Develop Reference

Creating endless number of objects in JPanel and draw them through PaintComponent in Java

I have one dilemma , how to realize application. I have JPanel with width 288 and height 512, then I created two objects ( images ) and drew them through paintComponent using coordinates
drawImage (Image1,288,128,this) ;
drawImage (Image2, 288, 384, this);
. They are decrementing simultaneously in the X axis and when it reaches x = 144 , new (same) images should be drawn at the coordinates ‘( x = 288 , y = (int)Math.random()* 512 )’ and begin decrement as well as first ones should still decrements. And this process should be endless. Every new objects reaching x = 144 should build new ones . I tried to create ArrayList with adding coordinates in it
ArrayList arrayX = new ArrayList();
arrayX.add(288)
arrayY.add((int) Math.random()* 512 )
and then extract values through
array.get()
But that was unsuccessfully.
I saw video where man did it using JavaScript through the array
var position = []
position = ({
X : 288
Y : 256
})
And then implemented through the loop like this
function draw() {
for (int i = 0; i < position.length; i++ ){
cvs.drawImage(Image1,position[i].x , position[i].y)
cvs.drawImage(Image2,position[i].x , position[i].y + 50)
position [i] .x - -;
if(position[i].x == 128)
position.push({
X : 288
Y : Math.floor(Math.random()*512 })
})
}
}
I don’t know how to do this in Java.
May be I should use array too to keep variables with coordinates , or arraylist but in different way. Help me please .
Thanks in advance

