background()#

The background() function sets the color used for the background of the py5 window.

Examples#

example picture for background()

def setup():
    py5.background(51)

example picture for background()

def setup():
    py5.background(255, 204, 0)

example picture for background()

def setup():
    img = py5.load_image("laDefense.jpg")
    py5.background(img)

Description#

The background() function sets the color used for the background of the py5 window. The default background is light gray. This function is typically used within draw() to clear the display window at the beginning of each frame, but it can be used inside setup() to set the background on the first frame of animation or if the backgound need only be set once.

An image can also be used as the background for a Sketch, although the image’s width and height must match that of the Sketch window. Images used with background() will ignore the current tint() setting. To resize an image to the size of the Sketch window, use image.resize(width, height).

It is not possible to use the transparency alpha parameter with background colors on the main drawing surface. It can only be used along with a Py5Graphics object and create_graphics().

This method has additional color functionality that is not reflected in the method’s signatures. For example, you can pass the name of a color (e.g. “green”, “mediumpurple”, etc). Look at the online “All About Colors” Python Ecosystem Integration tutorial for more information.

Underlying Processing method: background

Signatures#

background(
    gray: float,  # specifies a value between white and black
    /,
) -> None

background(
    gray: float,  # specifies a value between white and black
    alpha: float,  # opacity of the background
    /,
) -> None

background(
    image: Py5Image,  # Py5Image to set as background (must be same size as the Sketch window)
    /,
) -> None

background(
    rgb: int,  # any value of the color datatype
    /,
) -> None

background(
    rgb: int,  # any value of the color datatype
    alpha: float,  # opacity of the background
    /,
) -> None

background(
    v1: float,  # red or hue value (depending on the current color mode)
    v2: float,  # green or saturation value (depending on the current color mode)
    v3: float,  # blue or brightness value (depending on the current color mode)
    /,
) -> None

background(
    v1: float,  # red or hue value (depending on the current color mode)
    v2: float,  # green or saturation value (depending on the current color mode)
    v3: float,  # blue or brightness value (depending on the current color mode)
    alpha: float,  # opacity of the background
    /,
) -> None

Updated on December 25, 2023 16:36:33pm UTC