Creating Dynamic images with PHP

[Gaijin]

Welcome and enjoy!

Intro:
Since I don't have enough Posts to update my signature, I've decided to show you how to create dynamic signature with PHP

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The day number is updated on every load.
Try refreshing the page and look at the time in the right bottom corner

Requirements:

• Basic understanding of PHP and it's Syntax.
  
• GD Library enabled Server
  
• And time to read the more...

Functions:

1. imagecreate()
   
2. imagecolorallocate()
   
3. imagestring()
   
4. header()
   
5. imagepng()
   

Let us start writing our PHP file.
I've named mine image.php, you can name yours different.

We start first with defining the width and height of the image.

PHP Code:

$width = 450;
$height = 70; 


I've set my image width to 450 pixel and height to 70 pixel.

Now we use the function imagecreate() to create our image.

PHP Code:

$image = imagecreate($width, $height); 


imagecreate() accepts 2 parameters
1st = width of the image, 2nd = height of the image.

Next we will define Background color for the image.

PHP Code:

$background = imagecolorallocate($image, 87, 87, 87); 


imagecolorallocate() accept 4 parameters
1st = image resource that was create with the imagecreate() function.
2nd/3rd/4th are the RGB color value paramter

Now that we have the basic of our image let us add some text to it.

PHP Code:

$text = "I hope this will not get new Hackforums";
$text_color = imagecolorallocate($image, 176, 176, 176);
imagestring($image, 10, '10', '10', $text, $text_color); 


$text_color is defined by the imagecolorallocate() function.
The function imagestring() accept 6 parameters.
1st = image resource that was create with imagecreate()
2nd = the font size
3rd = Left - distance from the left side of the image wich I've set to 10 pixel
4th = Top - distance from the top side of the image wich is also 10 pixel
5th = Text to add
6th = text color

And the last step is to define our content as image.

PHP Code:

header ("Content-type: image/png");
imagepng($image); 


With header() we define Content-type as PNG image.
imagepng() is then used to output given resource.
imagepng() accept 4 parameters
1st = image resource that was created with imagecreate()
2nd = This one is optional and is used to set the path and file name of the image - value must be string
3rd = Is also optional and it is used to define image compression quality from 0 = none - to 9 = Best
4th = filters - allows reducing the image size

Read More:
GD Docs
imagedestroy()
imagecreatetruecolor()
imagegif()
imageellipse()

Source (Click to View)

PHP Code:

<?php

$width = 450;
$height = 70;

$image = imagecreate($width, $height);
$background = imagecolorallocate($image, 87, 87, 87);

$text = "I hope this will not get new Hackforums";
$text_color = imagecolorallocate($image, 176, 176, 176);
imagestring($image, 10, '10', '10', $text, $text_color);

header ("Content-type: image/png");
imagepng($image);

?>

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Thank you for reading!

[Elektrisk]

Thank you for posting this tutorial.

[Gaijin]

Thanks....
I'm in love with GD....

[Omniscient]

Awesome tutorial. I feel like adding awards to the site just for you.

[Gaijin]

Awesome tutorial. I feel like adding awards to the site just for you.

Thank you very much Omni.

And if please include the Ninja award..

[MAcar]

Thanks for this tut very helpful!

[Gaijin]

Thank you too!
I'm glad I could help.

[Moudi]

I always wondered how they do that ip creepy stuff >_>

[Gaijin]

I always wondered how they do that ip creepy stuff >_>

Yes this is the way just add $_SERVER['SERVER_ADDR'] to the text you want to have on the image.

[Headshot]

Whoa, thanks for sharing.