GDI+ Brushes: Hatched Brushes

This means that when you use a hatch brush, you must specify the type of pattern you want to use, through one of the available hatch styles. To make the filled area more interesting, you also specify the color to use when drawing the pattern.

To get a hatch brush, you use the HatchBrush class. One of its constructors has the following syntaxes:

public HatchBrush(HatchStyle style, Color foreColor);

The foreColor argument is the color that will be used to draw the pattern. The style argument is the hatch style you want to apply. Some of the available styles are:

using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Drawing.Drawing2D;

public class Exercise : Form
{
    public Exercise()
    {
        InitializeComponent();
    }

    void InitializeComponent()
    {
        Paint += new PaintEventHandler(Exercise_Paint);
    }

    private void Exercise_Paint(object sender, PaintEventArgs e)
    {
        HatchBrush brushBackDiag =
    new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.BackwardDiagonal,
             Color.FromArgb(0, 0, 255));
        HatchBrush brushCross =
        new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.Cross,
                 Color.FromArgb(200, 0, 0));
        HatchBrush brushDarkDown =
        new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.DarkDownwardDiagonal,
                 Color.Salmon);
        HatchBrush brushDarkHorz =
        new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.DarkHorizontal,
                 Color.Navy);
        HatchBrush brushDarkUpDiag =
        new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.DarkUpwardDiagonal,
                 Color.Pink);
        HatchBrush brushVertical =
        new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.DarkVertical,
                 Color.FromArgb(255, 0, 255));
        HatchBrush brushDashDnDiag =
        new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.DashedDownwardDiagonal,
                 Color.FromArgb(255, 128, 0));
        HatchBrush brushDashHorz =
        new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.DashedHorizontal,
                 Color.FromArgb(0, 128, 192));
        HatchBrush brushDashUpDiag =
        new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.DashedUpwardDiagonal,
                 Color.Green);
        HatchBrush brushDashVert =
        new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.DashedVertical,
                 Color.Firebrick);
        HatchBrush brushDiagBrisk =
        new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.DiagonalBrick,
                 Color.Fuchsia);
        HatchBrush brushDiagCross =
        new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.DiagonalCross,
                 Color.Moccasin);
        HatchBrush brushDivot =
        new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.Divot,
                 Color.Goldenrod);
        HatchBrush brushDotDiamond =
        new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.DottedDiamond,
                 Color.Gainsboro);
        HatchBrush brushDottedGrid =
        new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.DottedGrid,
                 Color.Khaki);
        HatchBrush brushForDiag =
        new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.ForwardDiagonal,
                 Color.Maroon);
        HatchBrush brushHorz =
        new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.Horizontal,
                 Color.Red);
        HatchBrush brushHorzBrick =
        new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.HorizontalBrick,
                 Color.SaddleBrown);
        HatchBrush brushLgChkBoard =
        new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.LargeCheckerBoard,
                 Color.RoyalBlue);
        HatchBrush brushLgConfetti =
        new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.LargeConfetti,
                 Color.MistyRose);
        HatchBrush brushLgGrid =
        new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.LargeGrid,
                 Color.Purple);
        HatchBrush brushLtDnDiag =
        new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.LightDownwardDiagonal,
                 Color.DarkCyan);
        HatchBrush brushLtHorz =
        new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.LightHorizontal,
                 Color.PowderBlue);
        HatchBrush brushUpDiag =
        new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.LightUpwardDiagonal,
                 Color.SeaGreen);
        HatchBrush brushLtVert =
        new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.LightVertical,
                 Color.Olive);

        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushBackDiag,
                       20, 20, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushCross,
                       120, 20, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushDarkDown,
                       220, 20, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushDarkHorz,
                       320, 20, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushDarkUpDiag,
                       420, 20, 80, 60);

        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushVertical,
                           20, 100, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushDashDnDiag,
                       120, 100, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushDashHorz,
                       220, 100, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushDashUpDiag,
                       320, 100, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushDashVert,
                       420, 100, 80, 60);

        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushDashVert,
                       20, 180, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushDiagBrisk,
                       120, 180, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushDiagCross,
                       220, 180, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushDivot,
                       320, 180, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushDotDiamond,
                       420, 180, 80, 60);

