Vector graphics library for Windows with C# bindings

c# .net graphics vector-graphics
J Trana picture J Trana · Apr 30, 2011 · Viewed 10.8k times · Source

For fun, I'd like to see if I can create a library that is a bit like a small subset of WPF: a managed template driven vector based graphics system. (I have some theories I'd like to test.) I am not however a graphics genius and am looking for a good vector graphics library to start with.

I know Microsoft uses MilCore internally which more or less seems to pass a list of vector structures from the managed world to the unmanaged world and renders them. I believe this underlying library is immediate mode based. I'd like to use an existing free vector graphics library with a laundry list of desired features:

  1. Vector based
  2. Immediate or retained mode, preferably immediate?
  3. Pixel shader support
  4. Geometry hit testing would be nice
  5. Image support, image rotation support
  6. .NET binding
  7. Stable to the point of being commercially viable on a small scale

Things I don't need:

  1. Cross platform support. If that locks it into DirectX or even Direct3D 10 or 11 specifically, so be it.
  2. Higher level management of graphics in anything resembling a "control". This layer of management I'd probably want to do myself.
  3. I'm not scared of a little interop.
  4. Super awesome performant. I'd like this to be performant but if usability suffers too much because of it, I won't be successful.

This library http://jeremiahmorrill.com/2011/02/05/a-simple-directcanvas-tutorial/ looks similar to what I'd like, but preferably something more stable and with more examples.
I'd prefer something a layer above DX/OpenGL if possible.

What options do I have? Does this exist or is it just a pipe dream? Thank you in advance - I feel like I've just typed in a shopping list but I'd really appreciate the community's feedback on this. It didn't quite seem to fit other vector graphics questions I've seen listed here, but if I missed a great post, let me know!

Answer

TcKs picture TcKs · May 3, 2011

I worked several times with VG.NET library. It's realy easy to use, has great designer and the images and animations are fast. It's my best recommendation.

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