Reference for Processing version 1.5. If you have a previous version, use the reference included with your software. If you see any errors or have suggestions, please let us know. If you prefer a more technical reference, visit the Processing Javadoc.

Name

### background()

Examples

    background(51);

    background(255, 204, 0);

    PImage b;
    b = loadImage("laDefense.jpg");
    background(b);

Description

The background() function sets the color used for the background of the Processing window. The default background is light gray. In the draw() function, the background color is used to clear the display window at the beginning of each frame.
An image can also be used as the background for a sketch, however its width and height must be the same size as the sketch window. To resize an image 'b' to the size of the sketch window, use b.resize(width, height).
Images used as background will ignore the current tint() setting.
It is not possible to use transparency (alpha) in background colors with the main drawing surface, however they will work properly with createGraphics.

Syntax

    background(gray)
    background(gray, alpha)
    background(value1, value2, value3)
    background(value1, value2, value3, alpha)
    background(color)
    background(color, alpha)
    background(hex)
    background(hex, alpha)

Parameters

gray | int or float: specifies a value between white and black
alpha | int or float: opacity of the background
value1 | int or float: red or hue value (depending on the current color mode)
value2 | int or float: green or saturation value (depending on the current color mode)
value3 | int or float: blue or brightness value (depending on the current color mode)
color | color: any value of the color datatype
hex | int: color value in hexadecimal notation (i.e. #FFCC00 or 0xFFFFCC00)

Returns | None
Usage | Web & Application
Related | stroke() fill() tint() colorMode()

Updated on August 30, 2010 04:29:39pm EDT