Graphics Programming with graphics.h

?Why Learn Graphics Programming?

Graphics programming helps you visualize data, create games, and understand how computers display images.

›

Visualization

Charts, graphs, plots

›

Games

Simple 2D games

›

Understanding

How displays work

Modern alternatives: While graphics.h is great for learning, modern projects use SDL2, OpenGL,Raylib, or SFML. We cover graphics.h here because many schools still teach it.

Graphics programming in C allows you to create visual applications — from simple shapes to complex animations. The graphics.h header file provides functions for drawing lines, circles, rectangles, and more. This tutorial covers everything you need to get started with graphics programming in C.

What is graphics.h?

graphics.h is a header file that contains declarations for graphics functions and constants. It was originally developed by Borland for their Turbo C/C++ compiler in the 1980s-90s.

•Provides simple 2D graphics functions for drawing shapes
•Uses BGI (Borland Graphics Interface) for rendering
•Great for learning graphics fundamentals and basic visualization

Operating System & Compiler Support

Important: Platform Limitations

The original graphics.h was designed for DOS-based systems and is not natively supported on modern operating systems. However, there are ways to use it on different platforms.

Operating System	Compiler	Support Level	Notes
Windows 10/11	MinGW GCC + WinBGIm	Works Well	Requires WinBGIm library installation
Windows	Turbo C/C++ (DOSBox)	Native Support	Run Turbo C in DOSBox emulator
Windows	Dev-C++ (with graphics)	Works Well	Use Orwell Dev-C++ with graphics DevPak
Linux	GCC + libgraph	Partial Support	Requires libgraph library compilation
macOS	GCC / Clang	Not Supported	Use SDL2 or OpenGL instead
DOS (DOSBox)	Turbo C/C++ 3.0	Full Support	Original intended environment

Detailed Compiler Support

Turbo C/C++ (Native)

• Versions: Turbo C 2.0, Turbo C++ 3.0
• OS: MS-DOS, Windows (via DOSBox)
• graphics.h: Built-in, no setup required
• BGI Drivers: Included in /BGI folder

MinGW GCC + WinBGIm

• Versions: GCC 8.0+, MinGW-w64
• OS: Windows 7/10/11
• Library: WinBGIm (Windows BGI)
• Compilation: -lbgi -lgdi32 -lcomdlg32

Code::Blocks

• Versions: 17.12+
• OS: Windows
• Setup: Add WinBGIm to linker settings
• Libraries: -lbgi -lgdi32 -luser32

Dev-C++

• Versions: Orwell Dev-C++ 5.11+
• OS: Windows
• Setup: Install Graphics DevPak
• Easiest: Recommended for beginners

Setup Instructions

Method 1: Windows with MinGW (Recommended)

Install MinGW-w64

Download from https://www.mingw-w64.org/ and install to C:\mingw64

Download WinBGIm Library

Get graphics.h, winbgim.h, and libbgi.a from WinBGIm project

Copy Files to MinGW

main.bash

BASH

1# Copy header files to include folder
2copy graphics.h C:\mingw64\include\
3copy winbgim.h C:\mingw64\include\
4
5# Copy library file to lib folder
6copy libbgi.a C:\mingw64\lib\

Compile Your Program

main.bash

BASH

1# Compile with required linker flags
2g++ -o myprogram.exe myprogram.cpp -lbgi -lgdi32 -lcomdlg32 -luuid -loleaut32 -lole32

Method 2: Dev-C++ (Easiest for Beginners)

Download Orwell Dev-C++

Get from https://sourceforge.net/projects/orwelldevcpp/

Download Graphics DevPak

Search for "Graphics.h DevPak for Dev-C++" and download the .DevPak file

Install the DevPak

Double-click the .DevPak file to install graphics support automatically

Configure Project

Go to Project → Project Options → Parameters → Add: -lbgi -lgdi32 -lcomdlg32 -luuid -loleaut32 -lole32

Method 3: Linux with libgraph

main.bash

BASH

1# Install dependencies (Ubuntu/Debian)
2sudo apt-get install build-essential
3sudo apt-get install libsdl-image1.2 libsdl-image1.2-dev guile-2.0
4sudo apt-get install guile-2.0-dev libsdl1.2debian libart-2.0-dev
5
6# Download and compile libgraph
7git clone https://github.com/SagarGaniga/Graphics-Library.git
8cd Graphics-Library
9./configure
10make
11sudo make install
12sudo ldconfig
13
14# Compile your program
15gcc myprogram.c -o myprogram -lgraph

Note: libgraph may have limited functionality compared to the original graphics.h. For serious graphics work on Linux, consider SDL2 or OpenGL.

