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How to create a texture from multiple graphics

I'm new to PixiJS and I'm trying something simple like a painting application.
I'm having difficulty trying to capture a collection of shapes as a single grouping. I'm not interested in working code for this as I'd like to figure that out on my own; I'm simply interested in knowing whether I'm on the right track or if I need to explore some other PixiJS concepts to get what I need.
I have one canvas in which I can drag shapes such as rectangles, ellipse, and lines. These "strokes" are being stored as individual Graphics objects, for instance:
var shape = new PIXI.Graphics();
shape.position.set(...);
...
shape.lineStyle(...)
.beginFill(...)
.drawRect(...)
.endFill();
...
stage.addChild(shape);
...
renderer.render(stage);
I'm also holding onto these shapes in an array:
shapes.push(shape);
Now that I have these displayed as well as have the order of the strokes available, I'd like to be able to capture them somehow. Imagine maybe taking the drawing and saving it, or perhaps using it as a thumbnail in a gallery, or simply just storing it on the back-end in a database, preferably keeping all the raw strokes so that they can be scaled up or down as desired.
For now, I'm simply trying to take this collection of strokes and display them again by holding them, clearing the graphics from my canvas, and then plopping down what I have held.
Looking at this example, I've been able to get a texture that I can reliably reproduce wherever I click with the mouse:
http://jsfiddle.net/gzh14bcn/
This means I've been able to take the first part that creates the texture object, and I tweaked the second part to create and display the sprites when I click the mouse.
When I try to replace this example code with my own code to create the texture itself, I can't get that part to work.
So this example snippet works fine when I try to create a sprite from it:
var texture = new PIXI.RenderTexture(renderer, 16, 16);
var graphics = new PIXI.Graphics();
graphics.beginFill(0x44FFFF);
graphics.drawCircle(8, 8, 8);
graphics.endFill();
texture.render(graphics);
FYI to create sprites:
var sprite = new PIXI.Sprite(texture);
sprite.position.set(xPos, yPos);
stage.addChild(sprite);
Since I have my shapes in the shapes array or on the stage, what is the preferred way I proceed to capture this as a single grouping from which I can create one or more sprites?

So basicaly you've got how to make some PIXI.Graphics shape
var pixiRect = new PIXI.Graphics();
pixiRect.lineStyle(..);
pixiRect.beginFill(..);
pixiRect.drawRect(..);
pixiRect.endFill(..);
(You can draw as many rects/circles/shapes as you want into one PIXI.Graphics)
But to convert it to texture you must tell renderer to create it
var texture = renderer.generateTexture(pixiRect);
Then you can easily create PIXI.Sprite from this texture
var spr = new PIXI.Sprite(texture);
And the last thing is to add it to your stage or array, but you can also make some empty PIXI.Container and then addChild to that and you've got your array
option - add sprite (created from graphics) to stage
stage.addChild(spr);
option - push it to your array
shapes.push(spr);
option - if you have var shapes = new PIXI.Container(); you can make a container for your sprites
shapes.addChild(spr);
Working example : https://jsfiddle.net/co7Lrbq1/3/
EDIT:
to position your canvas above you have to addChild it later, it means first addChild has zIndex = 0 and every addChild adds a layer on top of last

I figured it out. My stage is a container:
var stage = new PIXI.Container();
var canvas = new PIXI.Graphics();
canvas.lineStyle(4, 0xffffff, 1);
canvas.beginFill(0xffffff);
canvas.drawRect(canvasStartX, canvasStartY, 500, 600);
canvas.endFill();
stage.addChild(canvas);
I changed this to the following:
var canvas = new PIXI.Container();
var canvasRect = new PIXI.Graphics();
canvasRect.lineStyle(4, 0xffffff, 1);
canvasRect.beginFill(0xffffff);
canvasRect.drawRect(canvasStartX, canvasStartY, 500, 600);
canvasRect.endFill();
canvas.addChild(canvasRect);
stage.addChild(canvas);
Then, I replaced stage with canvas where appropriate and canvas with canvasRect where appropriate.
Finally, I got my texture with:
var texture = canvas.generateTexture(renderer);
At the moment, this grabbed the entire width/height of the stage, but I think I just need to tweak a bit on how I create my canvas above and I should be fine.

