parameters:

    - x (float) – the X coordinate of the end of the new line
    - y (float) – the Y coordinate of the end of the new line

    Raises: | Error –

    Adds a line to the current patch from the current point to position (x , y ) in pattern-space coordinates.

    If there is no current point before the call to `line_to()` this function will behave as `pattern.move_to(x ,y)`.

    After this call the current point will be (x , y ).

  `move_to`(x, y)

    Parameters:

    - x (float) – the X coordinate of the new position
    - y (float) – the Y coordinate of the new position

    Raises: | Error –

    Define the first point of the current patch in a mesh pattern.

    After this call the current point will be (x , y ).

  `set_control_point`(point_num, x, y)

    Parameters:

    - point_num (int) – the control point to set the position for
    - x (float) – the X coordinate of the control point
    - y (float) – the Y coordinate of the control point

    Raises: | Error –

    Set an internal control point of the current patch.

    Valid values for point_num are from 0 to 3 and identify the control points as explained in `MeshPattern`.

  `set_corner_color_rgb`(corner_num, red, green, blue)

    Parameters:

    - corner_num (int) – the corner to set the color for
    - red (float) – red component of color
    - green (float) – green component of color
    - blue (float) – blue component of color

    Raises: | Error –

    Sets the color of a corner of the current patch in a mesh pattern.

    The color is specified in the same way as in `Context.set_source_rgb()`.

    Valid values for corner_num are from 0 to 3 and identify the corners as explained in `MeshPattern`.

  `set_corner_color_rgba`(corner_num, red, green, blue, alpha)

    Parameters:

    - corner_num (int) – the corner to set the color for
    - red (float) – red component of color
    - green (float) – green component of color
    - blue (float) – blue component of color
    - alpha (float) – alpha component of color

    Raises: | Error –

    Sets the color of a corner of the current patch in a mesh pattern.

    The color is specified in the same way as in `Context.set_source_rgba()`.

    Valid values for corner_num are from 0 to 3 and identify the corners as explained in `MeshPattern`.

## class RasterSourcePattern(`Pattern`)

The raster source provides the ability to supply arbitrary pixel data whilst rendering. The pixels are queried at the time of rasterisation by means of user callback functions, allowing for the ultimate flexibility. For example, in handling compressed image sources, you may keep a MRU cache of decompressed images and decompress sources on the fly and discard old ones to conserve memory.

For the raster source to be effective, you must at least specify the acquire and release callbacks which are used to retrieve the pixel data for the region of interest and demark when it can be freed afterwards. Other callbacks are provided for when the pattern is copied temporarily during rasterisation, or more permanently as a snapshot in order to keep the pixel data available for printing.

class `cairo.``RasterSourcePattern`(content, width, height)

  Parameters:

  - content (Content) – content type for the pixel data that will be returned. Knowing the content type ahead of time is used for analysing the operation and picking the appropriate rendering path.
  - width (int) – maximum size of the sample area
  - height (int) – maximum size of the sample area

  Raises: | Error –
  Return type: | RasterSourcePattern

  Creates a new user pattern for providing pixel data.

  Use the setter functions to associate callbacks with the returned pattern.

  New in version 1.15.

  `set_acquire`(acquire, release)

    Parameters:

    - acquire (callable) – acquire callback or `None` to unset it
    - release (callable) – (optional) release callback or `None`

    Raises: | Error –

    Specifies the callbacks used to generate the image surface for a rendering operation (acquire) and the function used to cleanup that surface afterwards.

    The acquire callback should create a surface (preferably an image surface created to match the target using `Surface.create_similar_image()`) that defines at least the region of interest specified by extents. The surface is allowed to be the entire sample area, but if it does contain a subsection of the sample area, the surface extents should be provided by setting the device offset (along with its width and height) using `Surface.set_device_offset()`.

    `acquire`(target, extents)

      Parameters:

      - target (Surface) – the rendering target surface
      - extents (RectangleInt) – rectangular region of interest in pixels in sample space

      Return type: | Surface

      This function is called when a pattern is being rendered from. It should create a surface that provides the pixel data for the region of interest as defined by extents, though the surface itself does not have to be limited to that area. For convenience the surface should probably be of image type, created with `Surface.create_similar_image()` for the target (which enables the number of copies to be reduced during transfer to the device). Another option, might be to return a similar surface to the target for explicit handling by the application of a set of cached sources on the device. The region of sample data provided should be defined using `Surface.set_device_offset()` to specify the top-left corner of the sample data (along with width and height of the surface).

    `release`(surface)

      Parameters: | surface (Surface) – the surface created during acquire

      This function is called when the pixel data is no longer being accessed by the pattern for the rendering operation.

    New in version 1.15.

  `get_acquire`()

    Returns: | a (acquire, release) tuple of callables or None as set through `set_acquire()`

    Queries the current acquire and release callbacks.

    New in version 1.15.