Key Graphics Functions

Function	Purpose	Syntax
initgraph()	Initialize graphics mode	initgraph(&gd, &gm, "path")
closegraph()	Close graphics mode	closegraph()
circle()	Draw a circle	circle(x, y, radius)
ellipse()	Draw an ellipse	ellipse(x, y, start, end, xr, yr)
line()	Draw a line	line(x1, y1, x2, y2)
rectangle()	Draw a rectangle	rectangle(x1, y1, x2, y2)
arc()	Draw an arc	arc(x, y, start, end, radius)
setcolor()	Set drawing color	setcolor(color)
setfillstyle()	Set fill pattern & color	setfillstyle(pattern, color)
floodfill()	Fill enclosed area	floodfill(x, y, border)
outtextxy()	Display text at position	outtextxy(x, y, "text")
getmaxx()	Get max X coordinate	int x = getmaxx()
getmaxy()	Get max Y coordinate	int y = getmaxy()

Available Colors

BLACK

#000000

BLUE

#0000AA

GREEN

#00AA00

CYAN

#00AAAA

RED

#AA0000

MAGENTA

#AA00AA

BROWN

#AA5500

LIGHTGRAY

#AAAAAA

DARKGRAY

#555555

LIGHTBLUE

#5555FF

LIGHTGREEN

#55FF55

LIGHTCYAN

#55FFFF

LIGHTRED

#FF5555

LIGHTMAGENTA

#FF55FF

YELLOW

#FFFF55

WHITE

#FFFFFF

Fill Patterns (setfillstyle)

0EMPTY_FILL

Background color only

1SOLID_FILL

Solid fill color

2LINE_FILL

Horizontal lines ───

3LTSLASH_FILL

Light slashes ///

4SLASH_FILL

Dense slashes ///

5BKSLASH_FILL

Backslashes \\\

6LTBKSLASH

Light backslashes

7HATCH_FILL

Cross hatch +++

8XHATCH_FILL

Diagonal cross XXX

9INTERLEAVE

Interleaved lines

10WIDE_DOT

Wide spaced dots

11CLOSE_DOT

Close spaced dots

Understanding Screen Coordinates

Graphics Coordinate System

Unlike math class, screen coordinates have (0,0) at the top-left corner

(0,0)

→

X+

↓

Y+

(100,50)

(200,150)

(maxx, maxy)

X increases →

Left to right

Y increases ↓

Top to bottom

Example 1: Drawing a Circle

The circle() function draws a circle at a specified center point with a given radius. The syntax is circle(x, y, radius).

circle.c

1#include <graphics.h>
2#include <conio.h>
3
4int main() {
5    int gd = DETECT, gm;    // Graphics driver and mode
6    
7    // Initialize graphics mode
8    // DETECT: Auto-detect the best graphics driver
9    // "" or "C:\\TC\\BGI": Path to BGI files (use "" for WinBGIm)
10    initgraph(&gd, &gm, "");
11    
12    // Get the center of the screen
13    int centerX = getmaxx() / 2;    // Half of screen width
14    int centerY = getmaxy() / 2;    // Half of screen height
15    
16    // Draw a title
17    setcolor(YELLOW);
18    outtextxy(centerX - 80, 30, "Circle Example in C");
19    
20    // Draw a simple circle at center with radius 100
21    setcolor(WHITE);
22    circle(centerX, centerY, 100);
23    
24    // Draw more circles with different radii
25    setcolor(LIGHTCYAN);
26    circle(centerX, centerY, 50);   // Smaller inner circle
27    
28    setcolor(LIGHTGREEN);
29    circle(centerX, centerY, 150);  // Larger outer circle
30    
31    // Draw filled circle
32    setcolor(LIGHTRED);
33    setfillstyle(SOLID_FILL, LIGHTRED);
34    circle(centerX - 200, centerY, 40);
35    floodfill(centerX - 200, centerY, LIGHTRED);
36    
37    // Wait for keypress
38    getch();
39    
40    // Close graphics mode
41    closegraph();
42    
43    return 0;
44}

Expected Output:

Circle Example in C

Filled Circle

Press any key to exit...

