How to use paintComponent() without calling multiple "draw()" methods?

Question

I'm new to java and I'm trying to create a "game".

In my game I have the paintComponent method within my main class:

public void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
    super.paintComponent(g);
    setBackground(new Color(120,120,255));
    BackgroundObject.drawGrass(g,385);
    BackgroundObject.drawRoad(g,420);
    BackgroundObject.drawSun(g,-20,-20);
    myCar.draw(g);
    debugger.draw(g);
}

The problem is that every object I want to draw, I have to put it under the paintComponent method (like when I wanted to draw the car, I have to put myCar.draw() under paintComponent)

Is there any way do this?

public void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
    super.paintComponent(g);
    setBackground(new Color(120,120,255));
    visualComponents.draw(g);
    GUI.draw(g);
}

where any class can tell the visualComponent class to draw an object when visualComponents.draw() is called.

Ex: My car class tells visualComponent to draw the vehicle whenever visualComponent.draw(g); is called.

To sum it up I am basically asking for the structure of how most people use paintComponent for their programs

I have been looking around google but couldn't find the answer.

If my question confuses you let me know.

Yes. You can have the objects draw themselves. See this article for an explanation and illustration. http://java-articles.info/articles/?p=196 — Gilbert Le Blanc, May 05 '13 at 08:56

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 10:32

2

You might add the elements to a collection, then iterate the collection and draw each one in a loop. That could paint 100s of objects within a few lines of code.

This example iterates a collection of Area instances & draws them using:

    for (Area obstacle : obstacles) {
        if (doAreasCollide(obstacle, player)) {
            g.setColor(Color.RED);
        } else {
            g.setColor(Color.GREEN);
        }
        g.fill(obstacle);
    }

The 3 green & one red obstacles are in the collection, while the ball (small yellow circle) is drawn separately.

edited May 23 '17 at 10:32

Community

1
1

answered May 05 '13 at 06:59

Andrew Thompson

168,117
40
217
433

Thank you, I'll research into that. – CHess May 05 '13 at 07:02
Marking it accepted is all I need. Glad you got it sorted. :) – Andrew Thompson May 05 '13 at 07:28

How to use paintComponent() without calling multiple "draw()" methods?

1 Answers1