Conceptually the idea is simple enough, the problem is, Swing is signal thread and NOT thread safe.
See Concurrency in Swing for more details.
This means you can run a long running or blocking operation (like a never ending loop) inside the Event Dispatching Thread, but also, you shouldn't update the UI (or properties the UI depends on) from outside the context of the EDT.
While there are a number of possible solutions to the problem, the simplest is probably to use a Swing Timer, which provides a means to schedule a delay safely (that won't block the EDT) and which will trigger it's updates within the context of the EDT, allowing you to update the UI from within it.
See How to Use Swing Timers for more details.
Now, because you're in a OO language, you should leverage the power it provides, to me, this means encapsulation.
You have a image, you want drawn at a specific location, but whose location change be changed based on some rules, this just screams Plain Old Java Old (POJO)
Normally, I'd start with a interface to describe the basic properties and operations, but for brevity, I've jumped straight for a class...
public class Drawable {
private int x, y;
private Color color;
public Drawable(int x, int y, Color color) {
this.x = x;
this.y = y;
this.color = color;
}
public int getX() {
return x;
}
public int getY() {
return y;
}
public Color getColor() {
return color;
}
public void update() {
x--;
if (x <= 144) {
reset();
}
}
protected void reset() {
x = 288;
y = (int) (Math.random() * (512 - 20));
}
public void paint(Graphics2D g2d) {
Graphics2D copy = (Graphics2D) g2d.create();
copy.translate(getX(), getY());
copy.setColor(getColor());
copy.drawOval(0, 0, 20, 20);
copy.dispose();
}
}
But wait, you say, it's using Color instead of image!? Yes, I didn't have any small images at hand, besides, I need to leave you something to do ;)
Now, the animation is a sequence of updating and painting repeatedly until a desired state is reached.
In this case, you don't care about the end state so much, so you can just keep it running.
The "update" cycle is handled by a Swing Timer, which loops over a List of Drawable objects, calls their update methods and then schedules a repaint, which triggers the JPanels paintComponent where by the Drawable objects are painted, simple 😝...
public class TestPane extends JPanel {
private List<Drawable> drawables;
public TestPane() {
drawables = new ArrayList<>(2);
drawables.add(new Drawable(288, 128, Color.RED));
drawables.add(new Drawable(288, 384, Color.RED));
Timer timer = new Timer(5, new ActionListener() {
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
for (Drawable drawable : drawables) {
drawable.update();
}
repaint();
}
});
timer.start();
}
#Override
public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
return new Dimension(288, 512);
}
protected void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
super.paintComponent(g);
for (Drawable drawable : drawables) {
Graphics2D g2d = (Graphics2D) g.create();
drawable.paint(g2d);
g2d.dispose();
}
}
}
Putting it altogether - runnable example...
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.EventQueue;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.Graphics2D;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.Timer;
import javax.swing.UIManager;
import javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException;
public class Test {
public static void main(String[] args) {
new Test();
}
public Test() {
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
try {
UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
} catch (ClassNotFoundException | InstantiationException | IllegalAccessException | UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
ex.printStackTrace();
}
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Testing");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.add(new TestPane());
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
});
}
public class Drawable {
private int x, y;
private Color color;
public Drawable(int x, int y, Color color) {
this.x = x;
this.y = y;
this.color = color;
}
public int getX() {
return x;
}
public int getY() {
return y;
}
public Color getColor() {
return color;
}
public void update() {
x--;
if (x <= 144) {
reset();
}
}
protected void reset() {
x = 288;
y = (int) (Math.random() * (512 - 20));
}
public void paint(Graphics2D g2d) {
Graphics2D copy = (Graphics2D) g2d.create();
copy.translate(getX(), getY());
copy.setColor(getColor());
copy.drawOval(0, 0, 20, 20);
copy.dispose();
}
}
public class TestPane extends JPanel {
private List<Drawable> drawables;
public TestPane() {
drawables = new ArrayList<>(2);
drawables.add(new Drawable(288, 128, Color.RED));
drawables.add(new Drawable(288, 384, Color.RED));
Timer timer = new Timer(5, new ActionListener() {
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
for (Drawable drawable : drawables) {
drawable.update();
}
repaint();
}
});
timer.start();
}
#Override
public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
return new Dimension(288, 512);
}
protected void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
super.paintComponent(g);
for (Drawable drawable : drawables) {
Graphics2D g2d = (Graphics2D) g.create();
drawable.paint(g2d);
g2d.dispose();
}
}
}
}
"Is there a simpler solution"? Yes, of course, I always go to the hardest possible way to solve a problem first 🤪. First, good animation is hard. Seriously. I've been playing around with this sought of thing more nearly 20 years, making a good animation engine which is flexible to meet all the possible needs it might be put to is near impossible mission, especially in a framework which isn't really designed for it.
If you don't belief me, you could have a look at
How do I change Swing Timer Delay inside actionPerformed()
How can I fade out or fade in by command JPanel, its components and its color
which are just a couple of examples how complicated animation can be
Sorry, you'd be amazed how often I get asked "can it be simpler" when it comes to animation ;)
"Every new objects reaching x = 144 should build new ones
So, apparently I may be confused about this particular point. If this means "adding new objects after reaching 144" then this raises some new issues. The primary issue is one over GC overhead, which cause slow downs in the animation. Sure, we're only dealing with about 4-6 objects, but it's one of those things which can come back to byte you if you're not careful.
So I took the above example and made some modifications to the update cycle. This adds a reusePool where old objects are placed and can be re-used, reducing the GC overhead of repeatedly creating and destroying short lived objects.
The decaying List simply ensures that once an object passes the swanPoint, it won't be consider for re-spawning new objects. Sure you could put a flag on the POJO itself, but I don't think this is part of the POJOs responsibility
public TestPane() {
drawables = new ArrayList<>(2);
reusePool = new ArrayList<>(2);
decaying = new ArrayList<>(2);
timer = new Timer(5, new ActionListener() {
private List<Drawable> spawned = new ArrayList<>(5);
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
spawned.clear();
Iterator<Drawable> it = drawables.iterator();
int swapnPoint = getWidth() / 2;
while (it.hasNext()) {
Drawable drawable = it.next();
drawable.update();
if (drawable.getX() > 0 && drawable.getX() < swapnPoint) {
if (!decaying.contains(drawable)) {
decaying.add(drawable);
Drawable newDrawable = null;
if (reusePool.isEmpty()) {
newDrawable = new Drawable(
getWidth() - 20,
randomVerticalPosition(),
randomColor());
} else {
newDrawable = reusePool.remove(0);
newDrawable.reset(getWidth() - 20,
randomVerticalPosition(),
randomColor());
}
spawned.add(newDrawable);
}
} else if (drawable.getX() <= -20) {
System.out.println("Pop");
it.remove();
decaying.remove(drawable);
reusePool.add(drawable);
}
}
drawables.addAll(spawned);
repaint();
}
});
}
This will now allow objects to travel the whole width of the width, spawning new objects as they pass the half way point. Once they pass beyond the visual range of the view, they will be placed into the reuse List so they can be reused again when new objects are required.
Runnable example...
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.EventQueue;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.Graphics2D;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Iterator;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.Random;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.Timer;
import javax.swing.UIManager;
import javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException;
public class Test {
public static void main(String[] args) {
new Test();
}
public Test() {
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
try {
UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
} catch (ClassNotFoundException | InstantiationException | IllegalAccessException | UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
ex.printStackTrace();
}
TestPane testPane = new TestPane();
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Testing");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.add(testPane);
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
testPane.start();
}
});
}
});
}
public class Drawable {
private int x, y;
private Color color;
public Drawable(int x, int y, Color color) {
this.x = x;
this.y = y;
this.color = color;
}
public int getX() {
return x;
}
public int getY() {
return y;
}
public Color getColor() {
return color;
}
public void update() {
x--;
}
protected void reset(int x, int y, Color color) {
this.x = x;
this.y = y;
this.color = color;
}
public void paint(Graphics2D g2d) {
Graphics2D copy = (Graphics2D) g2d.create();
copy.translate(getX(), getY());
copy.setColor(getColor());
copy.fillOval(0, 0, 20, 20);
copy.setColor(Color.BLACK);
copy.drawOval(0, 0, 20, 20);
copy.dispose();
}
}
public class TestPane extends JPanel {
private List<Drawable> drawables;
private List<Drawable> decaying;
private List<Drawable> reusePool;
private Color[] colors = new Color[]{Color.BLUE, Color.CYAN, Color.DARK_GRAY, Color.GREEN, Color.MAGENTA, Color.ORANGE, Color.PINK, Color.RED, Color.YELLOW};
private Random rnd = new Random();
private Timer timer;
public TestPane() {
drawables = new ArrayList<>(2);
reusePool = new ArrayList<>(2);
decaying = new ArrayList<>(2);
timer = new Timer(40, new ActionListener() {
private List<Drawable> spawned = new ArrayList<>(5);
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
spawned.clear();
Iterator<Drawable> it = drawables.iterator();
int swapnPoint = getWidth() / 2;
while (it.hasNext()) {
Drawable drawable = it.next();
drawable.update();
if (drawable.getX() > 0 && drawable.getX() < swapnPoint) {
if (!decaying.contains(drawable)) {
decaying.add(drawable);
Drawable newDrawable = null;
if (reusePool.isEmpty()) {
System.out.println("New");
newDrawable = new Drawable(
getWidth() - 20,
randomVerticalPosition(),
randomColor());
} else {
System.out.println("Reuse");
newDrawable = reusePool.remove(0);
newDrawable.reset(getWidth() - 20,
randomVerticalPosition(),
randomColor());
}
spawned.add(newDrawable);
}
} else if (drawable.getX() <= -20) {
System.out.println("Pop");
it.remove();
decaying.remove(drawable);
reusePool.add(drawable);
}
}
drawables.addAll(spawned);
repaint();
}
});
}
public void start() {
drawables.add(new Drawable(getWidth(), 128, randomColor()));
drawables.add(new Drawable(getWidth(), 384, randomColor()));
timer.start();
}
protected int randomVerticalPosition() {
return rnd.nextInt(getHeight() - 20);
}
protected Color randomColor() {
return colors[rnd.nextInt(colors.length - 1)];
}
#Override
public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
return new Dimension(288, 512);
}
protected void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
super.paintComponent(g);
for (Drawable drawable : drawables) {
Graphics2D g2d = (Graphics2D) g.create();
drawable.paint(g2d);
g2d.dispose();
}
}
}
}

