How to fill a UIBezierPath with a gradient?

Question

I\'ve drawn a graph using a UIBezierPath. I can fill the area under the graph with a solid color but I want to fill the area under the graph with a gradient rather than with

Answer 1

The easiest approach is to use the original graph bezier path to help you construct a mask and impose this mask on a gradient layer. Now impose the graph layer on top of the gradient layer.

So, for example, make a CAShapeLayer, close the graph bezier path, set its path as the shape layer's path, and fill it black. Now you have a mask that is the shape of the area under the graph. Now make a CAGradientLayer and make the CAShapeLayer its mask. In front of that, place the actual graph.

So for example (EDITED):

Here's the code I used to create that drawing (my bezier path is very simple, just four points joined by three lines, but you can see clearly that the area under it is a gradient):

CAShapeLayer* shape = [[CAShapeLayer alloc] init];
shape.frame = self.graph.bounds;
CGFloat h = shape.frame.size.height;
CGFloat w = shape.frame.size.width;

NSArray* points = @[
                    [NSValue valueWithCGPoint:CGPointMake(0,h-50)],
                    [NSValue valueWithCGPoint:CGPointMake(70,h-100)],
                    [NSValue valueWithCGPoint:CGPointMake(140,h-75)],
                    [NSValue valueWithCGPoint:CGPointMake(w,h-150)],
                    ];

UIBezierPath* p = [UIBezierPath new];
[p moveToPoint:[points[0] CGPointValue]];
for (NSInteger i = 1; i < points.count; i++)
    [p addLineToPoint:[points[i] CGPointValue]];

shape.path = p.CGPath;
shape.strokeColor = [UIColor blackColor].CGColor;
shape.lineWidth = 2;
shape.fillColor = nil;

CAGradientLayer* grad = [[CAGradientLayer alloc] init];
grad.frame = self.graph.bounds;
grad.colors = @[(id)[UIColor blueColor].CGColor,
                (id)[UIColor yellowColor].CGColor];

CAShapeLayer* mask = [[CAShapeLayer alloc] init];
mask.frame = self.graph.bounds;
[p addLineToPoint:CGPointMake(w,h)];
[p addLineToPoint:CGPointMake(0,h)];
[p closePath];
mask.path = p.CGPath;
mask.fillColor = [UIColor blackColor].CGColor;
grad.mask = mask;

[self.graph.layer addSublayer:grad];
[self.graph.layer addSublayer:shape];