GradientBackground
vtk-examples/Cxx/Rendering/GradientBackground
Description¶
Demonstrates the gradient backgrounds available in VTK.
The gradient background modes are:
- Vertical
- Horizontal
- Radial Farthest Side
- Radial Farthest Corner
The user can also edit the code to change the stop colors marking the beginning and end points in a gradient.
An option is provided for the user to read in a data file so that more interesting objects can be viewed.
The viewport border can also be set and colored.
For more information, see New in VTK 9.3: Radial Gradient Background
!!! note VTK 9.3 or later is required.
!!! note The C++ version requires C++ 17 or later as std::filesystem is used.
Other languages
See (Python)
Question
If you have a question about this example, please use the VTK Discourse Forum
Code¶
GradientBackground.cxx
// Based on:
// https://gitlab.kitware.com/vtk/vtk/-/blob/master/Rendering/Core/Testing/Cxx/TestGradientBackground.cxx?ref_type=heads
// See:
// [New in VTK 9.3: Radial Gradient
// Background](https://www.kitware.com/new-in-vtk-9-3-radial-gradient-background/)
#include <vtkActor.h>
#include <vtkActor2D.h>
#include <vtkColor.h>
#include <vtkConeSource.h>
#include <vtkInteractorStyleTrackballCamera.h>
#include <vtkNamedColors.h>
#include <vtkNew.h>
#include <vtkPolyDataMapper.h>
#include <vtkProperty.h>
#include <vtkRenderWindow.h>
#include <vtkRenderWindowInteractor.h>
#include <vtkRenderer.h>
#include <vtkSphereSource.h>
#include <vtkTextMapper.h>
#include <vtkTextProperty.h>
#include <vtkViewport.h>
#include <vtk_cli11.h>
// Readers
#include <vtkBYUReader.h>
#include <vtkOBJReader.h>
#include <vtkPLYReader.h>
#include <vtkPolyDataReader.h>
#include <vtkSTLReader.h>
#include <vtkXMLPolyDataReader.h>
#include <vtkPolyDataMapper2D.h>
#include <vtkPolyLine.h>
#include <vtkProperty2D.h>
#include <algorithm>
#include <array>
#include <cstdlib>
#include <filesystem>
#include <iomanip>
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
namespace fs = std::filesystem;
namespace {
/**
* @brief ReadPolyData Read from a file containing vtkPolyData.
*
* ReadPolyData
* If the path is empty a cone is returned.
* If the extension is unknown a sphere is returned.
*
* @param path - The std::filesystem path to the file.
* @return The vtkPolyData.
*/
vtkNew<vtkPolyData> ReadPolyData(fs::path const& path);
/**
* @brief ViewportBorder Set a border around a viewport.
*
* @param renderer - The renderer corresponding to the viewport.
* @param sides - A boolean array corresponding to [top, left, bottom, right].
* @param borderColor - The color of the border.
* @param borderWidth - The width of the border.
*/
void ViewportBorder(vtkRenderer* renderer, const std::array<bool, 4>& sides,
std::string const& borderColor,
double const& borderWidth = 2);
} // namespace
int main(int argc, char* argv[])
{
CLI::App app{"Demonstrates the background shading options."};
// Define options
std::string fileName{""};
app.add_option("fileName", fileName,
"A optional path to a file that contains vtkPolyData e.g. "
"star-wars-vader-tie-fighter.obj");
CLI11_PARSE(app, argc, argv);
auto path = fs::path(fileName);
if (!path.empty())
{
if (!fs::is_regular_file(path))
{
std::cerr << "Unable to find: " << path << std::endl;
return EXIT_FAILURE;
}
}
auto pd = ReadPolyData(path);
vtkNew<vtkRenderWindow> renWin;
renWin->SetWindowName("GradientBackground");
vtkNew<vtkRenderWindowInteractor> iRen;
vtkNew<vtkRenderer> renderers[4];
// For each gradient specify the mode.
vtkViewport::GradientModes modes[4] = {
vtkViewport::GradientModes::VTK_GRADIENT_VERTICAL,
vtkViewport::GradientModes::VTK_GRADIENT_HORIZONTAL,
vtkViewport::GradientModes::VTK_GRADIENT_RADIAL_VIEWPORT_FARTHEST_SIDE,
vtkViewport::GradientModes::VTK_GRADIENT_RADIAL_VIEWPORT_FARTHEST_CORNER,
};
vtkNew<vtkNamedColors> colors;
vtkNew<vtkPolyDataMapper> mapper;
mapper->SetInputData(pd);
vtkNew<vtkActor> actor;
actor->SetMapper(mapper);
actor->GetProperty()->SetColor(colors->GetColor3d("Honeydew").GetData());
actor->GetProperty()->SetSpecular(0.3);
actor->GetProperty()->SetSpecularPower(60.0);
const auto renWidth = 640;
const auto renHeight = 480;
// The bounds for each view port.
double xmins[4] = {0.0, 0.5, 0.0, 0.5};
double ymins[4] = {0.0, 0.0, 0.5, 0.5};
double xmaxs[4] = {0.5, 1.0, 0.5, 1.0};
double ymaxs[4] = {0.5, 0.5, 1.0, 1.0};
// Here we select and name the colors.