My answer is completely based on MadProgrammer's answer (A comprehensive tutorial actually).
From what I read in the post : "Every new objects reaching x = 144 should build new ones", I think the desired implementation is slightly different:
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.Image;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.net.URL;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;
import javax.imageio.ImageIO;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.SwingUtilities;
import javax.swing.Timer;
public class ImageAnimator {
public ImageAnimator() {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(() -> {
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Testing");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.add(new AnimationPane());
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
});
}
public static class Drawable {
private int x;
private final int y;
private static final Image image = image();
//construct with a random y value
public Drawable(int x) {
this(x, -1);
}
public Drawable(int x, int y) {
this.x = x;
this.y = y < 0 ? (int) (Math.random() * (512 - 20)) : y;
}
public int getX() { return x; }
public int getY() { return y; }
public void update() { x--; }
public Image getImage(){ return image; }
public static Image image() {
URL url = null;
try {
//5.SEP.2021 replaced dead link
//url = new URL("https://dl1.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2017/09/24/b2320b25-27f3-4059-938c-9ee4d4e5cadf/thumbnail/32x32/707de8365496c85e90c975cec8278ff5/iconimg241979.png");
url = new URL("https://cdn3.iconfinder.com/data/icons/softwaredemo/PNG/32x32/Circle_Green.png");
return ImageIO.read(url);
} catch ( IOException ex) {
ex.printStackTrace();
return null;
}
}
}
public class AnimationPane extends JPanel {
private final List<Drawable> drawables;
private static final int W = 288, H = 512, CYCLE_TIME = 5;
public AnimationPane() {
drawables = new ArrayList<>(2);
drawables.add(new Drawable(W, H/4));
drawables.add(new Drawable(W, 3*H/4));
Timer timer = new Timer(CYCLE_TIME, e -> animate());
timer.start();
}
private void animate() {
for (Drawable drawable : new ArrayList<>(drawables)) {
drawable.update();
if(drawable.getX() == W/2) {
drawables.add(new Drawable(W)); //random Y
}
if(drawable.getX() <= 0) {
drawables.remove(drawable);
}
}
repaint();
}
#Override
public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
return new Dimension(W, H);
}
#Override
protected void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
super.paintComponent(g);
for (Drawable drawable : drawables ) {
g.drawImage(drawable.getImage(),drawable.getX(), drawable.getY(), null);
}
}
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(()->new ImageAnimator());
}
}

