How do I draw an annulus (doughnut) using GDI+?

Question

I have been trying to draw an annulus (ring with thickness) with a transparent hole and a gradient rim in C# with very little success. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to do this?

here's a nice Blend Utility

Here's the Final result - thanks to BlueMonkMN

 Rectangle GetSquareRec(double radius, int x, int y)
    {
        double r = radius;
        double side = Math.Sqrt(Math.Pow(r, 2) / 2);
        Rectangle rec = new Rectangle(x - ((int)side), y - ((int)side), (int)(side * 2) + x, (int)(side * 2) + y);

        return rec;
    }
    void Form1_Paint(object sender, PaintEventArgs e)
    {


        Graphics gTarget = e.Graphics;
        gTarget.SmoothingMode = SmoothingMode.AntiAlias;


        GraphicsPath pTemp = new GraphicsPath();

        Rectangle r = GetSquareRec(200, 225, 225);
        pTemp.AddEllipse(r);
        pTemp.AddEllipse(GetSquareRec(50, 225, 225));

        Color[] colors = new Color[5];
        colors[0] = Color.FromArgb(192, 192, 192);
        colors[1] = Color.FromArgb(105, 0, 0);
        colors[2] = Color.FromArgb(169, 169, 169);
        colors[3] = Color.FromArgb(0, 0, 0);
        colors[4] = Color.FromArgb(0, 0, 0);

        float[] positions = new float[5];
        positions[0] = 0f;
        positions[1] = 0.1f;
        positions[2] = 0.35f;
        positions[3] = 0.5f;
        positions[4] = 1f;

        ColorBlend Cb = new ColorBlend();
        Cb.Colors = colors;
        Cb.Positions = positions;

        PathGradientBrush pgb = new PathGradientBrush(pTemp);
        pgb.InterpolationColors = Cb;
        pgb.CenterPoint = new PointF(r.X + (r.Width / 2), r.Y + (r.Height / 2));
        gTarget.FillPath(pgb, pTemp);

    }

http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/th.515733e62e.jpg

Answer 1

This is how I did it in the Scrolling Game Development Kit:

pTemp = new GraphicsPath();
pTemp.AddEllipse(Start.X, Start.Y, End.X - Start.X, End.Y - Start.Y);
pTemp.AddEllipse((Start.X * 3 + End.X) / 4f,
                 (Start.Y * 3 + End.Y) / 4f,
                 (End.X - Start.X) / 2f,
                 (End.Y - Start.Y) / 2f);
PathGradientBrush pgb = new PathGradientBrush(pTemp);
Blend b = new Blend();
b.Factors = new float[] { 0, 1, 1 };
b.Positions = new float[] { 0, .5F, 1 };
pgb.Blend = b;
pgb.CenterColor = ((SolidBrush)CurrentBrush).Color;
pgb.SurroundColors = new Color[] {CurrentPen.Color};
gTarget.FillPath(pgb, pTemp);
pgb.Dispose();
pTemp.Dispose();

_{(source: enigmadream.com)}

I edited the original SGDK code for this sample because originally I wasn't smart enough to scale the gradient to exclude the hole, but now I guess I am :).

If you would rather see the gradient like this:

_{(source: enigmadream.com)}

Then change the blend code to look like this:

Blend blend = new Blend();
blend.Factors = new float[] { 0, 1, 0, 0 };
blend.Positions = new float[] { 0, 0.25F, .5F, 1 };
pgb.Blend = blend;

Answer 2

You may use two calls to Graphics.DrawArc combined, drawing the top and bottom or left and right portions of the annulus, one portion at a time.