d2dlib

A .NET library that provides the hardware-accelerated high-performance immediate mode rendering functionality via Direct2D API.

By using the graphics context to draw anything on windows form, control or draw in memory. The interface of the graphics context is designed like the .NET framework Windows Form GDI+ graphics interface, it's easy-to-use and user-friendly.

Project	Language	Description	Output DLL
d2dlib	VC++	Wrapper host-side library, calling Windows SDK and Direct2D API	d2dlib.dll
d2dlibexport	C#	Wrapper client-side library, export the interface provided from d2dlib	d2dlibexport.dll
d2dlibexportwinform	C#	Provides the .NET classes used in windows form development, like D2DWinForm and D2DControl that use Direct2D hardware-acceleration rendering	d2dlibwinform.dll

Installation

Get binary from NuGet

install-package unvell.d2dlib

Install manually

Get binary from the source code repository

When you have cloned the source code repository, the binary DLLs can be found at the binary/x86-build folder.

Build from source code

Use git to clone the source code repository

git clone https://github.com/jingwood/d2dlib

Open d2dlib.sln from the src folder with Visual Studio 2019 or later, choose Build -> Batch Build... menu, then click Build button.

The output DLLs will be generated to the binary/x86-build folder.

Add project references

1. Add d2dlibexport.dll and d2dlibwinform.dll as application references
2. Put d2dlib32.dll in the Debug, Release or the folder where the application runs

You can also add d2dlib32.dll as a project file, and set it's property Copy to output folder to Copy if newer.

For different build configuration and platform target, the d2dlib32.dll is named as following:

Build configuration	Platform	Name
Debug	x86 (32bit)	d2dlib32d.dll
Release	x86 (32bit)	d2dlib32.dll
Debug	x64 (64bit)	d2dlib64d.dll
Release	x64 (64bit)	d2dlib64.dll

Installation Notice

For application uses .NET Core, .NET framework 4.5 and later

Make sure the "Prefer 32-bit" option is checked. You can find this option from the "Build" page of the project setting.

For application uses .NET framework 4 and early

Change the project's build configuration from 'Any CPU' to 'x86' architecture.

Getting Started

1. Make windows form or control inherited from D2DForm or D2DControl class
2. Override OnRender(D2DGraphics g) method (do not override .NET OnPaint method)
3. Draw anything inside OnRender method via the g context

Drawing

Draw rectangle

var rect = new D2DRect(0, 0, 10, 10);
g.DrawEllipse(rect, D2DColor.Red);

Draw an ellipse

var ellipse = new D2DEllipse(0, 0, 10, 10);
g.DrawEllipse(ellipse, D2DColor.Gray);

Draw text

protected override void OnRender(D2DGraphics g)
{
  g.DrawText("Hello World", D2DColor.Yellow, this.Font, 100, 200);
}

Using brush object

Solid color brush

var brush = Device.CreateSolidColorBrush(new D2DColor(1, 0, 0.5));
g.DrawEllipse(rect, brush);

Linear and radio gradient brush

var brush = Device.CreateLinearGradientBrush(new D2DPoint(0, 0), new D2DPoint(200, 100),
  new D2DGradientStop[] {
    new D2DGradientStop(0, D2DColor.White),
    new D2DGradientStop(0.5, D2DColor.Green),
    new D2DGradientStop(1, D2DColor.Black),
  });

Draw bitmap

g.DrawBitmap(bmp, this.ClientRectangle);

Convert GDI+ bitmap to Direct2D bitmap for getting high-performance rendering

// convert to Direct2D bitmap
var d2dbmp = Device.CreateBitmapFromGDIBitmap(gdiBitmap);

// draw Direct2D bitmap
g.DrawBitmap(d2dbmp, this.ClientRectangle);

Drawing on GDI+ bitmap

// create and draw on GDI+ bitmap
var gdiBmp = new Bitmap(1024, 1024);
using (Graphics g = Graphics.FromImage(gdiBmp))
{
  g.DrawString("This is GDI+ bitmap layer", new Font(this.Font.FontFamily, 48), Brushes.Black, 10, 10);
}

// draw memory bitmap on screen
g.DrawBitmap(gdiBmp, this.ClientRectangle);

Learn more about Bitmap. See Example code

Drawing on Direct2D memory bitmap

var bmpGraphics = this.Device.CreateBitmapGraphics(1024, 1024);
bmpGraphics.BeginRender();
bmpGraphics.FillRectangle(170, 790, 670, 80, new D2DColor(0.4f, D2DColor.Black));
bmpGraphics.DrawText("This is Direct2D device bitmap", D2DColor.Goldenrod, this.Font, 180, 800);
bmpGraphics.EndRender();

// draw this device bitmap on screen
g.DrawBitmap(bmpGraphics, this.ClientRectangle);

Note: When creating a Direct2D Device bitmap, do not forget call BeginRender and EndRender method.

Using transform

By calling PushTransform and PopTransform to make a transform session.

g.PushTransform();

// rotate 45 degree
g.RotateTransform(45, centerPoint);

g.DrawBitmap(mybmp, rect);
g.PopTransform();

Examples

Fast images rendering See source code

Custom draw on memory bitmap See source code

Star space simulation See source code

Subtitle rendering See source code

Whiteboard App
See source code