        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushDottedGrid,
                       20, 260, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushForDiag,
                       120, 260, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushHorz,
                           220, 260, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushHorzBrick,
                       320, 260, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushLgChkBoard,
                       420, 260, 80, 60);

        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushLgGrid,
                       20, 340, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushLtDnDiag,
                       120, 340, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushLtHorz,
                       220, 340, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushUpDiag,
                       320, 340, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushLtVert,
                       420, 340, 80, 60);
    }
}

public class Program
{
    public static int Main()
    {
        Application.Run(new Exercise());

        return 0;
    }
}

This would produce:

1. Start a new Windows Forms Application named YearlySales2
2. Design the form as follows:
    

   Control Name Text GroupBox   Current Year's Sales Label   1st Qtr Label   2nd Qtr Label   3rd Qtr Label   4th Qtr TextBox txtCurrentQtr1 0 TextBox txtCurrentQtr2 0 TextBox txtCurrentQtr3 0 TextBox txtCurrentQtr4 0 Button Close btnClose GroupBox   Previous Year's Sales Label   1st Qtr Label   2nd Qtr Label   3rd Qtr Label   4th Qtr TextBox txtPreviousQtr1 0 TextBox txtPreviousQtr2 0 TextBox txtPreviousQtr3 0 TextBox txtPreviousQtr4 0 Button Generate btnGenerate Label   _________ Legend _________ Label   This Year's Sales Label   Last Year's Sales

3. Double-click an unoccupied area of the form and change the file  as follows:
   

   using System;
   using System.Collections.Generic;
   using System.ComponentModel;
   using System.Data;
   using System.Drawing;
   using System.Linq;
   using System.Text;
   using System.Windows.Forms;
   using System.Drawing.Drawing2D;
   
   namespace YearlySales2
   {
       public partial class Form1 : Form
       {
           Graphics graphDrawingArea;
           Bitmap bmpDrawingArea;
   
           public Form1()
           {
               InitializeComponent();
           }
   
           private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
           {
               bmpDrawingArea = new Bitmap(Width, Height);
               graphDrawingArea = Graphics.FromImage(bmpDrawingArea);
           }
       }
   }

4. Return to the form and click an empty area on it. In the Properties window, click the Events button
5. Double-click the Paint field and implement its event as follows:
   

   private void Form1_Paint(object sender, PaintEventArgs e)
   {
               e.Graphics.DrawImage(bmpDrawingArea, 0, 0);
   }

6. Return to the form and double-click the Generate button
7. Implement the event as follows:
   

   private void btnGenerate_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
   {
               // Retrieve the values of the current year's sales
               int curQtr1 = 0;
               int curQtr2 = 0;
               int curQtr3 = 0;
               int curQtr4 = 0;
   
               try
               {
                   curQtr1 = int.Parse(txtCurrentQtr1.Text) / 100;
               }
               catch (FormatException)
               {
                   MessageBox.Show("Invalid Value");
               }
   
               try
               {
                   curQtr2 = int.Parse(txtCurrentQtr2.Text) / 100;
               }
               catch (FormatException)
               {
                   MessageBox.Show("Invalid Value");
               }
   
               try
               {
                   curQtr3 = int.Parse(txtCurrentQtr3.Text) / 100;
               }
               catch (FormatException)
               {
                   MessageBox.Show("Invalid Value");
               }
   
               try
               {
                   curQtr4 = int.Parse(txtCurrentQtr4.Text) / 100;
               }
               catch (FormatException)
               {
                   MessageBox.Show("Invalid Value");
               }
   
               // Create an array of Rectangle objects for the current year
               Rectangle[] rectCurrentYear =
               {
                   new Rectangle(this.txtCurrentQtr1.Left+20,
   			                  380-curQtr1, 40, curQtr1),
                   new Rectangle(this.txtCurrentQtr2.Left+20,
   			                   380-curQtr2, 40, curQtr2),
   		        new Rectangle(this.txtCurrentQtr3.Left+20,
   			                  380-curQtr3, 40, curQtr3),
   		        new Rectangle(this.txtCurrentQtr4.Left+20,
   			                  380-curQtr4, 40, curQtr4)
               };
   