The following solution is based on my previous answer.
I add it in response to MadProgrammer's comment: "A better solution is to pool the objects for re-use".
DrawAblesProducer produces drawable objects on-demand. It also stores surplus object, to prevent producing too many such objects.
I post it as a separate answer because the additional functionality comes with somewhat higher complexity:
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.Image;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.net.URL;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.LinkedList;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.Queue;
import javax.imageio.ImageIO;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.SwingUtilities;
import javax.swing.Timer;
public class ImageAnimator {
private static final int W = 288, H = 512;
public ImageAnimator() {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(() -> {
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Testing");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.add(new AnimationPane(new DrawAblesProducer()));
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
});
}
public class AnimationPane extends JPanel {
private final List<Drawable> drawables;
private static final int CYCLE_TIME = 5;
private final DrawAblesProducer producer;
public AnimationPane(DrawAblesProducer producer) {
this.producer = producer;
drawables = new ArrayList<>(2);
drawables.add(producer.issue(W, H/4));
drawables.add(producer.issue(W, 3*H/4));
Timer timer = new Timer(CYCLE_TIME, e -> animate());
timer.start();
}
private void animate() {
for (Drawable drawable : new ArrayList<>(drawables)) {
drawable.update();
if(drawable.getX() == W/2) {
drawables.add(producer.issue(W)); //random Y
}else if(drawable.getX() <= 0) {
drawables.remove(drawable);
producer.retrn(drawable);
}
}
repaint();
}
#Override
public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
return new Dimension(W, H);
}
#Override
protected void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
super.paintComponent(g);
for (Drawable drawable : drawables ) {
g.drawImage(drawable.getImage(),drawable.getX(), drawable.getY(), null);
}
}
}
//produces `drawable` objects on-demand. stores surplus object, to prevent producing
//too many such objects
public class DrawAblesProducer {
private final Queue<Drawable> warehouse = new LinkedList<>();
public Drawable issue(int x){
return issue(x, -1);
}
public Drawable issue(int x, int y){
Drawable drawable = warehouse.poll();
if(drawable != null ) {
drawable.setX(x); drawable.setY(y);
return drawable;
}
return new Drawable(x, y);
}
public void retrn(Drawable drawable){
warehouse.add(drawable);
}
}
public static class Drawable {
//made static so image is reused for all instances
private static final Image image = image();
private int x, y;
//construct with a random y value
public Drawable(int x) {
this(x, -1);
}
public Drawable(int x, int y) {
setX(x);
setY(y);
}
public int getX() { return x; }
public void setX(int x) { this.x = x;}
public int getY() { return y; }
public void setY(int y) {
this.y = y < 0 ? randomY() : y ;
}
private int randomY() {
int iHeight = image.getHeight(null);
return iHeight + (int) (Math.random() * (H - iHeight));
}
public void update() { x--; }
public Image getImage(){ return image; }
public static Image image() {
URL url = null;
try {
//5.SEP.2021 replaced dead link
//url = new URL("https://dl1.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2017/09/24/b2320b25-27f3-4059-938c-9ee4d4e5cadf/thumbnail/32x32/707de8365496c85e90c975cec8278ff5/iconimg241979.png");
url = new URL("https://cdn3.iconfinder.com/data/icons/softwaredemo/PNG/32x32/Circle_Green.png");
return ImageIO.read(url);
} catch ( IOException ex) { ex.printStackTrace(); }
return null;
}
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(()->new ImageAnimator());
}
}

