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Getting Graphic With PHP

  Submitted by jmalasko General Development 12 Comments

Imagine creating Web-page graphics dynamically using just code. Creating and manipulating images is yours for the doing with the power of PHP. This tutorial steps through using the GD library, showing you how to create and alter images on Web pages. It starts with the GD construct, and then builds on it to showcase graphics techniques.

12 Comments

  1. 2008-07-07 7:43 pm
    Kroc Silver Supporter

    For some reason, Apple did not include GD in the default Leopard build. Here’s how to compile just the GD extension and add it to PHP without recompiling the whole of PHP and breaking the unique folder layout &c. of the Apple install

    cd “`dirname “$0″`”

    mkdir -p libjpg

    cd libjpg

    curl -O http://www.ijg.org/files/jpegsrc.v6b.tar.gz

    tar xzpf jpegsrc.v6b.tar.gz

    cd jpeg-6b

    cp /usr/share/libtool/config.sub .

    cp /usr/share/libtool/config.guess .

    #32-bit

    #./configure –enable-shared

    #64-bit

    MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET=10.5 CFLAGS=”-arch x86_64 -g -Os -pipe -no-cpp-precomp” CCFLAGS=”-arch x86_64 -g -Os -pipe” CXXFLAGS=”-arch x86_64 -g -Os -pipe” LDFLAGS=”-arch x86_64 -bind_at_load” ./configure –enable-shared

    make

    mkdir -p /usr/local/include

    mkdir -p /usr/local/bin

    mkdir -p /usr/local/lib

    mkdir -p /usr/local/man/man1

    sudo make install

    cd ..

    cd ..

    mkdir -p gd

    cd gd

    curl -O http://www.opensource.apple.com/darwinsource/10.5/apache_mod_php-43/php-5.2 .4.tar.bz2

    tar xjf php-5.2.4.tar.bz2

    cd php-5.2.4/ext/gd

    sudo phpize

    #32-bit

    #./configure –with-zlib-dir=/usr –with-jpeg-dir=/usr/local/lib –with-png-dir=/usr/X11R6 –with-freetype-dir=/usr/X11R6 –with-xpm-dir=/usr/X11R6

    #64-bit

    MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET=10.5 CFLAGS=”-arch x86_64 -g -Os -pipe -no-cpp-precomp” CCFLAGS=”-arch x86_64 -g -Os -pipe” CXXFLAGS=”-arch x86_64 -g -Os -pipe” LDFLAGS=”-arch x86_64 -bind_at_load” ./configure –with-zlib-dir=/usr –with-jpeg-dir=/usr/local/lib –with-png-dir=/usr/X11R6 –with-freetype-dir=/usr/X11R6 –with-xpm-dir=/usr/X11R6

    make

    sudo make install

    #add “extension=gd.so” to php.ini

    #and uncomment (“;” before) ‘extension_dir = “./”‘

    uncomment the 32-bit lines, and comment in the 64-bit lines if you’re compiling on a Core !2 Duo / G4

    Edited 2008-07-07 19:47 UTC

    • 2008-07-07 11:57 pm
      StephenBeDoper

      Yeesh! Must… resist… urge to… make… snarky comment… about… “The Mac Experience.” ;)

      • 2008-07-08 2:21 am
        BallmerKnowsBest

        The appropriate reference is:

        “So easy to use, no WONDER it’s number 1!”

        Hey, it worked for AOL.

      • 2008-07-08 12:56 pm
        chrish

        ’cause your grandma is clearly going to need to install GD, right? 😉

        • 2008-07-08 1:47 pm
          StephenBeDoper

          Ah, I wasn’t aware that “good user experience” has grandparent-only eligibility requirements.

      • 2008-07-09 8:14 am
        Kroc Silver Supporter

        This is PHP/Apache. Both open source projects not run by Apple. These are also both not front-facing user options advertised on the box.

        Having to run a ridiculously complex script to fix an issue is a staple of most open source projects. Blaming Apple is aiming in the wrong place.

        • 2008-07-11 9:29 pm
          StephenBeDoper

          This is PHP/Apache. Both open source projects not run by Apple.

          …

          Blaming Apple is aiming in the wrong place.

          Apple is responsible for the configuration of the versions of PHP/Apache that Apple chose to include in Apple’s OS (note the pattern).

          Having to run a ridiculously complex script to fix an issue is a staple of most open source projects.

          Relevance? Correlation is not cause.

          These are also both not front-facing user options advertised on the box.

          …which says to me that Apple’s commitment to “user experience” is largely perfunctory, since it evidently doesn’t extend to the more advanced / less “sexy” parts of the OS.

  2. 2008-07-07 9:57 pm
    mckill

    so how do i actually view IBM’s tutorial, do i have to sign up for it? am i retarded or something.

    • 2008-07-08 1:01 am
      mongoslam

      Yeah. Do that by clicking the “Register now or sign in using your IBM ID and password.” link.

      – This message has been presented by RTARD foundation. (I only kid.)

  3. 2008-07-08 12:10 am
    StephenBeDoper

    I’ve been using this for about a year or so now – it’s incredibly useful when you need to do something like display dynamically-generated text using an exotic typeface.

    A very useful script that I’ve come across, just in case anyone is looking for something similar:

    – Multifunction Image Handler PHP Script

    http://www.carmosaic.com/weather/scripts-image-handler.php

    I haven’t used more than a fraction of its functionality, but so far it’s been quite handy for doing server-side creation of banner images from templates, and non-destructively watermarking photos.

  4. 2008-07-08 7:26 am
    fresch

    I would like to suggest to not post items or articles that reference material for which one needs to register in any way.

    I find it extremely annyoing having to register for any and every tiny bit of information.