               // Retrieve the values of last year's sales
               int prvQtr1 = 0;
               int prvQtr2 = 0;
               int prvQtr3 = 0;
               int prvQtr4 = 0;
   
               try
               {
                   prvQtr1 = int.Parse(txtPreviousQtr1.Text) / 100;
               }
               catch (FormatException)
               {
                   MessageBox.Show("Invalid Value");
               }
   
               try
               {
                   prvQtr2 = int.Parse(txtPreviousQtr2.Text) / 100;
               }
               catch (FormatException)
               {
                   MessageBox.Show("Invalid Value");
               }
   
               try
               {
                   prvQtr3 = int.Parse(txtPreviousQtr3.Text) / 100;
               }
               catch (FormatException)
               {
                   MessageBox.Show("Invalid Value");
               }
   
               try
               {
                   prvQtr4 = int.Parse(txtPreviousQtr4.Text) / 100;
               }
               catch (FormatException)
               {
                   MessageBox.Show("Invalid Value");
               }
   
               // Create an array of Rectangle objects for the previous year
               Rectangle[] rectPreviousYear =
               {
                   new Rectangle(this.txtPreviousQtr1.Left+30,
   			                  380-prvQtr1, 40, prvQtr1),
    		        new Rectangle(this.txtPreviousQtr2.Left+30,
   			                  380-prvQtr2, 40, prvQtr2),
   	            new Rectangle(this.txtPreviousQtr3.Left+30,
   			                  380-prvQtr3, 40, prvQtr3),
   		        new Rectangle(this.txtPreviousQtr4.Left+30,
   			                  380-prvQtr4, 40, prvQtr4)
               };
   
               // In case the user has changed the values, erase the previous chart
               graphDrawingArea.Clear(this.BackColor);
   
               HatchBrush brushDiagCross =
                new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.DiagonalCross,
                         Color.White, Color.Blue);
               HatchBrush brushDotDiamond =
                new HatchBrush(HatchStyle.DottedDiamond,
                         Color.Fuchsia, Color.Brown);
   
               // Draw the chart for the previous year first to send it back
               graphDrawingArea.FillRectangles(brushDiagCross,
                                rectPreviousYear);
               graphDrawingArea.DrawRectangles(new Pen(Color.Blue),
                                rectPreviousYear);
               // Draw the chart for the current year in front
               graphDrawingArea.FillRectangles(brushDotDiamond,
                                rectCurrentYear);
               graphDrawingArea.DrawRectangles(new Pen(Color.Red),
                                rectCurrentYear);
   
               // Draw the small rectangles of the legend
               graphDrawingArea.FillRectangle(brushDotDiamond,
                               this.lblCurYear.Left - 30,
                               this.lblCurYear.Top, 20, 14);
               graphDrawingArea.DrawRectangle(new Pen(Color.Red),
                               this.lblCurYear.Left - 30,
                               this.lblCurYear.Top, 20, 14);
               graphDrawingArea.FillRectangle(brushDiagCross,
                               this.lblLastYear.Left - 30,
                               this.lblLastYear.Top, 20, 14);
               graphDrawingArea.DrawRectangle(new Pen(Color.Blue),
                               this.lblLastYear.Left - 30,
                               this.lblLastYear.Top, 20, 14);
   
               graphDrawingArea.DrawRectangle(new Pen(Color.Black),
                               25, 380, Width - 220, 1);
               Invalidate();
   }

8. Return to the form. Double-click the Close button and implement its Click event as follows:
   

   private void btnClose_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
   {
               Close();
   }

9. Execute the application and test the form
    
    
10. After using it, close the form

If you use the above constructor to fill out a shape, the selected pattern would be drawn on top of a black color used as the background. If you want to use a different background, use the following constructor to initialize the brush:

public HatchBrush(HatchStyle hatchstyle, Color foreColor, Color backColor);

