tools-only Pixie-python API Reference
Quick reference for creating custom geometric elements.
Setup
import pixie
import math
# Create canvas
image = pixie.Image(width, height) # width, height must be int
# Create drawing context
ctx = image.new_context()
Colors & Paints
# Solid color
paint = pixie.Paint(pixie.SOLID_PAINT)
paint.color = pixie.Color(r, g, b, a) # 0.0-1.0 range
# Linear gradient
paint = pixie.Paint(pixie.LINEAR_GRADIENT_PAINT)
paint.gradient_handle_positions.append(pixie.Vector2(x1, y1))
paint.gradient_handle_positions.append(pixie.Vector2(x2, y2))
paint.gradient_stops.append(pixie.ColorStop(color1, 0)) # position 0-1
paint.gradient_stops.append(pixie.ColorStop(color2, 1))
# Radial gradient
paint = pixie.Paint(pixie.RADIAL_GRADIENT_PAINT)
paint.gradient_handle_positions.append(pixie.Vector2(cx, cy)) # center
paint.gradient_handle_positions.append(pixie.Vector2(cx+r, cy)) # edge X
paint.gradient_handle_positions.append(pixie.Vector2(cx, cy+r)) # edge Y
Drawing with Context
ctx.stroke_style = paint
ctx.fill_style = paint
ctx.line_width = 2.0
ctx.line_cap = pixie.ROUND_CAP # or BUTT_CAP, SQUARE_CAP
ctx.line_join = pixie.ROUND_JOIN # or MITER_JOIN, BEVEL_JOIN
# Draw line segment
ctx.stroke_segment(x1, y1, x2, y2)
Paths (SVG-style)
# Parse SVG path string
path = pixie.parse_path("M 10 10 L 100 100 Z")
# SVG path commands:
# M x y - Move to
# L x y - Line to
# H x - Horizontal line
# V y - Vertical line
# A rx ry rotation large-arc sweep x y - Arc
# Q cx cy x y - Quadratic bezier
# C c1x c1y c2x c2y x y - Cubic bezier
# Z - Close path
# Stroke path
image.stroke_path(path, paint, pixie.Matrix3(), stroke_width)
# Fill path
image.fill_path(path, paint)
Shapes via Path
path = pixie.Path()
# Circle/Ellipse
path.ellipse(cx, cy, rx, ry)
# Rectangle
path.rect(x, y, width, height)
# Rounded rectangle
path.rounded_rect(x, y, w, h, radius_nw, radius_ne, radius_se, radius_sw)
# Then stroke or fill
image.stroke_path(path, paint, pixie.Matrix3(), stroke_width)
image.fill_path(path, paint)
Common Patterns
Circle at position
circle = pixie.Path()
circle.ellipse(cx, cy, radius, radius)
image.stroke_path(circle, paint, pixie.Matrix3(), stroke)
Polygon (n sides)
points = []
for i in range(n_sides):
angle = (2 * math.pi / n_sides) * i + rotation
x = cx + radius * math.cos(angle)
y = cy + radius * math.sin(angle)
points.append((x, y))
path_str = f"M {points[0][0]} {points[0][1]}"
for x, y in points[1:]:
path_str += f" L {x} {y}"
path_str += " Z"
path = pixie.parse_path(path_str)
image.stroke_path(path, paint, pixie.Matrix3(), stroke)
Points arranged in circle
for i in range(n_points):
angle = (2 * math.pi / n_points) * i
x = cx + radius * math.cos(angle)
y = cy + radius * math.sin(angle)
# draw something at (x, y)
Arc (quarter circle)
# SVG arc: A rx ry x-rotation large-arc-flag sweep-flag x y
path_str = f"M {start_x} {start_y} A {radius} {radius} 0 0 1 {end_x} {end_y}"
Bezier curve
# Quadratic: Q control_x control_y end_x end_y
path_str = f"M {x1} {y1} Q {cx} {cy} {x2} {y2}"
# Cubic: C c1x c1y c2x c2y end_x end_y
path_str = f"M {x1} {y1} C {c1x} {c1y} {c2x} {c2y} {x2} {y2}"
Output
image.write_file("output.png")
Full Example: Star
import pixie
import math
size = 400
image = pixie.Image(size, size)
paint = pixie.Paint(pixie.SOLID_PAINT)
paint.color = pixie.Color(0.83, 0.66, 0.29, 1.0) # Gold
cx, cy = size/2, size/2
outer_r, inner_r = 150, 60
points = 5
path_parts = []
for i in range(points * 2):
angle = (math.pi / points) * i - math.pi/2
r = outer_r if i % 2 == 0 else inner_r
x = cx + r * math.cos(angle)
y = cy + r * math.sin(angle)
cmd = "M" if i == 0 else "L"
path_parts.append(f"{cmd} {x} {y}")
path_parts.append("Z")
path = pixie.parse_path(" ".join(path_parts))
image.stroke_path(path, paint, pixie.Matrix3(), 3)
image.write_file("star.png")
Tips
- Transparent bg: Default, no fill needed
- Anti-aliasing: Built-in, always on
- Coordinates: Top-left is (0,0)
- Matrix3(): Identity transform, use for no transform
- Path reuse: Create once, draw multiple times