Step-by-Step Explanation:

Initialize Graphics: initgraph(&gd, &gm, "") sets up the graphics system. DETECT auto-selects the driver.
Find Screen Center: getmaxx()/2 and getmaxy()/2 give us the center coordinates.
Draw Circle: circle(centerX, centerY, 100) draws a circle with radius 100 pixels.
Filled Circle: Use floodfill() after setting fill style to create filled shapes.
Cleanup: closegraph() releases graphics memory.

Example 2: Drawing an Ellipse

An ellipse is like a stretched circle. The ellipse() function has more parameters to control the horizontal and vertical radii, plus start and end angles for partial ellipses.

Syntax: ellipse(x, y, start_angle, end_angle, x_radius, y_radius)

• x, y: Center coordinates
• start_angle, end_angle: 0 to 360 for full ellipse
• x_radius: Horizontal radius
• y_radius: Vertical radius

ellipse.c

1#include <graphics.h>
2#include <conio.h>
3
4int main() {
5    int gd = DETECT, gm;
6    
7    // Initialize graphics
8    initgraph(&gd, &gm, "");
9    
10    // Get screen dimensions
11    int maxX = getmaxx();
12    int maxY = getmaxy();
13    int centerX = maxX / 2;
14    int centerY = maxY / 2;
15    
16    // Title
17    setcolor(YELLOW);
18    outtextxy(centerX - 100, 20, "Ellipse Examples in C");
19    
20    // Example 1: Full ellipse (horizontal - wider than tall)
21    setcolor(LIGHTGREEN);
22    ellipse(centerX, centerY - 100, 0, 360, 150, 60);
23    outtextxy(centerX - 60, centerY - 100 - 80, "Horizontal Ellipse");
24    
25    // Example 2: Full ellipse (vertical - taller than wide)
26    setcolor(LIGHTCYAN);
27    ellipse(centerX, centerY + 100, 0, 360, 60, 120);
28    outtextxy(centerX - 50, centerY + 100 + 130, "Vertical Ellipse");
29    
30    // Example 3: Half ellipse (top half - 0 to 180 degrees)
31    setcolor(LIGHTRED);
32    ellipse(100, centerY, 0, 180, 80, 50);
33    outtextxy(50, centerY - 80, "Top Half");
34    
35    // Example 4: Quarter ellipse (0 to 90 degrees)
36    setcolor(LIGHTMAGENTA);
37    ellipse(maxX - 100, centerY, 0, 90, 80, 50);
38    outtextxy(maxX - 150, centerY - 80, "Quarter");
39    
40    // Example 5: Filled ellipse
41    setcolor(YELLOW);
42    setfillstyle(SOLID_FILL, YELLOW);
43    ellipse(centerX, centerY, 0, 360, 40, 25);
44    // For filled ellipse, use fillellipse() if available
45    // Otherwise use floodfill
46    floodfill(centerX, centerY, YELLOW);
47    outtextxy(centerX - 30, centerY + 35, "Filled");
48    
49    getch();
50    closegraph();
51    
52    return 0;
53}

Expected Output:

Ellipse Examples in C

Horizontal Ellipse

Top Half

Filled

Quarter

Vertical Ellipse

Understanding Ellipse Parameters:

Type	Start Angle	End Angle	Result
Full Ellipse	0	360	Complete ellipse
Top Half	0	180	Upper semicircle
Bottom Half	180	360	Lower semicircle
Quarter	0	90	First quadrant

Example 3: Rectangles and Bars

The rectangle() function draws an outline, whilebar() draws a filled rectangle. These are essential for UI elements, charts, and game graphics.