Apply three.js subdivision modifier without changing outer geometry?

I am trying to take any three.js geometry and subdivide its existing faces into smaller faces. This would essentially give the geometry a higher "resolution". There is a subdivision modifier tool in the examples of three.js that works great for what I'm trying to do, but it ends up changing and morphing the original shape of the geometry. I'd like to retain the original shape.
View the Subdivision Modifier Example
Example of how the current subdivision modifier behaves:
Rough example of how I'd like it to behave:
The subdivision modifier is applied like this:
let originalGeometry = new THREE.BoxGeometry(1, 1, 1);
let subdivisionModifier = new THREE.SubdivisionModifier(3);
let subdividedGeometry = originalGeometry.clone();
subdivisionModifier.modify(subdividedGeometry);
I attempted to dig around the source of the subdivision modifier, but I wasn't sure how to modify it to get the desired result.
Note: The subdivision should be able to be applied to any geometry. My example of the desired result might make it seem that a three.js PlaneGeometry with increased segments would work, but I need this to be applied to a variety of geometries.

Based on the suggestions in the comments by TheJim01, I was able to dig through the original source and modify the vertex weight, edge weight, and beta values to retain the original shape. My modifications should remove any averaging, and put all the weight toward the source shape.
There were three sections that had to be modified, so I went ahead and made it an option that can be passed into the constructor called retainShape, which defaults to false.
I made a gist with the modified code for SubdivisionGeometry.js.
View the modified SubdivisionGeometry.js Gist
Below is an example of a cube being subdivided with the option turned off, and turned on.
Left: new THREE.SubdivisionModifier(2, false);
Right: new THREE.SubdivisionModifier(2, true);
If anyone runs into any issues with this or has any questions, let me know!

The current version of three.js has optional parameters for PlaneGeometry that specify the number of segments for the width and height; both default to 1. In the example below I set both widthSegments and heightSegments to 128. This has a similar effect as using SubdivisionModifier. In fact, SubdivisionModifier distorts the shape, but specifying the segments does not distort the shape and works better for me.
var widthSegments = 128;
var heightSegments = 128;
var geometry = new THREE.PlaneGeometry(10, 10, widthSegments, heightSegments);
// var geometry = new THREE.PlaneGeoemtry(10,10); // segments default to 1
// var modifier = new THREE.SubdivisionModifier( 7 );
// geometry = modifier.modify(geometry);
https://threejs.org/docs/#api/en/geometries/PlaneGeometry

Turn canvas objects into createjs elements

Apologies if this has been answered before, I think I maybe searching for the wrong keywords.
I have an element rendered on the canvas from another library.
Every time stage.update() gets called all my createJS elements get rendered on top.
The element however needs to sit between different createjs objects.
So either I need to find a way to turn this element into a createJs DisplayElement to put it in the correct index position.
Or I need to update just a Container and not the whole stage.
Can someone point me into the right direction?
Thanks

The best approach for this is to render your non-EaselJS content onto another Canvas, and then use it as the source for a Bitmap.
// Non-EaselJS content (whatever you can imagine!)
var canvas1 = document.getElementById("non-easel-canvas");
var context = canvas1.getContext("2d");
context.doStuffWithCanvasAPIs();
// EaselJS content (red background, blue circle)
var stage = new createjs.Stage("easel-canvas");
var bottom = new createjs.Shape();
bottom.graphics.beginFill("red").drawRect(0,0,800,600);
var top = new createjs.Shape();
top.graphics.beginFill("blue").drawCircle(0,0,25);
top.x = top.y = 100;
// Non-easel content added to Easel
var bmp = new createjs.Bitmap(canvas1);
stage.addChild(bottom, bmp, top);
stage.update();
Hope that makes sense. You can also the reverse, and draw the EaselJS content into a non-EaselJS stage using drawImage, and passing the EaselJS canvas as the source. This is how you can mix EaselJS content into things like three.js.
Note that you can also draw any EaselJS content directly without a stage. Each display object (including Container) has a draw() method, which you can call, which draws the object into a supplied context.
http://www.createjs.com/docs/easeljs/classes/DisplayObject.html#method_draw
Cheers,

