Binaryworld - How to create pattern brush from bitmap or picture object ? ... [ VB -> Bitmap ]

In this article we will learn how to use CreatePatternBrush along with CreateBitmap API. CreateBitmap can be used to create a memory bitmap of specified width, height and Bits/Pixel. CreatePatternBrush can create a pattern brush based of Bitmap. You can also use VB Picture object as a bitmap handle. Picture object has Handle property which you can pass to CreatePatternBrush.

Here is the full example

Step-By-Step example

- Create a standard exe project, form1 is added by default
- Add two picturebox controls and one commandbutton on the form1
- Add the following code in form1 code window.

Click here to copy the following block

Private Type RECT
  Left As Long
  Top As Long
  Right As Long
  Bottom As Long
End Type

Private Declare Function CreatePatternBrush Lib "gdi32" ( _
  ByVal hBitmap As Long) As Long

Private Declare Function FillRect Lib "user32" ( _
  ByVal hdc As Long, lpRect As RECT, ByVal hBrush As Long) As Long

Private Declare Function SetRect Lib "user32" ( _
  lpRect As RECT, ByVal X1 As Long, ByVal Y1 As Long, ByVal X2 As Long, _
  ByVal Y2 As Long) As Long

Private Declare Function DeleteObject Lib "gdi32" ( _
  ByVal hObject As Long) As Long

Private Declare Function CreateBitmap Lib "gdi32" ( _
  ByVal nWidth As Long, ByVal nHeight As Long, ByVal nPlanes As Long, _
  ByVal nBitCount As Long, lpBits As Any) As Long

Dim bBytes(1 To 64) As Byte

Private Sub DoPattern()
  Dim R As RECT, mBrush As Long, hBitmap As Long

  '///////////////////////////////////////////////////
  'Create the pattern brush
  '///////////////////////////////////////////////////
  mBrush = CreatePatternBrush(Me.Picture.Handle)
  SetRect R, 0, 0, Picture1.ScaleWidth, Picture1.ScaleHeight

  'Fill the form
  FillRect Picture1.hdc, R, mBrush

  'Clean up
  DeleteObject mBrush

  '///////////////////////////////////////////////////
  'Create a memory bitmap
  '///////////////////////////////////////////////////

  Dim c As Integer
  For I = 1 To 64
    c = c + 1
    If c <= 2 Then
      bBytes(I) = 1
    Else
      bBytes(I) = 255
      c = 0
    End If
  Next

  hBitmap = CreateBitmap(8, 8, 1, 8, bBytes(1))
  mBrush = CreatePatternBrush(hBitmap)
  SetRect R, 0, 0, Picture2.ScaleWidth, Picture2.ScaleHeight

  'Fill the form
  FillRect Picture2.hdc, R, mBrush

  DeleteObject hBitmap
End Sub

Private Sub Command1_Click()
  DoPattern
End Sub

Private Sub Form_Load()
  Me.Picture = LoadPicture(App.Path & "\test.bmp")
  Command1.Caption = "Create Pattern Brush"
  Picture1.ScaleMode = vbPixels
  Picture2.ScaleMode = vbPixels
End Sub

- Press F5 to run the code