rectangles.c

1#include <graphics.h>
2#include <conio.h>
3
4int main() {
5    int gd = DETECT, gm;
6    
7    initgraph(&gd, &gm, "");
8    
9    int maxX = getmaxx();
10    int maxY = getmaxy();
11    
12    // Title
13    setcolor(YELLOW);
14    outtextxy(maxX/2 - 120, 20, "Rectangles and Bars in C");
15    
16    // Example 1: Simple rectangle outline
17    setcolor(WHITE);
18    rectangle(50, 80, 200, 180);
19    outtextxy(70, 190, "rectangle()");
20    
21    // Example 2: Filled bar (solid rectangle)
22    setcolor(LIGHTGREEN);
23    setfillstyle(SOLID_FILL, LIGHTGREEN);
24    bar(250, 80, 400, 180);
25    outtextxy(300, 190, "bar()");
26    
27    // Example 3: 3D Bar effect
28    setcolor(LIGHTCYAN);
29    setfillstyle(SOLID_FILL, CYAN);
30    bar3d(450, 80, 550, 180, 20, 1);  // With 3D depth
31    outtextxy(460, 190, "bar3d()");
32    
33    // Example 4: Different fill patterns
34    int patterns[] = {EMPTY_FILL, SOLID_FILL, LINE_FILL, 
35                      LTSLASH_FILL, SLASH_FILL, BKSLASH_FILL,
36                      LTBKSLASH_FILL, HATCH_FILL};
37    char* patternNames[] = {"EMPTY", "SOLID", "LINE", 
38                            "LTSLASH", "SLASH", "BKSLASH",
39                            "LTBKSLASH", "HATCH"};
40    
41    int startX = 50;
42    int y = 260;
43    
44    outtextxy(50, 230, "Fill Patterns:");
45    
46    for(int i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
47        setcolor(WHITE);
48        setfillstyle(patterns[i], LIGHTMAGENTA);
49        bar(startX + i*75, y, startX + i*75 + 60, y + 60);
50        rectangle(startX + i*75, y, startX + i*75 + 60, y + 60);
51        outtextxy(startX + i*75, y + 70, patternNames[i]);
52    }
53    
54    // Example 5: Nested rectangles (frame effect)
55    setcolor(RED);
56    rectangle(50, 380, 200, 480);
57    setcolor(YELLOW);
58    rectangle(60, 390, 190, 470);
59    setcolor(GREEN);
60    rectangle(70, 400, 180, 460);
61    setcolor(CYAN);
62    rectangle(80, 410, 170, 450);
63    outtextxy(70, 490, "Nested Frame");
64    
65    getch();
66    closegraph();
67    
68    return 0;
69}

Expected Output:

Function	Description	Use Case
rectangle()	Draws outline only	Borders, frames
bar()	Filled rectangle	Buttons, bars, blocks
bar3d()	3D effect bar	Charts, 3D effects

Nested Rectangles

Multiple rectangle() calls with different colors create a frame effect

Function Comparison:

Function	Parameters	Description
rectangle()	(x1, y1, x2, y2)	Draws outline only (no fill)
bar()	(x1, y1, x2, y2)	Draws filled rectangle (uses fillstyle)
bar3d()	(x1, y1, x2, y2, depth, topflag)	Draws 3D bar with depth effect

Example 4: Lines, Arcs, and Polygons

Beyond basic shapes, graphics.h provides functions for drawing lines, arcs, and complex polygons. These are useful for creating diagrams, charts, and custom shapes.