You have two options here:
Do not use the other library at all, but EaselJS only.
...or...
Use multiple canvases.
Since you need to stack this graphics object in between two easeljs objects, you would need three canvases to accomplish what you're trying to do, and two easeljs stages. Still, this is a hacky workaround for a weird problem.

How to address a shape drawn on a HTML5 canvas and change its properties?

I am beginning to explore the HTML5 canvas, and I apologize in advance for the naivety of my question. Using Flash CC, I have generated a canvas with a rectangle on it:
(function (lib, img, cjs, ss) {
var p; // shortcut to reference prototypes
// library properties:
lib.properties = {
width: 550,
height: 400,
fps: 24,
color: "#FFFFFF",
manifest: []
};
// symbols:
// stage content:
(lib.canvas_test = function() {
this.initialize();
// Layer 1
this.shape = new cjs.Shape();
this.shape.graphics.beginFill().beginStroke("#669966")
.setStrokeStyle(1,1,1).moveTo(-94,-62).lineTo(94,-62).lineTo(94,62).lineTo(-94,62).closePath();
this.shape.setTransform(198,136);
this.shape_1 = new cjs.Shape();
this.shape_1.graphics.beginFill("#FF933C")
.beginStroke().moveTo(-94,62).lineTo(-94,-62).lineTo(94,-62).lineTo(94,62).closePath();
this.shape_1.setTransform(198,136);
this.addChild(this.shape_1,this.shape);
}).prototype = p = new cjs.Container();
p.nominalBounds = new cjs.Rectangle(378,273,190,126);
})(lib = lib||{}, images = images||{}, createjs = createjs||{}, ss = ss||{});
var lib, images, createjs, ss;
Now I am stuck. How can I retrieve (and change) the color of the rectangle using a Javascript function? I had hoped that the shapes would simply be children of the canvas, but this does not seem to be the case.

The earlier answers are correct about Canvas being basically a bitmap, but EaselJS gives you a retained graphics mode, so you can change properties and update the stage/canvas to reflect them.
You are using Flash export to generate your content, so you should be able to access your elements via the exportRoot, which is created in the HTML. This is essentially the Flash "stage", represented by an EaselJS container that is defined by canvas_test in your exported library.
exportRoot = new lib.canvas_test();
You can see in the canvas_test code, each "child" is defined. Any graphics are wrapped in EaselJS Shape instances. There are also classes for handling groups (Containers), Bitmaps, Text, and animations (MovieClips).
Here is your exported code above put added to the stage:
http://jsfiddle.net/lannymcnie/b5me4xa2/
It is easy to modify shapes once they are created, but you have to define them with that in mind. The Flash export doesn't really provide you this capability, since it just exports everything as a single, chained graphics instructions list. You can however introspect it fairly easily to find the commands you want to modify. Warning: This requires EaselJS 0.7.0+ in order to work. Earlier versions will not work with this approach
The demo you provided has a single Rectangle. Unfortunately there is a bug in the current version of Flash that exports it as 2 shapes, one for the stroke, and another for the fill. This example will modify the stroke.
var shape = exportRoot.shape; // Access the shape instance that has the stroke
var stroke = shape.graphics._stroke;
stroke.style = "#ff0000"; // Set to red.
To do the fill, you can do the same thing on shape_1, but affect the _fill instead. Here is an updated sample
You can also access any of the instructions, and affect their properties. You can see a full command list in the Graphics docs (see the sidebar for the full list). Here is a quick sample modifying the first moveTo command on the stroke:
var shape = exportRoot.shape;
shape.graphics._activeInstructions[0].x = -110;
You can see a sample of that code here: http://jsfiddle.net/lannymcnie/b5me4xa2/2/ -- You will have to modify both fill and stroke to move them both :)

Canvas is basically a bitmap, it has no children. An SVG works more like you're imagining but a canvas just has pixels. If you want to change a canvas you're either going to have to go through it and find the pixels, or create a javascript object representing your drawing object (the rectangle), keep it separate from your canvas background, and redraw the the background and object when there are any changes.
[Added]
I'm not familiar with Flash CC, but as pointed out in the comment, perhaps there is some capability there already to do what the commenter and myself are describing - I'm afraid I don't know.

