Multi-gradient shapes

Question

I'd like to create a shape that's like the following image:

Notice the top half gradients from color 1 to color 2, but theres a bottom half that gradients from color 3 to color 4. I know how to make a shape with a single gradient, but I'm not sure how to split a shape into two halves and make 1 shape with 2 different gradients.

Any ideas?

Pickerel

also see https://mcmap.net/q/83299/-is-it-possible-to-set-the-background-color-on-glass-gdk-immersion – Pipage

Answer 1

I don't think you can do this in XML (at least not in Android), but I've found a good solution posted here that looks like it'd be a great help!

ShapeDrawable.ShaderFactory sf = new ShapeDrawable.ShaderFactory() {
    @Override
    public Shader resize(int width, int height) {
        LinearGradient lg = new LinearGradient(0, 0, width, height,
            new int[]{Color.GREEN, Color.GREEN, Color.WHITE, Color.WHITE},
            new float[]{0,0.5f,.55f,1}, Shader.TileMode.REPEAT);
        return lg;
    }
};

PaintDrawable p=new PaintDrawable();
p.setShape(new RectShape());
p.setShaderFactory(sf);

Basically, the int array allows you to select multiple color stops, and the following float array defines where those stops are positioned (from 0 to 1). You can then, as stated, just use this as a standard Drawable.

Edit: Here's how you could use this in your scenario. Let's say you have a Button defined in XML like so:

<Button
    android:id="@+id/thebutton"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:text="Press Me!"
    />

You'd then put something like this in your onCreate() method:

Button theButton = (Button)findViewById(R.id.thebutton);
ShapeDrawable.ShaderFactory sf = new ShapeDrawable.ShaderFactory() {
    @Override
    public Shader resize(int width, int height) {
        LinearGradient lg = new LinearGradient(0, 0, 0, theButton.getHeight(),
            new int[] { 
                Color.LIGHT_GREEN, 
                Color.WHITE, 
                Color.MID_GREEN, 
                Color.DARK_GREEN }, //substitute the correct colors for these
            new float[] {
                0, 0.45f, 0.55f, 1 },
            Shader.TileMode.REPEAT);
         return lg;
    }
};
PaintDrawable p = new PaintDrawable();
p.setShape(new RectShape());
p.setShaderFactory(sf);
theButton.setBackground((Drawable)p);

I cannot test this at the moment, this is code from my head, but basically just replace, or add stops for the colors that you need. Basically, in my example, you would start with a light green, fade to white slightly before the center (to give a fade, rather than a harsh transition), fade from white to mid green between 45% and 55%, then fade from mid green to dark green from 55% to the end. This may not look exactly like your shape (Right now, I have no way of testing these colors), but you can modify this to replicate your example.

Edit: Also, the 0, 0, 0, theButton.getHeight() refers to the x0, y0, x1, y1 coordinates of the gradient. So basically, it starts at x = 0 (left side), y = 0 (top), and stretches to x = 0 (we're wanting a vertical gradient, so no left to right angle is necessary), y = the height of the button. So the gradient goes at a 90 degree angle from the top of the button to the bottom of the button.

Edit: Okay, so I have one more idea that works, haha. Right now it works in XML, but should be doable for shapes in Java as well. It's kind of complex, and I imagine there's a way to simplify it into a single shape, but this is what I've got for now:

green_horizontal_gradient.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:shape="rectangle"
    >
    <corners
        android:radius="3dp"
        />
    <gradient
        android:angle="0"
        android:startColor="#FF63a34a"
        android:endColor="#FF477b36"
        android:type="linear"
        />    
</shape>

half_overlay.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:shape="rectangle"
    >
    <solid
        android:color="#40000000"
        />
</shape>

layer_list.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layer-list
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    >
    <item
        android:drawable="@drawable/green_horizontal_gradient"
        android:id="@+id/green_gradient"
        />
    <item
        android:drawable="@drawable/half_overlay"
        android:id="@+id/half_overlay"
        android:top="50dp"
        />
</layer-list>

test.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="fill_parent"
    android:gravity="center"
    >
    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/image_test"
        android:background="@drawable/layer_list"
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
        android:layout_height="100dp"
        android:layout_marginLeft="15dp"
        android:layout_marginRight="15dp"
        android:gravity="center"
        android:text="Layer List Drawable!"
        android:textColor="@android:color/white"
        android:textStyle="bold"
        android:textSize="26sp"     
        />
</RelativeLayout>