lines_polygons.c

1#include <graphics.h>
2#include <conio.h>
3#include <math.h>  // For sin, cos
4
5int main() {
6    int gd = DETECT, gm;
7    
8    initgraph(&gd, &gm, "");
9    
10    int maxX = getmaxx();
11    int maxY = getmaxy();
12    
13    // Title
14    setcolor(YELLOW);
15    outtextxy(maxX/2 - 120, 10, "Lines, Arcs and Polygons");
16    
17    // ========== LINES ==========
18    outtextxy(50, 50, "Lines:");
19    
20    // Simple line
21    setcolor(WHITE);
22    line(50, 80, 200, 80);
23    outtextxy(210, 75, "line()");
24    
25    // Different line styles
26    int styles[] = {SOLID_LINE, DOTTED_LINE, CENTER_LINE, DASHED_LINE};
27    char* styleNames[] = {"SOLID", "DOTTED", "CENTER", "DASHED"};
28    
29    for(int i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
30        setlinestyle(styles[i], 0, NORM_WIDTH);
31        setcolor(LIGHTCYAN);
32        line(50, 110 + i*25, 180, 110 + i*25);
33        outtextxy(190, 105 + i*25, styleNames[i]);
34    }
35    
36    // ========== ARCS ==========
37    setlinestyle(SOLID_LINE, 0, NORM_WIDTH);
38    outtextxy(320, 50, "Arcs:");
39    
40    // Full arc (like a rainbow)
41    setcolor(LIGHTRED);
42    arc(400, 150, 0, 180, 80);  // Upper half
43    
44    setcolor(LIGHTGREEN);
45    arc(400, 150, 30, 150, 60);  // Smaller arc
46    
47    setcolor(LIGHTMAGENTA);
48    arc(400, 150, 60, 120, 40);  // Even smaller
49    
50    outtextxy(360, 160, "arc() - Rainbow");
51    
52    // ========== POLYGON ==========
53    outtextxy(50, 250, "Polygons:");
54    
55    // Triangle using drawpoly
56    int triangle[] = {100, 290, 150, 350, 50, 350, 100, 290};
57    setcolor(LIGHTCYAN);
58    drawpoly(4, triangle);  // 4 points (last = first to close)
59    outtextxy(70, 360, "Triangle");
60    
61    // Pentagon (5 sides)
62    int pentagon[12];  // 6 points * 2 coordinates
63    int cx = 250, cy = 320, radius = 40;
64    for(int i = 0; i < 6; i++) {
65        pentagon[i*2] = cx + radius * cos(2*3.14159*i/5 - 3.14159/2);
66        pentagon[i*2+1] = cy + radius * sin(2*3.14159*i/5 - 3.14159/2);
67    }
68    setcolor(LIGHTGREEN);
69    drawpoly(6, pentagon);
70    outtextxy(220, 370, "Pentagon");
71    
72    // Star (filled polygon)
73    int star[22];  // 11 points
74    cx = 380; cy = 320;
75    for(int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
76        int r = (i % 2 == 0) ? 50 : 20;  // Alternate radius
77        star[i*2] = cx + r * cos(2*3.14159*i/10 - 3.14159/2);
78        star[i*2+1] = cy + r * sin(2*3.14159*i/10 - 3.14159/2);
79    }
80    star[20] = star[0];  // Close the star
81    star[21] = star[1];
82    
83    setcolor(YELLOW);
84    setfillstyle(SOLID_FILL, YELLOW);
85    fillpoly(11, star);
86    outtextxy(360, 380, "Star");
87    
88    // ========== BEZIER/SPLINE EFFECT ==========
89    outtextxy(480, 250, "Curved Lines:");
90    
91    // Create smooth curve using multiple small lines
92    setcolor(LIGHTMAGENTA);
93    int prevX = 500, prevY = 320;
94    for(int x = 0; x <= 100; x += 2) {
95        int y = 320 + 30 * sin(x * 3.14159 / 25);
96        line(prevX, prevY, 500 + x, y);
97        prevX = 500 + x;
98        prevY = y;
99    }
100    outtextxy(510, 380, "Sine Wave");
101    
102    getch();
103    closegraph();
104    
105    return 0;
106}

Expected Output:

Lines, Arcs and Polygons

Lines:

SOLID

DOTTED

DASHED

Arcs (Rainbow):

Polygons:

Triangle

Pentagon

★

Star

Sine Wave

Line Styles Reference:

setlinestyle(style, pattern, thickness)

• SOLID_LINE (0) - Continuous line
• DOTTED_LINE (1) - Dotted pattern
• CENTER_LINE (2) - Center line (─·─·─)
• DASHED_LINE (3) - Dashed pattern

Thickness Options

• NORM_WIDTH (1) - Normal width (1 pixel)
• THICK_WIDTH (3) - Thick width (3 pixels)

Modern Alternatives to graphics.h

While graphics.h is great for learning, modern graphics programming uses more powerful and cross-platform libraries. Here are the recommended alternatives:

SDL2 (Simple DirectMedia Layer)

Cross-platform, modern, widely used for games

✓Works on Windows, Linux, macOS
✓2D and 3D graphics support
✓Audio, input, networking
✓Active development and community

OpenGL

Industry standard for 3D graphics

✓Hardware-accelerated rendering
✓Professional quality graphics
✓Cross-platform (with GLFW/GLUT)
✓Used in games, simulations, CAD

Cairo Graphics

2D vector graphics library

✓High-quality anti-aliased output
✓PDF, SVG, PNG output
✓Great for GUI applications
✓Used in GTK+, Firefox

raylib

Simple game programming library

✓Easy to learn (like graphics.h)
✓Modern and well-maintained
✓2D and 3D support
✓Great documentation

Best Practices

Always call closegraph()

Release graphics memory before program exits to prevent memory leaks

Check for initialization errors

Use graphresult() after initgraph() to check if graphics initialized successfully

Use getmaxx() and getmaxy() for positioning

Makes your graphics code resolution-independent

Don't use graphics.h for production software

It's meant for learning. Use SDL2, OpenGL, or raylib for real applications

!Code Pitfalls: Common Mistakes & What to Watch For

Copied code often suggests `graphics.h` for graphics programming without warning about its severe limitations and obsolescence.