List of graphics2D

Howcome this code below wont work? I want to add new Ovals to the ArrayList every 200 ms and display them and run them one by one. It works fine when Im running one particle s.runner(); but it doesnt seem to run all my particles.
MAIN:
import java.awt.EventQueue;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.Timer;
public class ExempelGraphics extends JFrame implements ActionListener {
Timer t;
private int inc = 0;
ArrayList<Surface> particle = new ArrayList<>();
Surface s;
public ExempelGraphics() {
t = new Timer(10, this);
t.start();
s = new Surface(10, 10);
initUI();
}
private void initUI() {
add(s);
setSize(350, 250);
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
}
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
// s.runner();
// add
if (inc++ % 20 == 0) {
particle.add(new Surface(10, 10));
}
// display
for (int i = 0; i < particle.size(); i++) {
Surface p = particle.get(i);
p.runner();
}
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
ExempelGraphics ex = new ExempelGraphics();
ex.setVisible(true);
}
});
}
}
GRAPHICS:
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.Graphics2D;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
public class Surface extends JPanel {
private int locX = 0;
private int locY = 0;
public Surface(int locX, int locY) {
this.locX = locX;
this.locY = locY;
}
public void runner() {
locX = locX + 1;
repaint();
}
#Override
public void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
super.paintComponent(g);
Graphics2D g2d = (Graphics2D) g;
g2d.setColor(Color.RED);
g2d.fillOval(locX, locY, 10, 10);
}
}

I think that you're program structure is broken. You should have only one JPanel here that does the drawing, that has its paintComponent overridden, and your Surface class should be a logical class and not a component class -- in other words, don't have it extend JPanel, and give it a public void draw(Graphics g) method where you draw the oval. Then have the drawing JPanel hold an ArrayList of these surfaces, and in the main JPanel's paintComponent method, iterate through the surfaces, calling each one's draw method.
Also your Timer's delay is not realistic and is too small. 15 would be much more realistic.
Also, don't call repaint() from within surface, since that will generate too many repaint calls unnecessarily. Instead call it from within the Timer's ActionListener after calling the runner methods on all the Surface objects.
Also note that every time you add a component to a JFrame's contentPane in a default fashion, you cover up the previously added components. If you go by my recommendations above, this isn't an issue since you'd only be adding that single JPanel to it.
For example:
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.Graphics2D;
import java.awt.RenderingHints;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;
import javax.swing.*;
#SuppressWarnings("serial")
public class ExampleGraphics2 extends JPanel {
private static final int PREF_W = 650;
private static final int PREF_H = 500;
private static final int TIMER_DELAY = 20;
private List<Surface> surfaces = new ArrayList<>();
public ExampleGraphics2() {
new Timer(TIMER_DELAY, new TimerListener()).start();
}
#Override
protected void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
super.paintComponent(g);
Graphics2D g2 = (Graphics2D) g;
g2.setRenderingHint(RenderingHints.KEY_ANTIALIASING, RenderingHints.VALUE_ANTIALIAS_ON);
for (Surface surface : surfaces) {
surface.draw(g);
}
}
#Override
public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
if (isPreferredSizeSet()) {
return super.getPreferredSize();
}
return new Dimension(PREF_W, PREF_H);
}
private class TimerListener implements ActionListener {
private int index = 0;
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
index++;
index %= 20;
if (index == 0) {
surfaces.add(new Surface(10, 10));
}
for (Surface surface : surfaces) {
surface.runner();
}
repaint();
}
}
private static void createAndShowGui() {
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Example Graphics 2");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.getContentPane().add(new ExampleGraphics2());
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(() -> createAndShowGui());
}
}
package foo1;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.Graphics2D;
public class Surface {
private int locX = 0;
private int locY = 0;
public Surface(int locX, int locY) {
this.locX = locX;
this.locY = locY;
}
public void runner() {
locX = locX + 1;
}
public void draw(Graphics g) {
Graphics2D g2d = (Graphics2D) g;
g2d.setColor(Color.RED);
g2d.fillOval(locX, locY, 10, 10);
}
}

