Reference for Processing version 1.5. If you have a previous version, use the reference included with your software. If you see any errors or have suggestions, please let us know. If you prefer a more technical reference, visit the Processing Javadoc.

Name | ### beginShape()
Examples |
    beginShape();
    vertex(30, 20);
    vertex(85, 20);
    vertex(85, 75);
    vertex(30, 75);
    endShape(CLOSE);
    beginShape(POINTS);
    vertex(30, 20);
    vertex(85, 20);
    vertex(85, 75);
    vertex(30, 75);
    endShape();
    beginShape(LINES);
    vertex(30, 20);
    vertex(85, 20);
    vertex(85, 75);
    vertex(30, 75);
    endShape();
    noFill();
    beginShape();
    vertex(30, 20);
    vertex(85, 20);
    vertex(85, 75);
    vertex(30, 75);
    endShape();
    noFill();
    beginShape();
    vertex(30, 20);
    vertex(85, 20);
    vertex(85, 75);
    vertex(30, 75);
    endShape(CLOSE);
    beginShape(TRIANGLES);
    vertex(30, 75);
    vertex(40, 20);
    vertex(50, 75);
    vertex(60, 20);
    vertex(70, 75);
    vertex(80, 20);
    endShape();
    beginShape(TRIANGLE_STRIP);
    vertex(30, 75);
    vertex(40, 20);
    vertex(50, 75);
    vertex(60, 20);
    vertex(70, 75);
    vertex(80, 20);
    vertex(90, 75);
    endShape();
    beginShape(TRIANGLE_FAN);
    vertex(57.5, 50);
    vertex(57.5, 15);
    vertex(92, 50);
    vertex(57.5, 85);
    vertex(22, 50);
    vertex(57.5, 15);
    endShape();
    beginShape(QUADS);
    vertex(30, 20);
    vertex(30, 75);
    vertex(50, 75);
    vertex(50, 20);
    vertex(65, 20);
    vertex(65, 75);
    vertex(85, 75);
    vertex(85, 20);
    endShape();
    beginShape(QUAD_STRIP);
    vertex(30, 20);
    vertex(30, 75);
    vertex(50, 20);
    vertex(50, 75);
    vertex(65, 20);
    vertex(65, 75);
    vertex(85, 20);
    vertex(85, 75);
    endShape();
    beginShape();
    vertex(20, 20);
    vertex(40, 20);
    vertex(40, 40);
    vertex(60, 40);
    vertex(60, 60);
    vertex(20, 60);
    endShape(CLOSE);
Description | Using the beginShape() and endShape() functions allow creating more complex forms. beginShape() begins recording vertices for a shape and endShape() stops recording. The value of the MODE parameter tells it which types of shapes to create from the provided vertices. With no mode specified, the shape can be any irregular polygon. The parameters available for beginShape() are POINTS, LINES, TRIANGLES, TRIANGLE_FAN, TRIANGLE_STRIP, QUADS, and QUAD_STRIP. After calling the beginShape() function, a series of vertex() commands must follow. To stop drawing the shape, call endShape(). The vertex() function with two parameters specifies a position in 2D and the vertex() function with three parameters specifies a position in 3D. Each shape will be outlined with the current stroke color and filled with the fill color. Transformations such as translate(), rotate(), and scale() do not work within beginShape(). It is also not possible to use other shapes, such as ellipse() or rect() within beginShape(). The P2D, P3D, and OPENGL renderer settings allow stroke() and fill() settings to be altered per-vertex, however the default JAVA2D renderer does not. Settings such as strokeWeight(), strokeCap(), and strokeJoin() cannot be changed while inside a beginShape()/endShape() block with any renderer.
Syntax |
    beginShape()
    beginShape(MODE)
Parameters |
MODE | Either POINTS, LINES, TRIANGLES, TRIANGLE_FAN, TRIANGLE_STRIP, QUADS, QUAD_STRIP
Returns | None
Usage | Web & Application
Related | endShape() vertex() curveVertex() bezierVertex()

Updated on August 30, 2010 04:29:39pm EDT