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.NET Framework 3.5
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Microsoft Visual Studio 2008/.NET Framework 3.5

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.NET Framework Class Library
System.Drawing Namespace

Updated: November 2007

The System.Drawing namespace provides access to GDI+ basic graphics functionality. More advanced functionality is provided in the System.Drawing.Drawing2D, System.Drawing.Imaging, and System.Drawing.Text namespaces.

The Graphics class provides methods for drawing to the display device. Classes such as Rectangle and Point encapsulate GDI+ primitives. The Pen class is used to draw lines and curves, while classes derived from the abstract class Brush are used to fill the interiors of shapes.

Caution:

Classes within the System.Drawing namespace are not supported for use within a Windows or ASP.NET service. Attempting to use these classes from within one of these application types may produce unexpected problems, such as diminished service performance and run-time exceptions.

  ClassDescription
Bitmap Encapsulates a GDI+ bitmap, which consists of the pixel data for a graphics image and its attributes. A Bitmap is an object used to work with images defined by pixel data.
Brush Defines objects used to fill the interiors of graphical shapes such as rectangles, ellipses, pies, polygons, and paths.
Brushes Brushes for all the standard colors. This class cannot be inherited.
BufferedGraphics Provides a graphics buffer for double buffering.
BufferedGraphicsContext Provides methods for creating graphics buffers that can be used for double buffering.
BufferedGraphicsManager Provides access to the main buffered graphics context object for the application domain.
ColorConverter Converts colors from one data type to another. Access this class through the TypeDescriptor.
ColorTranslator Translates colors to and from GDI+ Color structures. This class cannot be inherited.
Font Defines a particular format for text, including font face, size, and style attributes. This class cannot be inherited.
FontConverter Converts Font objects from one data type to another.
FontConverter..::.FontNameConverterInfrastructure. FontConverter..::.FontNameConverter is a type converter that is used to convert a font name to and from various other representations.
FontConverter..::.FontUnitConverterInfrastructure. Converts font units to and from other unit types.
FontFamily Defines a group of type faces having a similar basic design and certain variations in styles. This class cannot be inherited.
Graphics Encapsulates a GDI+ drawing surface. This class cannot be inherited.
Icon Represents a Windows icon, which is a small bitmap image used to represent an object. Icons can be thought of as transparent bitmaps, although their size is determined by the system.
IconConverter Converts an Icon object from one data type to another. Access this class through the TypeDescriptor object.
Image An abstract base class that provides functionality for the Bitmap and Metafile descended classes.
ImageAnimator Animates an image that has time-based frames.
ImageConverter ImageConverter is a class that can be used to convert Image objects from one data type to another. Access this class through the TypeDescriptor object.
ImageFormatConverter ImageFormatConverter is a class that can be used to convert ImageFormat objects from one data type to another. Access this class through the TypeDescriptor object.
Pen Defines an object used to draw lines and curves. This class cannot be inherited.
Pens Pens for all the standard colors. This class cannot be inherited.
PointConverter Converts a Point object from one data type to another. Access this class through the TypeDescriptor object.
RectangleConverter Converts rectangles from one data type to another. Access this class through the TypeDescriptor.
Region Describes the interior of a graphics shape composed of rectangles and paths. This class cannot be inherited.
SizeConverter The SizeConverter class is used to convert from one data type to another. Access this class through the TypeDescriptor object.
SizeFConverter Converts SizeF objects from one type to another.
SolidBrush Defines a brush of a single color. Brushes are used to fill graphics shapes, such as rectangles, ellipses, pies, polygons, and paths. This class cannot be inherited.
StringFormat Encapsulates text layout information (such as alignment, orientation and tab stops) display manipulations (such as ellipsis insertion and national digit substitution) and OpenType features. This class cannot be inherited.
SystemBrushes Each property of the SystemBrushes class is a SolidBrush that is the color of a Windows display element.
SystemColors Each property of the SystemColors class is a Color structure that is the color of a Windows display element.
SystemFonts Specifies the fonts used to display text in Windows display elements.
SystemIcons Each property of the SystemIcons class is an Icon object for Windows system-wide icons. This class cannot be inherited.
SystemPens Each property of the SystemPens class is a Pen that is the color of a Windows display element and that has a width of 1 pixel.
TextureBrush Each property of the TextureBrush class is a Brush object that uses an image to fill the interior of a shape. This class cannot be inherited.
ToolboxBitmapAttribute Allows you to specify an icon to represent a control in a container, such as the Microsoft Visual Studio Form Designer.
  StructureDescription
CharacterRange Specifies a range of character positions within a string.
Color Represents an ARGB (alpha, red, green, blue) color.
Point Represents an ordered pair of integer x- and y-coordinates that defines a point in a two-dimensional plane.
PointF Represents an ordered pair of floating-point x- and y-coordinates that defines a point in a two-dimensional plane.
Rectangle Stores a set of four integers that represent the location and size of a rectangle. For more advanced region functions, use a Region object.
RectangleF Stores a set of four floating-point numbers that represent the location and size of a rectangle. For more advanced region functions, use a Region object.
Size Stores an ordered pair of integers, typically the width and height of a rectangle.
SizeF Stores an ordered pair of floating-point numbers, typically the width and height of a rectangle.
  InterfaceDescription
IDeviceContext Defines methods for obtaining and releasing an existing handle to a Windows device context.
  DelegateDescription
Graphics..::.DrawImageAbort Provides a callback method for deciding when the DrawImage method should prematurely cancel execution and stop drawing an image.
Graphics..::.EnumerateMetafileProc Provides a callback method for the EnumerateMetafile method.
Image..::.GetThumbnailImageAbort Provides a callback method for determining when the GetThumbnailImage method should prematurely cancel execution.
  EnumerationDescription
ContentAlignment Specifies alignment of content on the drawing surface.
CopyPixelOperation Determines how the source color in a copy pixel operation is combined with the destination color to result in a final color.
FontStyle Specifies style information applied to text.
GraphicsUnit Specifies the unit of measure for the given data.
KnownColor Specifies the known system colors.
RotateFlipType Specifies the direction of an image's rotation and the axis used to flip the image.
StringAlignment Specifies the alignment of a text string relative to its layout rectangle.
StringDigitSubstitute The StringDigitSubstitute enumeration specifies how to substitute digits in a string according to a user's locale or language.
StringFormatFlags Specifies the display and layout information for text strings.
StringTrimming Specifies how to trim characters from a string that does not completely fit into a layout shape.
StringUnit Specifies the units of measure for a text string.
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