drawImage error when trying to draw a sprite onto a JFrame

I have this really crappy sprite sheet that I made, which is basically just a bunch of circles and ovals so I can grasp Sprite animation.
import javax.imageio.ImageIO;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.Timer;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import java.awt.image.BufferedImage;
import java.io.File;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.util.*;
public class CircleSprite extends JFrame implements ActionListener, Runnable{
BufferedImage circles;
BufferedImage[] test;
Timer timer;
int cycle = 0;
Graphics g = getGraphics();
public void asd(){
setSize(500,500);
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
try {
circles = ImageIO.read(new File("CircleTest.png"));
} catch (IOException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
final int width = 206;
final int height = 206;
final int rows= 2;
final int columns = 3;
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
test = new BufferedImage[rows * columns];
try{
for(int i = 0; i < rows; i++)
for(int j = 0;j<columns;j++)
{
test[i*columns + j] = circles.getSubimage(j * width, i * height, width, height);
}
}catch(Exception e){
e.printStackTrace();
}
timer = new Timer(500, this);
setVisible(true);
}
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e){
//0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, 1, 2, etc.
repaint();
g.drawImage(test[cycle], 25, 25, null);
if(cycle >= 5){
cycle--;
}
if(cycle <=0){
cycle++;
}
}
public void run(){
asd();
while(timer.isRunning() == false && this.isVisible() == true){
timer.start();
try {
CircleSpriteRun.t1.sleep(500);
} catch (InterruptedException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
}
}
The error occurs here: g.drawImage(test[cycle], 25, 25, null);
At first I though it had to do with the ImageObserver being null, and looking further into it, I was wrong. Now, I think it might be because of the timer, but I don't really know too much about Timers, let alone the swing one.
This all runs on a Thread being executed in another class, and it could also have to do with the while statement in the run method, since that also involves the timer.

Since you didn't provide a runnable example, I created one to show how to properly code a Swing application.
First, you must start a Swing application with the SwingUtilities.invokeLater method. Here's how I started the CircleSprite class.
public static void main(String[] args) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new CircleSprite());
}
Second, you should use a JPanel for drawing, not a JFrame. Here's the DrawingPanel I created. My version of CircleSprite draws a circle in a random location every 2 seconds.
public class DrawingPanel extends JPanel {
private static final long serialVersionUID = -4603711384104715819L;
private int x;
private int y;
private BufferedImage image;
public DrawingPanel(BufferedImage image) {
this.image = image;
this.x = 0;
this.y = 0;
setPreferredSize(new Dimension(500, 500));
}
public void setPoint(int x, int y) {
this.x = x;
this.y = y;
repaint();
}
#Override
protected void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
super.paintComponent(g);
g.drawImage(image, x, y, null);
}
}
Third, you create the Swing GUI before you do anything with the Swing GUI. Here's the run method from the CircleSprite class. I create the GUI, then I start the thread that does the random drawing.
public void run() {
circle = createCircle();
frame = new JFrame("Circle Sprite");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
drawingPanel = new DrawingPanel(circle);
frame.add(drawingPanel);
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationByPlatform(true);
frame.setVisible(true);
new Thread(new RandomDraw(drawingPanel)).start();
}
Fourth, you only extend a Swing component when you want to override a method, like I did in the DraawingPanel class. You use Swing Components otherwise.
Here's the entire, runnable, CircleSprite class. You can use this as a model for future Swing applications.
package com.ggl.testing;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.image.BufferedImage;
import java.util.Random;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.SwingUtilities;
public class CircleSprite implements Runnable {
private BufferedImage circle;
private DrawingPanel drawingPanel;
private JFrame frame;
#Override
public void run() {
circle = createCircle();
frame = new JFrame("Circle Sprite");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
drawingPanel = new DrawingPanel(circle);
frame.add(drawingPanel);
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationByPlatform(true);
frame.setVisible(true);
new Thread(new RandomDraw(drawingPanel)).start();
}
private BufferedImage createCircle() {
BufferedImage image = new BufferedImage(100, 100,
BufferedImage.TYPE_INT_RGB);
Graphics g = image.getGraphics();
g.setColor(Color.WHITE);
g.fillRect(0, 0, 100, 100);
g.setColor(Color.BLUE);
g.fillOval(10, 10, 80, 80);
g.dispose();
return image;
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new CircleSprite());
}
public class DrawingPanel extends JPanel {
private static final long serialVersionUID = -4603711384104715819L;
private int x;
private int y;
private BufferedImage image;
public DrawingPanel(BufferedImage image) {
this.image = image;
this.x = 0;
this.y = 0;
setPreferredSize(new Dimension(500, 500));
}
public void setPoint(int x, int y) {
this.x = x;
this.y = y;
repaint();
}
#Override
protected void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
super.paintComponent(g);
g.drawImage(image, x, y, null);
}
}
public class RandomDraw implements Runnable {
private DrawingPanel drawingPanel;
private Random random;
public RandomDraw(DrawingPanel drawingPanel) {
this.drawingPanel = drawingPanel;
this.random = new Random();
}
#Override
public void run() {
while (true) {
sleep();
int x = random.nextInt(400);
int y = random.nextInt(400);
drawingPanel.setPoint(x, y);
}
}
private void sleep() {
try {
Thread.sleep(2000L);
} catch (InterruptedException e) {
}
}
}
}