If you search online to "draw a circle in C," it will likely provide `graphics.h` code with `initgraph()` and `circle()`. While syntactically correct, this code won't compile on modern compilers without significant setup (WinBGIm, DOSBox). The Code rarely explains that `graphics.h` is a DOS-era library from the 1980s that is not cross-platform, not hardware-accelerated, and not suitable for any real-world application.

The Trap: Online sources are trained on educational resources, many of which still teach `graphics.h` for simplicity. They might not mention modern alternatives like SDL2, Raylib, OpenGL, or platform-specific APIs (Win32 GDI, Xlib). Over-reliance on copying code for graphics programming can lead to frustration when your code doesn't compile, or you realize you've learned an obsolete technology.

The Reality: `graphics.h` is useful *only* for learning basic concepts or for assignments in courses that specifically require it. For any serious project—games, visualizations, or applications—you need a modern graphics library. Use resources to understand concepts, but always ask about modern alternatives and cross-platform compatibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:Why doesn't graphics.h work on my modern compiler?

A: graphics.h is a legacy library from Turbo C (1980s DOS). For modern Windows, use WinBGIm with Code::Blocks or Dev-C++. For cross-platform graphics, consider SDL2 or raylib instead.

Q:What's the difference between bar() and rectangle()?

A: rectangle() draws only the outline (border) of a rectangle. bar() draws a filled rectangle using the current fill style. Use rectangle for borders, bar for filled shapes.

Q:How do I fill a circle with color?

A: Draw the circle first, then use floodfill(x, y, borderColor) with a point inside the circle. Set the fill style first withsetfillstyle(SOLID_FILL, color).

Q:Should I use graphics.h for a real project?

A: No — it's meant for learning only. For real applications, use SDL2 (games), OpenGL (3D), Cairo (2D vector), or raylib (simple games). These are cross-platform, modern, and actively maintained.

Summary

What You Learned:

✓What graphics.h is and its history
✓OS and compiler support (Windows, Linux, DOS)
✓How to set up graphics.h with MinGW/Dev-C++
✓Drawing circles, ellipses, rectangles, lines
✓Using colors, fill patterns, and line styles

Key Functions:

initgraph() - Start graphics
closegraph() - End graphics
circle(x, y, r) - Draw circle
ellipse(x, y, sa, ea, xr, yr) - Draw ellipse
rectangle(x1, y1, x2, y2) - Draw rectangle
line(x1, y1, x2, y2) - Draw line
setcolor(c) - Set drawing color

?Why Learn Graphics Programming?

Graphics programming helps you visualize data, create games, and understand how computers display images.

›

Visualization

Charts, graphs, plots

›

Games

Simple 2D games

›

Understanding

How displays work

Modern alternatives: While graphics.h is great for learning, modern projects use SDL2, OpenGL,Raylib, or SFML. We cover graphics.h here because many schools still teach it.

What is graphics.h?

graphics.h is a header file that contains declarations for graphics functions and constants. It was originally developed by Borland for their Turbo C/C++ compiler in the 1980s-90s.

•Provides simple 2D graphics functions for drawing shapes
•Uses BGI (Borland Graphics Interface) for rendering
•Great for learning graphics fundamentals and basic visualization

Operating System & Compiler Support

Important: Platform Limitations

The original graphics.h was designed for DOS-based systems and is not natively supported on modern operating systems. However, there are ways to use it on different platforms.

Operating System	Compiler	Support Level	Notes
Windows 10/11	MinGW GCC + WinBGIm	Works Well	Requires WinBGIm library installation
Windows	Turbo C/C++ (DOSBox)	Native Support	Run Turbo C in DOSBox emulator
Windows	Dev-C++ (with graphics)	Works Well	Use Orwell Dev-C++ with graphics DevPak
Linux	GCC + libgraph	Partial Support	Requires libgraph library compilation
macOS	GCC / Clang	Not Supported	Use SDL2 or OpenGL instead
DOS (DOSBox)	Turbo C/C++ 3.0	Full Support	Original intended environment

Detailed Compiler Support

Turbo C/C++ (Native)

• Versions: Turbo C 2.0, Turbo C++ 3.0
• OS: MS-DOS, Windows (via DOSBox)
• graphics.h: Built-in, no setup required
• BGI Drivers: Included in /BGI folder

MinGW GCC + WinBGIm

• Versions: GCC 8.0+, MinGW-w64
• OS: Windows 7/10/11
• Library: WinBGIm (Windows BGI)
• Compilation: -lbgi -lgdi32 -lcomdlg32

