Drawing in Java using Canvas

Question

I want to draw in Java's Canvas but can't get it work because I don't know what I'm doing. Here's my simple code:

import javax.swing.JFrame;
import java.awt.Canvas;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.Color;

public class Program
{
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        JFrame frmMain = new JFrame();
        frmMain.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        frmMain.setSize(400, 400);

        Canvas cnvs = new Canvas();
        cnvs.setSize(400, 400);

        frmMain.add(cnvs);
        frmMain.setVisible(true);

        Graphics g = cnvs.getGraphics();
        g.setColor(new Color(255, 0, 0));
        g.drawString("Hello", 200, 200);
    }
}

Nothing appears on the window.

Am I wrong to think that Canvas is a paper and Graphics is my Pencil? Is that how it works?

Answer 1

Suggestions:

• Don't use Canvas as you shouldn't mix AWT with Swing components unnecessarily.
• Instead use a JPanel or JComponent.
• Don't get your Graphics object by calling getGraphics() on a component as the Graphics object obtained will be transient.
• Draw in the JPanel's paintComponent() method.
• All this is well explained in several tutorials that are easily found. Why not read them first before trying to guess at this stuff?

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Key tutorial links:

• Basic Tutorial: Lesson: Performing Custom Painting
• More advanced information: Painting in AWT and Swing