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9-patch Allows the Creation of Embedded Graphic Images with Scalability
Application design usually means working with an abundance of graphics, and when designing applications for multiple screen sizes, designers have to keep in mind how those images will scale when deployed across different resolutions and aspect ratios. A button that looks great on one screen might have awkward corners or warped text when scaled to fit a screen of a different size. To avoid this, designers often create multiple versions of their graphics in various sizes. While this allows for tight control over the visual presentation of the graphics, it also means extra time, effort, and resources.
So how do we create graphics with scalability in mind without having to duplicate effort, bloat file resources, or sacrifice quality? Enter 9-patch.
What is a 9-patch image?
Essentially, a 9-patch image is a custom graphic that scales the way that you intend it to, which you define when creating the graphic. Where supported, this stretchable image is automatically resized to accommodate the content as defined. The "as defined" part is what allows designers to retain control over how a graphic looks even when it is resized.
Check out this example. Both buttons look the same before, but the 9-patch button retains it's original appearance when resized to be slightly wider and much higher. The other image scales poorly, especially at the border and corners.
How to define the stretchable areas of an image
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