Java applet repaint a moving circle

I've just moved over from Pygame so Java 2D in an applet is a little new to me, especially when it comes to repainting the screen. In pygame you can simply do display.fill([1,1,1]) but how do I do this in an applet in Java? I understand the use of repaint() but that doesn't clear the screen - any moving object is not 'removed' from the screen so you just get a long line of painted circles.
Here's my code that I've been testing with:
package circles;
import java.applet.Applet;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.Graphics2D;
import java.util.Random;
public class circles extends Applet implements Runnable {
private static final long serialVersionUID = -6945236773451552299L;
static Random r = new Random();
String msg = "Click to play!";
static int w = 800, h = 800;
int[] txtPos = { (w/2)-50,(h/2)-50 };
int[] radiusRange = { 5,25 };
int[] circles;
static int[] posRange;
int x = 0, y = 0;
int radius = 0;
int cursorRadius = 10;
boolean game = false;
public static int[] pos() {
int side = r.nextInt(5-1)+1;
switch(side) {
case 1:
posRange = new int[]{ 1,r.nextInt(w),r.nextInt((h+40)-h)+h,r.nextInt(270-90)+90 };
break;
case 2:
posRange = new int[]{ 2,r.nextInt((w+40)-w)+w,r.nextInt(h),r.nextInt(270-90)+90 };
break;
case 3:
posRange = new int[]{ 3,r.nextInt(w),r.nextInt(40)-40,r.nextInt(180) };
break;
case 4:
posRange = new int[]{ 4,r.nextInt(40)-40,r.nextInt(h),r.nextInt(180) };
break;
}
System.out.println(side);
return posRange;
}
public void start() {
setSize(500,500);
setBackground(Color.BLACK);
new Thread(this).start();
}
public void run() {
}
public void update(Graphics g) {
paint(g);
}
public void paint(Graphics e) {
Graphics2D g = (Graphics2D) e;
if(System.currentTimeMillis()%113==0) {
x+=1;
y+=1;
}
g.setColor(Color.BLUE);
g.fillOval(x,y,20,20);
repaint();
}
}

You need to call super.paint(g); in your paint method, as to not leave paint artifacts.
Never call repaint() from inside the paint method
Don't explicitly call paint, as you do in update(), when you mean to call reapaint()
just update the x and y values from inside the update() method, then call repaint()
You don't need to take a Graphics argument in update()
You need to call update() somewhere repeatedly in a loop, as it updates the x and y and reapint()s
If your class is going to be a Runnable, then you should put some code in the run() method. That's probably where you should have your loop
import java.applet.Applet;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.Graphics2D;
public class circles extends Applet implements Runnable {
int x = 0, y = 0;
public void start() {
setSize(500, 500);
setBackground(Color.BLACK);
new Thread(this).start();
}
public void run() {
while (true) {
try {
update();
Thread.sleep(50);
} catch (InterruptedException ex) {
}
}
}
public void update() {
x += 5;
y += 6;
repaint();
}
public void paint(Graphics e) {
super.paint(e);
Graphics2D g = (Graphics2D) e;
g.setColor(Color.BLUE);
g.fillOval(x, y, 20, 20);
}
}
Side Notes
Why use Applets in the first place. If you must, why use AWT Applet and not Swing JApplet? Time for an upgrade.
Here's how I'd redo the whole thing in Swing, using a Swing Timer instead of a loop and Thread.sleep, as you should be doing.
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.SwingUtilities;
import javax.swing.Timer;
public class Circle extends JPanel{
private static final int D_W = 500;
private static final int D_H = 500;
int x = 0;
int y = 0;
public Circle() {
setBackground(Color.BLACK);
Timer timer = new Timer(50, new ActionListener(){
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
x += 5;
y += 5;
repaint();
}
});
timer.start();
}
#Override
protected void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
super.paintComponent(g);
g.setColor(Color.BLUE);
g.fillOval(x, y, 20, 20);
}
#Override
public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
return new Dimension(D_W, D_H);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
JFrame frame = new JFrame();
frame.add(new Circle());
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
});
}
}
See How to use Swing Timers
See Create GUIs with Swing
Here's more advanced example for you to look at and ponder.
UPDATE
"Problem is, that's a JPANEL application. I specifically want to make an applet easily usable on a web page. "
You can still use it. Just use the JPanel. Take out the main method, and instead of Applet, use a JApplet and just add the JPanel to your applet. Easy as that.
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import javax.swing.JApplet;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.Timer;
public class CircleApplet extends JApplet {
#Override
public void init() {
add(new Circle());
}
public class Circle extends JPanel {
private static final int D_W = 500;
private static final int D_H = 500;
int x = 0;
int y = 0;
public Circle() {
setBackground(Color.BLACK);
Timer timer = new Timer(50, new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
x += 5;
y += 5;
repaint();
}
});
timer.start();
}
#Override
protected void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
super.paintComponent(g);
g.setColor(Color.BLUE);
g.fillOval(x, y, 20, 20);
}
#Override
public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
return new Dimension(D_W, D_H);
}
}
}

How do I draw the same moving image multiple times?

