Author: Tomas Rutkauskas

How to fill a text with a pattern or bitmap? I know that using fillpath(dc) will do 
it but how can I assign the bitmap or a gradient color to the font?

Answer:

Solve 1:

Here's one method. To make this work, add a TImage and load it with a bmp of about 
256 x 256. Make the TImage Visible - False. Drop a TButton on the form. Hook up the 
OnClick for the button. Change the Form's Font to be something big enough, say 
around 80 for the size. Also, specify a True Type Font (I used Times New Roman).

1   unit Unit1;
2   
3   interface
4   
5   uses
6     Windows, Messages, SysUtils, Classes, Graphics, Controls, Forms, Dialogs,
7     StdCtrls, ExtCtrls;
8   
9   type
10    TForm1 = class(TForm)
11      Image1: TImage;
12      Button1: TButton;
13      procedure Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
14    private
15      { Private declarations }
16    public
17      { Public declarations }
18    end;
19  
20  var
21    Form1: TForm1;
22  
23  implementation
24  
25  {$R *.DFM}
26  
27  procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
28  var
29    ClipRegion: HRGN;
30    Bmp: TBitmap;
31  begin
32    Bmp := TBitmap.Create;
33    Bmp.Width := Image1.Width;
34    Bmp.Height := Image1.Height;
35    Bmp.Canvas.Brush.Color := clSilver;
36    {You could use a different color, or another bitmap}
37    Bmp.Canvas.FillRect(RECT(0, 0, Bmp.Width, Bmp.Height));
38    BeginPath(Canvas.Handle);
39    SetBkMode(Canvas.Handle, TRANSPARENT);
40    TextOut(Canvas.Handle, 10, 30, 'Cool!', 5);
41    EndPath(Canvas.Handle);
42    ClipRegion := PathToRegion(Canvas.Handle);
43    SelectClipRgn(Bmp.Canvas.Handle, ClipRegion);
44    Bmp.Canvas.Draw(0, 0, Image1.Picture.Bitmap);
45    SelectClipRgn(Bmp.Canvas.Handle, 0);
46    Canvas.Draw(0, 0, Bmp);
47    DeleteObject(ClipRegion);
48    Bmp.Free;
49  end;
50  
51  end.



Solve 2:

52  procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
53  var
54    dc: hdc;
55    SaveIndex: integer;
56    bm: TBitmap;
57  begin
58    bm := TBitmap.Create;
59    bm.LoadFromFile('c:\download\test.bmp');
60    Canvas.Font.Name := 'Arial';
61    Canvas.Font.Height := 100;
62    dc := Canvas.Handle;
63    SaveIndex := SaveDc(Dc);
64    SetBkMode(dc, TRANSPARENT);
65    BeginPath(dc);
66    Canvas.TextOut(0, 0, 'Many TeamB guys ignore me');
67    EndPath(dc);
68    SelectClipPath(dc, RGN_COPY);
69    Canvas.Draw(0, 0, bm);
70    RestoreDc(dc, SaveIndex);
71    bm.Free;
72  end;