Okay, so basically I've created a shape gradient in XML for the horizontal green gradient, set at a 0 degree angle, going from the top area's left green color, to the right green color. Next, I made a shape rectangle with a half transparent gray. I'm pretty sure that could be inlined into the layer-list XML, obviating this extra file, but I'm not sure how. But okay, then the kind of hacky part comes in on the layer_list XML file. I put the green gradient as the bottom layer, then put the half overlay as the second layer, offset from the top by 50dp. Obviously you'd want this number to always be half of whatever your view size is, though, and not a fixed 50dp. I don't think you can use percentages, though. From there, I just inserted a TextView into my test.xml layout, using the layer_list.xml file as my background. I set the height to 100dp (twice the size of the offset of the overlay), resulting in the following:

Tada!

One more edit: I've realized you can just embed the shapes into the layer list drawable as items, meaning you don't need 3 separate XML files any more! You can achieve the same result combining them like so:

layer_list.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layer-list
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    >
    <item>
        <shape
            xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
            android:shape="rectangle"
            >
            <corners
                android:radius="3dp"
                />
            <gradient
                android:angle="0"
                android:startColor="#FF63a34a"
                android:endColor="#FF477b36"
                android:type="linear"
                />    
        </shape>
    </item>
    <item
        android:top="50dp" 
        >
        <shape
            android:shape="rectangle"
            >
            <solid
                android:color="#40000000"
                />
        </shape>            
    </item>
</layer-list>

You can layer as many items as you like this way! I may try to play around and see if I can get a more versatile result through Java.

I think this is the last edit...: Okay, so you can definitely fix the positioning through Java, like the following:

    TextView tv = (TextView)findViewById(R.id.image_test);
    LayerDrawable ld = (LayerDrawable)tv.getBackground();
    int topInset = tv.getHeight() / 2 ; //does not work!
    ld.setLayerInset(1, 0, topInset, 0, 0);
    tv.setBackgroundDrawable(ld);

However! This leads to yet another annoying problem in that you cannot measure the TextView until after it has been drawn. I'm not quite sure yet how you can accomplish this...but manually inserting a number for topInset does work.

I lied, one more edit

Okay, found out how to manually update this layer drawable to match the height of the container, full description can be found here. This code should go in your onCreate() method:

final TextView tv = (TextView)findViewById(R.id.image_test);
        ViewTreeObserver vto = tv.getViewTreeObserver();
        vto.addOnGlobalLayoutListener(new OnGlobalLayoutListener() {
            @Override
            public void onGlobalLayout() {
                LayerDrawable ld = (LayerDrawable)tv.getBackground();
                ld.setLayerInset(1, 0, tv.getHeight() / 2, 0, 0);
            }
        });

And I'm done! Whew! :)

Sandiesandifer

The problem with this is the gradient is vertical. I need the shape separated vertically (ie: a horizontal line), but I need the gradient to be horizontal (ie: move left to right). With this example, both the separater and the gradient are vertical. – Pickerel

Oh okay, I get what you're saying now. (Images are blocked at work, so I could only view yours from my phone, hard to tell details well). Unfortunately I don't have a solution to that offhand, although I would assume you could create a drawable shape with two rectangles, one with a horizontal gradient, one with a white-to-black vertical gradient at half the size at half opacity, aligned to the bottom. As far as how to do that I don't have any specific examples at the moment. – Sandiesandifer

Yea, that's what I was hoping to be able to do, but I just haven't figured it out yet. I do appreciate your help – Pickerel

You're welcome! I've given it one more try, and I think I've pretty much got what you're looking for. You may have to make these dynamically through Java (as per the comments) but this does the trick for fixed sizes right now. – Sandiesandifer

Heh, I just can't leave this alone. I found out you can combine those 3 files into a single XML drawable, I've added that above! – Sandiesandifer

Final Java code solution added! I learned a lot out of this question! :O – Sandiesandifer