The backColor argument passed as a Color value will be used as the background Color. Here are examples of specifying the back color:

private void Exercise_Paint(object sender, PaintEventArgs e)
{
        HatchStyle[] hsBrush =
        {
            HatchStyle.BackwardDiagonal,
            HatchStyle.Cross, HatchStyle.Divot,
            HatchStyle.DarkDownwardDiagonal,
            HatchStyle.DarkHorizontal, HatchStyle.ForwardDiagonal,
            HatchStyle.DarkUpwardDiagonal,
            HatchStyle.DarkVertical, HatchStyle.HorizontalBrick,
            HatchStyle.DashedDownwardDiagonal,
            HatchStyle.DashedHorizontal,
            HatchStyle.DashedVertical, HatchStyle.LargeCheckerBoard,
            HatchStyle.DiagonalBrick, HatchStyle.Horizontal,
            HatchStyle.DiagonalCross, HatchStyle.DottedGrid,
            HatchStyle.DottedDiamond, HatchStyle.LightUpwardDiagonal,  
            HatchStyle.LargeConfetti, HatchStyle.LargeGrid,
            HatchStyle.LightDownwardDiagonal, HatchStyle.OutlinedDiamond
            HatchStyle.LightHorizontal, HatchStyle.LightVertical
        };

        Color[] ForeColors =
        {
            Color.FromArgb(0, 0, 255), Color.FromArgb(200, 0, 0),
            Color.Salmon, Color.Navy, Color.Pink,
            Color.FromArgb(255, 0, 255), Color.FromArgb(255, 128, 0),
            Color.FromArgb(0, 128, 192), Color.Green,
            Color.Firebrick, Color.Fuchsia, Color.Moccasin,
            Color.Goldenrod, Color.Gainsboro, Color.Khaki,
            Color.Maroon, Color.DarkCyan, Color.Purple,
            Color.MistyRose, Color.RoyalBlue, Color.Red,
            Color.SaddleBrown, Color.Olive, Color.SeaGreen,
            Color.PowderBlue
        };

        Color[] BackColors =
        {
            Color.Azure, Color.DarkBlue, Color.AntiqueWhite,
            Color.Aqua, Color.DarkGray, Color.Aquamarine,
            Color.Azure, Color.Beige, Color.DarkGoldenrod,
            Color.Bisque, Color.DarkKhaki, Color.BlanchedAlmond,
            Color.Brown, Color.DarkCyan, Color.AliceBlue,
            Color.BurlyWood, Color.CadetBlue, Color.DarkMagenta,
            Color.Coral, Color.Chartreuse, Color.CornflowerBlue,
            Color.Cornsilk, Color.Crimson, Color.Cyan,
            Color.DarkGreen
        };

        Random rnd = new Random();

