Simple graphics API with transparency, polygons, r

Question

I need a simple graphics library that supports the following functionality:

1. Ability to draw polygons (not just rectangles!) with RGBA colors (i.e., partially transparent),
2. Ability to load bitmap images,
3. Ability to read current color of pixel in a given coordinate.

Ideally using JavaScript or Python.

Seems like HTML 5 Canvas can handle #2 and #3 but not #1, whereas SVG can handle #1 and #2 but not #3. Am I missing something (about either of these two)? Or are there other alternatives?

Answer 1

maybe Raphael - http://raphaeljs.com/reference.html

Answer 2

PyGame can do all of those things. OTOH, I don't think it embeds into a GUI too well.

Answer 3

GameJs does that and more - it's similar to the mentioned PyGame.

http://gamejs.org

Ability to draw polygons (not just rectangles!) with RGBA colors (i.e., partially transparent),

gamejs.draw.polygon (surface, color, pointlist, width)

Transparent colors can be defined as 'rgba(50, 50, 50, 0.1)' (last is alpha)

http://docs.gamejs.org/gamejs/draw/#polygon

Ability to load bitmap images,

var surface = gamejs.image.load('images/foo.png')

http://docs.gamejs.org/gamejs/image/

Ability to read current color of pixel in a given coordinate.

// a surface array is a special DOM canvas array
// that is superfast for per pixel access / manipulation

var srfArray = new SurfaceArray(display);
srfArray.set(50, 100, [255, 0, 0, 100]);
srfArray.get(20, 30);

http://docs.gamejs.org/gamejs/surfacearray/

Answer 4

I ended up going with Canvas. The "secret" of polygons is using paths. Thanks, "tur1ng"!

Answer 5

I voted for PyGame, but I would also like to point out that the new QT graphics library seems quite capable. I have not used PyQT with QT4 yet, but I really like PyQT development with QT3.