Code::Blocks

• Versions: 17.12+
• OS: Windows
• Setup: Add WinBGIm to linker settings
• Libraries: -lbgi -lgdi32 -luser32

Dev-C++

• Versions: Orwell Dev-C++ 5.11+
• OS: Windows
• Setup: Install Graphics DevPak
• Easiest: Recommended for beginners

Setup Instructions

Method 1: Windows with MinGW (Recommended)

Install MinGW-w64

Download from https://www.mingw-w64.org/ and install to C:\mingw64

Download WinBGIm Library

Get graphics.h, winbgim.h, and libbgi.a from WinBGIm project

Copy Files to MinGW

main.bash

BASH

1# Copy header files to include folder
2copy graphics.h C:\mingw64\include\
3copy winbgim.h C:\mingw64\include\
4
5# Copy library file to lib folder
6copy libbgi.a C:\mingw64\lib\

Compile Your Program

main.bash

BASH

1# Compile with required linker flags
2g++ -o myprogram.exe myprogram.cpp -lbgi -lgdi32 -lcomdlg32 -luuid -loleaut32 -lole32

Method 2: Dev-C++ (Easiest for Beginners)

Download Orwell Dev-C++

Get from https://sourceforge.net/projects/orwelldevcpp/

Download Graphics DevPak

Search for "Graphics.h DevPak for Dev-C++" and download the .DevPak file

Install the DevPak

Double-click the .DevPak file to install graphics support automatically

Configure Project

Go to Project → Project Options → Parameters → Add: -lbgi -lgdi32 -lcomdlg32 -luuid -loleaut32 -lole32

Method 3: Linux with libgraph

main.bash

BASH

1# Install dependencies (Ubuntu/Debian)
2sudo apt-get install build-essential
3sudo apt-get install libsdl-image1.2 libsdl-image1.2-dev guile-2.0
4sudo apt-get install guile-2.0-dev libsdl1.2debian libart-2.0-dev
5
6# Download and compile libgraph
7git clone https://github.com/SagarGaniga/Graphics-Library.git
8cd Graphics-Library
9./configure
10make
11sudo make install
12sudo ldconfig
13
14# Compile your program
15gcc myprogram.c -o myprogram -lgraph

Note: libgraph may have limited functionality compared to the original graphics.h. For serious graphics work on Linux, consider SDL2 or OpenGL.

Key Graphics Functions

Function	Purpose	Syntax
initgraph()	Initialize graphics mode	initgraph(&gd, &gm, "path")
closegraph()	Close graphics mode	closegraph()
circle()	Draw a circle	circle(x, y, radius)
ellipse()	Draw an ellipse	ellipse(x, y, start, end, xr, yr)
line()	Draw a line	line(x1, y1, x2, y2)
rectangle()	Draw a rectangle	rectangle(x1, y1, x2, y2)
arc()	Draw an arc	arc(x, y, start, end, radius)
setcolor()	Set drawing color	setcolor(color)
setfillstyle()	Set fill pattern & color	setfillstyle(pattern, color)
floodfill()	Fill enclosed area	floodfill(x, y, border)
outtextxy()	Display text at position	outtextxy(x, y, "text")
getmaxx()	Get max X coordinate	int x = getmaxx()
getmaxy()	Get max Y coordinate	int y = getmaxy()

Available Colors

BLACK

#000000

BLUE

#0000AA

GREEN

#00AA00

CYAN

#00AAAA

RED

#AA0000

MAGENTA

#AA00AA

BROWN

#AA5500

LIGHTGRAY

#AAAAAA

DARKGRAY

#555555

LIGHTBLUE

#5555FF

LIGHTGREEN

#55FF55

LIGHTCYAN

#55FFFF

LIGHTRED

#FF5555

LIGHTMAGENTA

#FF55FF

YELLOW

#FFFF55

WHITE

#FFFFFF

Fill Patterns (setfillstyle)

0EMPTY_FILL

Background color only

1SOLID_FILL

Solid fill color

2LINE_FILL

Horizontal lines ───

3LTSLASH_FILL

Light slashes ///

4SLASH_FILL

Dense slashes ///

5BKSLASH_FILL

Backslashes \\\

6LTBKSLASH

Light backslashes

7HATCH_FILL

Cross hatch +++

8XHATCH_FILL

Diagonal cross XXX

9INTERLEAVE

Interleaved lines

10WIDE_DOT

Wide spaced dots

11CLOSE_DOT

Close spaced dots

Understanding Screen Coordinates

Graphics Coordinate System

Unlike math class, screen coordinates have (0,0) at the top-left corner

(0,0)