        HatchBrush brushBackDiag =
    new HatchBrush(hsBrush[rnd.Next(25)],
             ForeColors[rnd.Next(25)], BackColors[rnd.Next(25)]);
        HatchBrush brushCross =
        new HatchBrush(hsBrush[rnd.Next(25)],
                 ForeColors[rnd.Next(25)], BackColors[rnd.Next(25)]);
        HatchBrush brushDarkDown =
        new HatchBrush(hsBrush[rnd.Next(25)],
                 ForeColors[rnd.Next(25)], BackColors[rnd.Next(25)]);
        HatchBrush brushDarkHorz =
        new HatchBrush(hsBrush[rnd.Next(25)],
                 ForeColors[rnd.Next(25)], BackColors[rnd.Next(25)]);
        HatchBrush brushDarkUpDiag =
        new HatchBrush(hsBrush[rnd.Next(25)],
                 ForeColors[rnd.Next(25)], BackColors[rnd.Next(25)]);
        HatchBrush brushVertical =
        new HatchBrush(hsBrush[rnd.Next(25)],
                 ForeColors[rnd.Next(25)], BackColors[rnd.Next(25)]);
        HatchBrush brushDashDnDiag =
        new HatchBrush(hsBrush[rnd.Next(25)],
                 ForeColors[rnd.Next(25)], BackColors[rnd.Next(25)]);
        HatchBrush brushDashHorz =
        new HatchBrush(hsBrush[rnd.Next(25)],
                 ForeColors[rnd.Next(25)], BackColors[rnd.Next(25)]);
        HatchBrush brushDashUpDiag =
        new HatchBrush(hsBrush[rnd.Next(25)],
                 ForeColors[rnd.Next(25)], BackColors[rnd.Next(25)]);
        HatchBrush brushDashVert =
        new HatchBrush(hsBrush[rnd.Next(25)],
                 ForeColors[rnd.Next(25)], BackColors[rnd.Next(25)]);
        HatchBrush brushDiagBrisk =
        new HatchBrush(hsBrush[rnd.Next(25)],
                 ForeColors[rnd.Next(25)], BackColors[rnd.Next(25)]);
        HatchBrush brushDiagCross =
        new HatchBrush(hsBrush[rnd.Next(25)],
                 ForeColors[rnd.Next(25)], BackColors[rnd.Next(25)]);
        HatchBrush brushDivot =
        new HatchBrush(hsBrush[rnd.Next(25)],
                 ForeColors[rnd.Next(25)], BackColors[rnd.Next(25)]);
        HatchBrush brushDotDiamond =
        new HatchBrush(hsBrush[rnd.Next(25)],
                 ForeColors[rnd.Next(25)], BackColors[rnd.Next(25)]);
        HatchBrush brushDottedGrid =
        new HatchBrush(hsBrush[rnd.Next(25)],
                 ForeColors[rnd.Next(25)], BackColors[rnd.Next(25)]);
        HatchBrush brushForDiag =
        new HatchBrush(hsBrush[rnd.Next(25)],
                 ForeColors[rnd.Next(25)], BackColors[rnd.Next(25)]);
        HatchBrush brushHorz =
        new HatchBrush(hsBrush[rnd.Next(25)],
                 ForeColors[rnd.Next(25)], BackColors[rnd.Next(25)]);
        HatchBrush brushHorzBrick =
        new HatchBrush(hsBrush[rnd.Next(25)],
                 ForeColors[rnd.Next(25)], BackColors[rnd.Next(25)]);
        HatchBrush brushLgChkBoard =
        new HatchBrush(hsBrush[rnd.Next(25)],
                 ForeColors[rnd.Next(25)], BackColors[rnd.Next(25)]);
        HatchBrush brushLgConfetti =
        new HatchBrush(hsBrush[rnd.Next(25)],
                 ForeColors[rnd.Next(25)], BackColors[rnd.Next(25)]);
        HatchBrush brushLgGrid =
        new HatchBrush(hsBrush[rnd.Next(25)],
                 ForeColors[rnd.Next(25)], BackColors[rnd.Next(25)]);
        HatchBrush brushLtDnDiag =
        new HatchBrush(hsBrush[rnd.Next(25)],
                 ForeColors[rnd.Next(25)], BackColors[rnd.Next(25)]);
        HatchBrush brushLtHorz =
        new HatchBrush(hsBrush[rnd.Next(25)],
                 ForeColors[rnd.Next(25)], BackColors[rnd.Next(25)]);
        HatchBrush brushUpDiag =
        new HatchBrush(hsBrush[rnd.Next(25)],
                 ForeColors[rnd.Next(25)], BackColors[rnd.Next(25)]);
        HatchBrush brushLtVert =
        new HatchBrush(hsBrush[rnd.Next(25)],
                 ForeColors[rnd.Next(25)], BackColors[rnd.Next(25)]);

        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushBackDiag, 20, 20, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushCross, 120, 20, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushDarkDown, 220, 20, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushDarkHorz, 320, 20, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushDarkUpDiag, 420, 20, 80, 60);

        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushVertical, 20, 100, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushDashDnDiag, 120, 100, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushDashHorz, 220, 100, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushDashUpDiag, 320, 100, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushDashVert, 420, 100, 80, 60);

        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushDashVert, 20, 180, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushDiagBrisk, 120, 180, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushDiagCross, 220, 180, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushDivot, 320, 180, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushDotDiamond, 420, 180, 80, 60);

        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushDottedGrid, 20, 260, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushForDiag, 120, 260, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushHorz, 220, 260, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushHorzBrick, 320, 260, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushLgChkBoard, 420, 260, 80, 60);

        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushLgGrid, 20, 340, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushLtDnDiag, 120, 340, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushLtHorz, 220, 340, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushUpDiag, 320, 340, 80, 60);
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brushLtVert, 420, 340, 80, 60);
}

At any time, to find out the color used to paint a pattern, you can access the brush's ForegroundColor property. To know the color used as background, you can access the brush's BackgroundColor property. To know the hatch style used on the current brush, you can access its HatchStyle property.