The people at Skilled.co created a cheat sheet that allows developers from all experience levels to create unique images and art to fit any of their web design needs. HTML5 advanced technology permits designers to not only create images, but full animations that range from simple movements to complex. The <canvas> element bears significant potential for those interested in game design.
Not
only is the cheat sheet easy to read, but Canvas also responds to every JavaScript event, allowing users to click normally, use regular
keyboard commands, and utilize button clicks. It saves time, too, since experienced coding enthusiasts no longer have to commit the
individual codes to memory - they can just refer to a couple pages that are saved in their bookmarks, only a click away. New designers
have a handy reference while they learn to code. Freelance designers will find that their time per project is drastically shortened since
the convenience of the cheat sheet allows them to code more efficiently.
So,
let's take a quick look at some of the neat things you can do with the new <canvas> element.
1.
Transformation
Canvas
applies the use of general geometry to its coding. You can transform
an object, causing it to resemble another type of object, while still
keeping its original structure. Although the image looks deformed, it
is technically the same as it initially started out. Although several
critical points may change, the points surrounding them remain in
place and unchanged regardless of the transformation.
The
canvas element uses three specific transformations. Using these three
transformations allows the user to use a much wider range. These
three transformations are:
Scale
Rotate
Translate
Scale
will allow the designer to change the size of the canvas, to give the
designer more room to create. You will need to input parameters to
modify the "scale" field and permit yourself a larger
canvas. Rotate allows the coder to turn the canvas, which grants them
even more power over the creation. Translate will shift the entire
canvas into a new position, which does not literally rotate the
canvas (per se). In reality, the canvas technically stays the same in
the browser system, but the modified coordinate system is what
results in the perceived change.
There's
two "sub" elements to Transformation. The first is General
Transform, and the second is setTransform.
They are much more powerful than Transformation by itself, but also a
lot more complex. Experienced designers shouldn't have any real
problems learning it. However, someone who is not as advanced may
struggle with the complexity of the scripts and coding. It may take
novice coding enthusiasts longer to grasp the advanced script, but it
is not a challenge from which they should shy away. These sub
elements are helpful to understand and commit to memory, however, as
many combinations of Transformation (scaling, rotating, and back to
scaling, as an example) can be accomplished with just one General
Transform.
2. Shadows
Shadows!
What better way to add depth and "pop" to your design?
Shadows are the best part of any realistic, complex graphic. Here,
we'll show you a couple of ways Canvas helps your design stand out
with the "Canvas Rendering Context 2D!" This tool allows
the user to add shadows not only to the objects on the canvas on
which they're working, but also on the text they've included. Best of
all, it doesn't all have to be uniform.
There
are four aspects that decide the location of the shadows and how the
shadows manifest. These deciding factors are:
shadowOffsetX
shadowOffsetY
shadowBlur
shadowColor
All
the objects in the context setting have shadows but they remain
outside of the designer's visibility when shadowing isn't modified
from the default setting. The default settings for shadowOffsetX,
shadowOffsetY,
and shadowBlur
are zero, and the default setting for shadowColor
is "transparent." You can adjust the angle and blur of the
shadow with just a few lines of script. ShadowBlur
can also give you a neat color outline around text! You can change
the color of the shadow, so it doesn't have to be the same color as
the original text, either.
3. Complex Shapes
You
can draw complex shapes with the <canvas> element by using the
two simple shape methods for drawing rectangles:
strokeRect()
fillRect()
The
first command draws stroked rectangles and the second command draws
filled rectangles. To draw more complex shapes, the designer can
build "paths." To do this, begin with:
beginPath()
With
this method, the coding enthusiast will create a series of basic
scripts that will carry them from one pre-existing point to a new
point. For example, you would begin with:
moveTo()
Then,
you would make a straight line to the new point with:
lineTo()
Then
to:
rect()
Or,
for a curved line:
quadraticCurveTo()
bezierCurveTo()
arcTo()
To
close the path use:
closePath()
You
would draw a line from the last point that you drew and back to the
first point again. Afterwards, you need to draw the entire path with
either:
stroke()
fill()
4. Line Caps and Joins
In
addition to all the above, web designers also enjoy the freedom of
choosing how they render lines in the context area. They can even
choose how to format the caps and joins of lines. To do this, the
designer uses:
lineWidth
lineCap
lineJoin
The
designer can also modify the points of angles. To do this, they use:
miterLimit
There's
also three settings for lineCap:
Butt
Round
Square
There's
three setting to lineJoin,
as well:
Round
Bevel
Miter
The
default for lineJoin
is miter and the designer must modify this setting to achieve the
other two formats.
So,
these are only a few things you can do with the new <canvas>
element. There's a lot more involved than what is outlined in this
overview, but you can find more information at:.
Using Canvas is a rewarding experience that is sure to grant the designer saved time and easily accomplished, yet impressive, results in their web designing endeavors. For those who are just dipping their toes in the water, who are only just experimenting with the fascinating fields of programming or graphic design, Canvas can potentially help you learn more about coding and assist you in furthering your knowledge
and skills.
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