Hello I'm making a platformer game and when you press space the character shoots a fireball that moves across the screen but when you press space again the fireball's coordinates are set back to the player's coordinates rather than drawing another fireball which is what I want.
import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;
public class Fire extends JPanel{
Image fireball;
private int x=155000,y=155000;
Player player = new Player();
public void paint(Graphics g){
g.drawImage(fireball, x, y, null);
}
public Fire(){
}
public void update(){
fireball = new ImageIcon("C:\\Users\\steven.greens10\\Desktop\\Programs\\Raw Java\\Platform\\res\\fireball.png").getImage();
x+=5;
if(x > 640){
x=155000;
}
}
public void shoot(Player p){
x = p.getX();
y = p.getY();
repaint();
}
}

#KevinWorkman is right. You need some kind of data structure to hold the fireballs. In the example below I used a List of Fireball.
List<Fireball> fireBalls;
...
private class Fireball {
Image fireball;
int x = 150;
int y = 125;
public Fireball(Image image) {
fireball = image;
}
public void drawFireball(Graphics g) {
g.drawImage(fireball, x, y, 50, 50, null);
}
}
To paint them, I just iterate through them. To make them move forward I just increas the x value in the timer and call repaint
#Override
protected void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
super.paintComponent(g);
...
for (Fireball ball : fireBalls) {
ball.drawFireball(g);
}
}
Here's the complete code
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import java.awt.image.BufferedImage;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.net.URL;
import java.util.*;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.logging.*;
import javax.imageio.ImageIO;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.Timer;
public class WannaBeStreetFighter extends JPanel {
private static final int D_W = 700;
private static final int D_H = 250;
private static final int X_INC = 10;
List<Fireball> fireBalls;
BufferedImage ryu;
BufferedImage fireball;
BufferedImage background;
public WannaBeStreetFighter() {
try {
ryu = ImageIO.read(new URL("http://www.sirlin.net/storage/street_fighter/ryu_hadoken_pose.png?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1226531909576"));
background = ImageIO.read(new URL("http://fightingstreet.com/folders/variousinfofolder/ehondasbath/hondasfz3stage.gif"));
fireball = ImageIO.read(new URL("http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5480/12297371495_ec19ded155_o.png"));
} catch (IOException ex) {
Logger.getLogger(WannaBeStreetFighter.class.getName()).log(Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
}
fireBalls = new LinkedList<>();
Timer timer = new Timer(40, new ActionListener() {
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
Iterator<Fireball> it = fireBalls.iterator();
while (it.hasNext()) {
Fireball ball = it.next();
if (ball.x > D_W) {
it.remove();
System.out.println(fireBalls.size());
} else {
ball.x += X_INC;
repaint();
}
}
}
});
timer.start();
InputMap inputMap = getInputMap(JComponent.WHEN_IN_FOCUSED_WINDOW);
inputMap.put(KeyStroke.getKeyStroke("SPACE"), "hadouken");
getActionMap().put("hadouken", new AbstractAction() {
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
fireBalls.add(new Fireball(fireball));
}
});
}
#Override
protected void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
super.paintComponent(g);
g.drawImage(background, 0, 0, D_W, D_H, this);
g.drawImage(ryu, 50, 125, 150, 115, this);
for (Fireball ball : fireBalls) {
ball.drawFireball(g);
}
}
#Override
public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
return new Dimension(D_W, D_H);
}
private class Fireball {
Image fireball;
int x = 150;
int y = 125;
public Fireball(Image image) {
fireball = image;
}
public void drawFireball(Graphics g) {
g.drawImage(fireball, x, y, 75, 50, null);
}
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Best Street Fighter ever");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.add(new WannaBeStreetFighter());
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
});
}
}

Did you try creating another instance of Image? For example:
Image fireball, firball2;
Now you have two Image objects. So when you call g.dawImage(...):
public void paint(Graphics g){
g.drawImage(fireball, x, y, null);
g.drawImage(fireball2, x+10, y+10, null);//just draw this other Image
}
You can just keep drawing multiple images. Also, I changed the x and y positions, so the two Image objects don't overlap.
Now if you want a bunch of Image objects, then use an ArrayList of Image objects:
ArrayList<Image> fireballs = new ArrayList<Image>();
Read more about ArrayList here.