How to draw shapes in PDF using C# and VB.NET in WinForms?
Syncfusion Essential PDF is a .NET PDF library used to create, read, and edit PDF documents. Using this library, you can add shapes like line, curve, path, text, rectangle, pie, arc, bezier, and ellipse with different types of brushes like solid brush, gradient brush, tiling brush, and image brush in the PDF using C# and VB.NET.
Steps to draw shapes in PDF programmatically:
- Create a new C# console application project.
- Install the Syncfusion.Pdf.WinForms NuGet package as reference to your .NET Framework application from NuGet.org.
- Include the following namespace in the Program.cs file.
C#
using Syncfusion.Pdf; using Syncfusion.Pdf.Graphics; using System.Drawing;
VB.NET
Imports Syncfusion.Pdf Imports Syncfusion.Pdf.Graphics Imports System.Drawing
- Use the following code snippet to draw shapes in the PDF.
C#
//Create a document
PdfDocument doc = new PdfDocument();
//Add a new page
PdfPage page = doc.Pages.Add();
//Create PDF graphics for the page
PdfGraphics graphics = page.Graphics;
#region Polygon
//Add pen
PdfPen pen = new PdfPen(PdfBrushes.Brown, 10f);
//Create a gradient brush
PdfLinearGradientBrush brush = new PdfLinearGradientBrush(new PointF(10, 100), new PointF(100, 200), new PdfColor(Color.Red), new PdfColor(Color.Green));
//Create polygon points
PointF p1 = new PointF(10, 100);
PointF p2 = new PointF(10, 200);
PointF p3 = new PointF(100, 100);
PointF p4 = new PointF(100, 200);
PointF p5 = new PointF(55, 150);
PointF[] points = { p1, p2, p3, p4, p5 };
//Draw polygon
graphics.DrawPolygon(pen, brush, points);
#endregion
#region Arc
pen.Width = 11;
pen.LineCap = PdfLineCap.Round;
RectangleF rect = new RectangleF(300, 50, 200, 200);
//Draw an arc
graphics.DrawArc(pen, rect, 0, 90);
pen.Color = Color.DarkBlue;
rect.X -= 10;
graphics.DrawArc(pen, rect, 90, 90);
pen.Color = Color.Red;
rect.Y -= 10;
graphics.DrawArc(pen, rect, 180, 90);
pen.Color = Color.DarkCyan;
rect.X += 10;
graphics.DrawArc(pen, rect, 270, 90);
#endregion
#region Rectangle
pen.Color = Color.Green;
pen.Width = 2;
//Draw rectangle
graphics.DrawRectangle(pen, null, 10, 300, 200, 100);
#endregion
//Save and close the document
doc.Save("Shapes.pdf");
doc.Close(true);
//This will open the PDF file so, the result will be seen in default PDF viewer
System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("Shapes.pdf");
VB.NET
'Create a document
Dim doc As PdfDocument = New PdfDocument()
'Add a new page
Dim page As PdfPage = doc.Pages.Add()
'Create PDF graphics for the page
Dim graphics As PdfGraphics = page.Graphics
#Region "Polygon"
'Add pen
Dim pen As PdfPen = New PdfPen(PdfBrushes.Brown, 10.0F)
'Create a gradient brush
Dim brush As PdfLinearGradientBrush = New PdfLinearGradientBrush(New PointF(10, 100), New PointF(100, 200), New PdfColor(Color.Red), New PdfColor(Color.Green))
'Create polygon points
Dim p1 As PointF = New PointF(10, 100)
Dim p2 As PointF = New PointF(10, 200)
Dim p3 As PointF = New PointF(100, 100)
Dim p4 As PointF = New PointF(100, 200)
Dim p5 As PointF = New PointF(55, 150)
Dim points As PointF() = {p1, p2, p3, p4, p5}
'Draw polygon
graphics.DrawPolygon(pen, brush, points)
#End Region
#Region "Arc"
pen.Width = 11
pen.LineCap = PdfLineCap.Round
Dim rect As RectangleF = New RectangleF(300, 50, 200, 200)
'Draw an arc
graphics.DrawArc(pen, rect, 0, 90)
pen.Color = Color.DarkBlue
rect.X -= 10
graphics.DrawArc(pen, rect, 90, 90)
pen.Color = Color.Red
rect.Y -= 10
graphics.DrawArc(pen, rect, 180, 90)
pen.Color = Color.DarkCyan
rect.X += 10
graphics.DrawArc(pen, rect, 270, 90)
#End Region
#Region "Rectangle"
pen.Color = Color.Green
pen.Width = 2
'Draw rectangle
graphics.DrawRectangle(pen, Nothing, 10, 300, 200, 100)
#End Region
'Save and close the document
doc.Save("Shapes.pdf")
doc.Close(True)
'This will open the PDF file so, the result will be seen in default PDF viewer
System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("Shapes.pdf")
A complete working sample can be downloaded from DrawShapesSample.zip.
By executing the program, you will get the PDF document as follows. 
Take a moment to peruse the documentation, where you can find the options like add a polygon with linear gradient brush and shape with pagination.
An online sample link to drawing the shapes such as Ellipse, Arcs, Polygon, Pie, and Rectangle in the PDF document with gradient and color spaces.
Starting with v16.2.0.x, if you reference Syncfusion® assemblies from the trial setup or the NuGet feed, include a license key in your projects. Refer to the link to learn about generating and registering the Syncfusion® license key in your application to use the components without a trial message.
I hope you enjoyed learning about how to draw shapes in a PDF using C# and VB.NET.
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