True, that would be much easier! Theoretically the quality of the gradient would be better doing it via XML or Java, if it had to be stretched a lot, but for most situations, you're right that a 9-patch is a great solution! – Sandiesandifer

That's the kind of answer you want to give +10 at least. I love the feeling of fight in your answer: you vs Android API, who will win? Will we ever know? ;) Plus, it's super useful learning material since you retained all the quirks you've encountered. – Displant

This is awesome. About the edit where you are combining three xml into one, how do I add a 5dip border around the element? Thanks – Knowhow

excellent piece of work. I tried all methods, but for me first one worked smoothly. Glad to see so many solutions in one. One question though, how to add shadow to it? – Erg

Answer 2

You can layer gradient shapes in the xml using a layer-list. Imagine a button with the default state as below, where the second item is semi-transparent. It adds a sort of vignetting. (Please excuse the custom-defined colours.)

<!-- Normal state. -->
<item>
    <layer-list>
        <item>  
            <shape>
                <gradient 
                    android:startColor="@color/grey_light"
                    android:endColor="@color/grey_dark"
                    android:type="linear"
                    android:angle="270"
                    android:centerColor="@color/grey_mediumtodark" />
                <stroke
                    android:width="1dp"
                    android:color="@color/grey_dark" />
                <corners
                    android:radius="5dp" />
            </shape>
        </item>
        <item>  
            <shape>
                <gradient 
                    android:startColor="#00666666"
                    android:endColor="#77666666"
                    android:type="radial"
                    android:gradientRadius="200"
                    android:centerColor="#00666666"
                    android:centerX="0.5"
                    android:centerY="0" />
                <stroke
                    android:width="1dp"
                    android:color="@color/grey_dark" />
                <corners
                    android:radius="5dp" />
            </shape>
        </item>
    </layer-list>
</item>

Shut

Answer 3

You CAN do it using only xml shapes - just use layer-list AND negative padding like this:

    <layer-list>

        <item>
            <shape>
                <solid android:color="#ffffff" />

                <padding android:top="20dp" />
            </shape>
        </item>

        <item>
            <shape>
                <gradient android:endColor="#ffffff" android:startColor="#efefef" android:type="linear" android:angle="90" />

                <padding android:top="-20dp" />
            </shape>
        </item>

    </layer-list>

Octal

Answer 4

Try this method then you can do every thing you want.
It is like a stack so be careful which item comes first or last.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layer-list
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<item android:right="50dp" android:start="10dp" android:left="10dp">
    <shape
        xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
        android:shape="rectangle">
        <corners android:radius="3dp" />
        <solid android:color="#012d08"/>
    </shape>
</item>
<item android:top="50dp">
    <shape android:shape="rectangle">
        <solid android:color="#7c4b4b" />
    </shape>
</item>
<item android:top="90dp" android:end="60dp">
    <shape android:shape="rectangle">
        <solid android:color="#e2cc2626" />
    </shape>
</item>
<item android:start="50dp" android:bottom="20dp" android:top="120dp">
    <shape android:shape="rectangle">
        <solid android:color="#360e0e" />
    </shape>
</item>

Kitchenette

Answer 5

Have you tried to overlay one gradient with a nearly-transparent opacity for the highlight on top of another image with an opaque opacity for the green gradient?

Laocoon

No I have not, though I'm not quite sure how to lay one gradient over another in a shape. I'm using the shape as a background of a LinearLayout using android:background="@drawable/myshape" – Pickerel

Is it possible to layer two shapes with differing opacities on top of each other? (I don't know.) – Laocoon

Answer 6

<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:shape="rectangle">
<stroke
    android:width="2dp"
    android:color="#AEAEAE"></stroke>
<corners android:radius="0dp" />
<padding
    android:bottom="2dp"
    android:left="5dp"
    android:right="1dp"
    android:top="2dp" />

<gradient
    android:endColor="#3F51B5"
    android:startColor="#2196F3"
    android:type="linear"></gradient>

Substratosphere

This does not provide an answer to the question. Once you have sufficient reputation you will be able to comment on any post; instead, provide answers that don't require clarification from the asker. - From Review – Haily