// Feel free to change colors.
const auto bottomColor = colors->GetColor3d("Gold");
const auto topColor = colors->GetColor3d("OrangeRed");
const auto leftColor = colors->GetColor3d("Gold");
const auto rightColor = colors->GetColor3d("OrangeRed");
const auto centerColor = colors->GetColor3d("Gold");
const auto sideColor = colors->GetColor3d("OrangeRed");
const auto cornerColor = colors->GetColor3d("OrangeRed");
const std::array<std::string, 4> viewportTitle{"Vertical", "Horizontal",
"Radial Farthest Side",
"Radial Farthest Corner"};
// Create one text property for all.
vtkNew<vtkTextProperty> textProperty;
textProperty->SetJustificationToCentered();
textProperty->SetFontSize(renHeight / 12);
textProperty->SetColor(colors->GetColor3d("MidnightBlue").GetData());
vtkNew<vtkTextMapper> textMappers[4];
vtkNew<vtkActor2D> textActors[4];
// Define borders for the viewports {top, left, bottom, right}.
std::array<bool, 4> lb{false, true, true, false};
std::array<bool, 4> lbr{false, true, true, true};
std::array<bool, 4> tlb{true, true, true, false};
std::array<bool, 4> tlbr{true, true, true, true};
std::string borderColor = "DarkGreen";
auto borderWidth = 4.0;
for (int i = 0; i < 4; ++i)
{
auto textMapper = textMappers[i].Get();
textMapper->SetInput(viewportTitle[i].c_str());
textMapper->SetTextProperty(textProperty);
auto textActor = textActors[i].Get();
textActor->SetMapper(textMapper);
textActor->SetPosition(renWidth / 2, 8);
auto ren = renderers[i].Get();
ren->AddActor(textActor);
ren->AddActor(actor);
ren->GradientBackgroundOn();
ren->SetGradientMode(modes[i]);
ren->SetViewport(xmins[i], ymins[i], xmaxs[i], ymaxs[i]);
switch (i)
{
case 0:
default:
// Vertical
ren->SetBackground(bottomColor.GetData());
ren->SetBackground2(topColor.GetData());
ViewportBorder(ren, lb, borderColor, borderWidth);
break;
case 1:
// Horizontal
ren->SetBackground(leftColor.GetData());
ren->SetBackground2(rightColor.GetData());
ViewportBorder(ren, lbr, borderColor, borderWidth);
break;
case 2:
// Radial Farthest Side
ren->SetBackground(centerColor.GetData());
ren->SetBackground2(sideColor.GetData());
ViewportBorder(ren, tlb, borderColor, borderWidth);
break;
case 3:
// Radial Farthest Corner
ren->SetBackground(centerColor.GetData());
ren->SetBackground2(cornerColor.GetData());
ViewportBorder(ren, tlbr, borderColor, borderWidth);
break;
}
renWin->AddRenderer(ren);
}
renWin->SetInteractor(iRen);
renWin->Render();
vtkNew<vtkInteractorStyleTrackballCamera> style;
iRen->SetInteractorStyle(style);
iRen->Initialize();
iRen->UpdateSize(renWidth * 2, renHeight * 2);
iRen->Start();
return EXIT_SUCCESS;
}
namespace {
vtkNew<vtkPolyData> ReadPolyData(fs::path const& path)
{
vtkNew<vtkPolyData> polyData;
if (path.empty())
{
// Default to a cone if the path is empty.
vtkNew<vtkConeSource> source;
source->SetResolution(25);
source->SetDirection(0, 1, 0);
source->SetHeight(1);
source->Update();
polyData->DeepCopy(source->GetOutput());
return polyData;
}
std::string extension = path.extension().generic_string();
std::transform(extension.begin(), extension.end(), extension.begin(),
[](char c) { return std::tolower(c); });
if (extension == ".ply")
{
vtkNew<vtkPLYReader> reader;
reader->SetFileName(path.generic_string().c_str());
reader->Update();
polyData->DeepCopy(reader->GetOutput());
}
else if (extension == ".vtp")
{
vtkNew<vtkXMLPolyDataReader> reader;
reader->SetFileName(path.generic_string().c_str());
reader->Update();
polyData->DeepCopy(reader->GetOutput());
}
else if (extension == ".obj")
{
vtkNew<vtkOBJReader> reader;
reader->SetFileName(path.generic_string().c_str());
reader->Update();
polyData->DeepCopy(reader->GetOutput());
}
else if (extension == ".stl")
{
vtkNew<vtkSTLReader> reader;
reader->SetFileName(path.generic_string().c_str());
reader->Update();
polyData->DeepCopy(reader->GetOutput());
}
else if (extension == ".vtk")
{
vtkNew<vtkPolyDataReader> reader;
reader->SetFileName(path.generic_string().c_str());
reader->Update();
polyData->DeepCopy(reader->GetOutput());
}
else if (extension == ".g")
{
vtkNew<vtkBYUReader> reader;
reader->SetGeometryFileName(path.generic_string().c_str());
reader->Update();
polyData->DeepCopy(reader->GetOutput());
}
else
{
std::cerr << "Warning: " << path
<< " unknown extension, using a sphere instead." << std::endl;
vtkNew<vtkSphereSource> source;
source->SetPhiResolution(50);
source->SetThetaResolution(50);
source->Update();
polyData->DeepCopy(source->GetOutput());
}
return polyData;
}
void ViewportBorder(vtkRenderer* renderer, std::array<bool, 4> const& sides,
std::string const& borderColor, double const& borderWidth)
{
vtkNew<vtkNamedColors> colors;
// Points start at upper right and proceed anti-clockwise.