How can I make Raphael.js elements "wiggle" on the canvas?

I'm working on a project that uses SVG with Raphael.js. One component is a group of circles, each of which "wiggles" around randomly - that is, slowly moves along the x and y axes a small amount, and in random directions. Think of it like putting a marble on your palm and shaking your palm around slowly.
Is anyone aware of a Raphael.js plugin or code example that already accomplishes something like this? I'm not terribly particular about the effect - it just needs to be subtle/smooth and continuous.
If I need to create something on my own, do you have any suggestions for how I might go about it? My initial idea is along these lines:
Draw a circle on the canvas.
Start a loop that:
Randomly finds x and y coordinates within some circular boundary anchored on the circle's center point.
Animates the circle from its current location to those coordinates over a random time interval, using in/out easing to smooth the effect.
My concern is that this might look too mechanical - i.e., I assume it will look more like the circle is tracing a star pattern, or having a a seizure, or something like that. Ideally it would curve smoothly through the random points that it generates, but that seems far more complex.
If you can recommend any other code (preferably JavaScript) that I could adapt, that would be great too - e.g., a jQuery plugin or the like. I found one named jquery-wiggle, but that seems to only work along one axis.
Thanks in advance for any advice!

Something like the following could do it:
var paper = Raphael('canvas', 300, 300);
var circle_count = 40;
var wbound = 10; // how far an element can wiggle.
var circleholder = paper.set();
function rdm(from, to){
return Math.floor(Math.random() * (to - from + 1) + from);
}
// add a wiggle method to elements
Raphael.el.wiggle = function() {
var newcx = this.attrs.origCx + rdm(-wbound, wbound);
var newcy = this.attrs.origCy + rdm(-wbound, wbound);
this.animate({cx: newcx, cy: newcy}, 500, '<');
}
// draw our circles
// hackish: setting circle.attrs.origCx
for (var i=0;i<circle_count;i++) {
var cx = rdm(0, 280);
var cy = rdm(0, 280);
var rad = rdm(0, 15);
var circle = paper.circle(cx, cy, rad);
circle.attrs.origCx = cx;
circle.attrs.origCy = cy;
circleholder.push(circle);
}
// loop over all circles and wiggle
function wiggleall() {
for (var i=0;i<circleholder.length;i++) {
circleholder[i].wiggle();
}
}
// call wiggleAll every second
setInterval(function() {wiggleall()}, 1000);
http://jsfiddle.net/UDWW6/1/
Changing the easing, and delays between certain things happening should at least help in making things look a little more natural. Hope that helps.

You can accomplish a similar effect by extending Raphael's default easing formulas:
Raphael.easing_formulas["wiggle"] = function(n) { return Math.random() * 5 };
[shape].animate({transform:"T1,1"}, 500, "wiggle", function(e) {
this.transform("T0,0");
});
Easing functions take a ratio of time elapsed to total time and manipulate it. The returned value is applied to the properties being animated.
This easing function ignores n and returns a random value. You can create any wiggle you like by playing with the return formula.
A callback function is necessary if you want the shape to end up back where it began, since applying a transformation that does not move the shape does not produce an animation. You'll probably have to alter the transformation values.
Hope this is useful!

There is a very good set of easing effects available in Raphael.
Here's a random set of circles that are "given" bounce easing.
Dynamically add animation to objects
The full range of easing effects can be found here. You can play around with them and reference the latest documentation at the same time.
Putting calls in a loop is not the thing to do, though. Use callbacks, which are readily available.