Book Image

Python 2.6 Graphics Cookbook

By : Michael J Ohlson
Book Image

Python 2.6 Graphics Cookbook

By: Michael J Ohlson

Overview of this book

Python is a great object-oriented and interactive programming language that lets you develop graphics, both static and animated, using built-in vector graphics functions that are provided with Python. Python 2.6 Graphics Cookbook is a collection of straightforward recipes and illustrative screenshots for creating and animating graphic objects using the Python language. This book makes the process of developing graphics interesting and entertaining by working in a graphic workspace without the burden of mastering complicated language definitions and opaque examples. If you choose to work through all the recipes from the beginning, you will learn to install Python and create basic programs for making lines and shapes using the built-in Tkinter module. The confusing topic of color manipulation is explored in detail using existing Python tools as well as some new tools in the recipes. Next you will learn to manipulate font size, color, and placement of text as placing text exactly where you want on a screen can be tricky because font height, inter-character spacing, and text window dimensions all interfere with each other. Then you will learn how to animate graphics, for example having more than one independent graphic object co-exist and interact using various Python methods. You will also learn how you can work with raster images, such as converting their formats using the Python Imaging Library. Next you will learn how you can combine vector images with raster images so that you can animate the raster images with ease. You will also walk through a set of recipes with the help of which you can handle and manipulate blocks of raw data that may be hundreds of megabytes in size using datastreams, files, and hard drives. You will also learn how you can use Inkscape to dismantle existing images and use parts of them for your own graphics and Python programs. At the end of the book you will learn how you can create GUIs for different purposes.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
Python 2.6 Graphics Cookbook
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewers
Preface
Index

About the Reviewers

Michael Driscoll has been programming Python since 2006 and has dabbled in other languages since the late nineties. He graduated from university with a Bachelors in Science degree, majoring in Management Information Systems. Michael enjoys programming for fun and profit. His hobbies include Biblical apologetics, blogging about Python at http://www.blog.pythonlibrary.org/ and learning photography. Michael currently works for local government where he programs with Python as much as possible. Michael was also a technical editor for Python 3: Object Oriented Programming by Dusty Phillips.

Warren Noronha is an entrepreneur and geek. Computers have been part of Warren’s life since he was four years old. He began his career as a system administrator, but ended up doing everything from security and design to product development. He enjoys managing people as much as he does managing code or machines. Having worked with small startups as well as Fortune 500 companies, Warren is also a staunch supporter of free software and free speech. He has been a frequent speaker at various colleges and events, discussing subjects ranging from technology and media to launching a startup.

Warren loves working with new technologies; a trait which lead him to become one of the first users of GNU/Linux, Drupal, and Ruby on Rails, much before they grew exponentially and became mainstream technologies. He spends his time working on databases, distributed computing, social computing, and enjoys using internet and communication technology to bridge the digital divide.