vtkNew<vtkPoints> points;
points->SetNumberOfPoints(4);
points->InsertPoint(0, 1, 1, 0);
points->InsertPoint(1, 0, 1, 0);
points->InsertPoint(2, 0, 0, 0);
points->InsertPoint(3, 1, 0, 0);
vtkNew<vtkCellArray> cells;
cells->Initialize();
if (sides[0])
{
// Top
vtkNew<vtkPolyLine> top;
top->GetPointIds()->SetNumberOfIds(2);
top->GetPointIds()->SetId(0, 0);
top->GetPointIds()->SetId(1, 1);
cells->InsertNextCell(top);
}
if (sides[1])
{
// Left
vtkNew<vtkPolyLine> left;
left->GetPointIds()->SetNumberOfIds(2);
left->GetPointIds()->SetId(0, 1);
left->GetPointIds()->SetId(1, 2);
cells->InsertNextCell(left);
}
if (sides[2])
{
// Bottom
vtkNew<vtkPolyLine> bottom;
bottom->GetPointIds()->SetNumberOfIds(2);
bottom->GetPointIds()->SetId(0, 2);
bottom->GetPointIds()->SetId(1, 3);
cells->InsertNextCell(bottom);
}
if (sides[3])
{
// Right
vtkNew<vtkPolyLine> right;
right->GetPointIds()->SetNumberOfIds(2);
right->GetPointIds()->SetId(0, 3);
right->GetPointIds()->SetId(1, 0);
cells->InsertNextCell(right);
}
// Now make the polydata and display it.
vtkNew<vtkPolyData> poly;
poly->Initialize();
poly->SetPoints(points);
poly->SetLines(cells);
// Use normalized viewport coordinates since
// they are independent of window size.
vtkNew<vtkCoordinate> coordinate;
coordinate->SetCoordinateSystemToNormalizedViewport();
vtkNew<vtkPolyDataMapper2D> mapper;
mapper->SetInputData(poly);
mapper->SetTransformCoordinate(coordinate);
vtkNew<vtkActor2D> actor;
actor->SetMapper(mapper);
actor->GetProperty()->SetColor(colors->GetColor3d(borderColor).GetData());
// Line width should be at least 2 to be visible at extremes.
actor->GetProperty()->SetLineWidth(borderWidth);
renderer->AddViewProp(actor);
}
} // namespace
CMakeLists.txt¶
cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.12 FATAL_ERROR)
project(GradientBackground)
find_package(VTK COMPONENTS
CommonColor
CommonCore
CommonDataModel
FiltersSources
IOGeometry
IOLegacy
IOPLY
IOXML
InteractionStyle
RenderingContextOpenGL2
RenderingCore
RenderingFreeType
RenderingGL2PSOpenGL2
RenderingOpenGL2
cli11
)
if (NOT VTK_FOUND)
message(FATAL_ERROR "GradientBackground: Unable to find the VTK build folder.")
endif()
# Prevent a "command line is too long" failure in Windows.
set(CMAKE_NINJA_FORCE_RESPONSE_FILE "ON" CACHE BOOL "Force Ninja to use response files.")
add_executable(GradientBackground MACOSX_BUNDLE GradientBackground.cxx )
target_link_libraries(GradientBackground PRIVATE ${VTK_LIBRARIES}
)
# vtk_module_autoinit is needed
vtk_module_autoinit(
TARGETS GradientBackground
MODULES ${VTK_LIBRARIES}
)
Download and Build GradientBackground¶
Click here to download GradientBackground and its CMakeLists.txt file. Once the tarball GradientBackground.tar has been downloaded and extracted,
cd GradientBackground/build
If VTK is installed:
cmake ..
If VTK is not installed but compiled on your system, you will need to specify the path to your VTK build:
cmake -DVTK_DIR:PATH=/home/me/vtk_build ..
Build the project:
make
and run it:
./GradientBackground
WINDOWS USERS
Be sure to add the VTK bin directory to your path. This will resolve the VTK dll's at run time.