→

X+

↓

Y+

(100,50)

(200,150)

(maxx, maxy)

X increases →

Left to right

Y increases ↓

Top to bottom

Example 1: Drawing a Circle

The circle() function draws a circle at a specified center point with a given radius. The syntax is circle(x, y, radius).

circle.c

1#include <graphics.h>
2#include <conio.h>
3
4int main() {
5    int gd = DETECT, gm;    // Graphics driver and mode
6    
7    // Initialize graphics mode
8    // DETECT: Auto-detect the best graphics driver
9    // "" or "C:\\TC\\BGI": Path to BGI files (use "" for WinBGIm)
10    initgraph(&gd, &gm, "");
11    
12    // Get the center of the screen
13    int centerX = getmaxx() / 2;    // Half of screen width
14    int centerY = getmaxy() / 2;    // Half of screen height
15    
16    // Draw a title
17    setcolor(YELLOW);
18    outtextxy(centerX - 80, 30, "Circle Example in C");
19    
20    // Draw a simple circle at center with radius 100
21    setcolor(WHITE);
22    circle(centerX, centerY, 100);
23    
24    // Draw more circles with different radii
25    setcolor(LIGHTCYAN);
26    circle(centerX, centerY, 50);   // Smaller inner circle
27    
28    setcolor(LIGHTGREEN);
29    circle(centerX, centerY, 150);  // Larger outer circle
30    
31    // Draw filled circle
32    setcolor(LIGHTRED);
33    setfillstyle(SOLID_FILL, LIGHTRED);
34    circle(centerX - 200, centerY, 40);
35    floodfill(centerX - 200, centerY, LIGHTRED);
36    
37    // Wait for keypress
38    getch();
39    
40    // Close graphics mode
41    closegraph();
42    
43    return 0;
44}

Expected Output:

Circle Example in C

Filled Circle

Press any key to exit...

Step-by-Step Explanation:

Initialize Graphics: initgraph(&gd, &gm, "") sets up the graphics system. DETECT auto-selects the driver.
Find Screen Center: getmaxx()/2 and getmaxy()/2 give us the center coordinates.
Draw Circle: circle(centerX, centerY, 100) draws a circle with radius 100 pixels.
Filled Circle: Use floodfill() after setting fill style to create filled shapes.
Cleanup: closegraph() releases graphics memory.

Example 2: Drawing an Ellipse

An ellipse is like a stretched circle. The ellipse() function has more parameters to control the horizontal and vertical radii, plus start and end angles for partial ellipses.

Syntax: ellipse(x, y, start_angle, end_angle, x_radius, y_radius)

• x, y: Center coordinates
• start_angle, end_angle: 0 to 360 for full ellipse
• x_radius: Horizontal radius
• y_radius: Vertical radius

ellipse.c

1#include <graphics.h>
2#include <conio.h>
3
4int main() {
5    int gd = DETECT, gm;
6    
7    // Initialize graphics
8    initgraph(&gd, &gm, "");
9    
10    // Get screen dimensions
11    int maxX = getmaxx();
12    int maxY = getmaxy();
13    int centerX = maxX / 2;
14    int centerY = maxY / 2;
15    
16    // Title
17    setcolor(YELLOW);
18    outtextxy(centerX - 100, 20, "Ellipse Examples in C");
19    
20    // Example 1: Full ellipse (horizontal - wider than tall)
21    setcolor(LIGHTGREEN);
22    ellipse(centerX, centerY - 100, 0, 360, 150, 60);
23    outtextxy(centerX - 60, centerY - 100 - 80, "Horizontal Ellipse");
24    
25    // Example 2: Full ellipse (vertical - taller than wide)
26    setcolor(LIGHTCYAN);
27    ellipse(centerX, centerY + 100, 0, 360, 60, 120);
28    outtextxy(centerX - 50, centerY + 100 + 130, "Vertical Ellipse");
29    
30    // Example 3: Half ellipse (top half - 0 to 180 degrees)
31    setcolor(LIGHTRED);
32    ellipse(100, centerY, 0, 180, 80, 50);
33    outtextxy(50, centerY - 80, "Top Half");
34    
35    // Example 4: Quarter ellipse (0 to 90 degrees)
36    setcolor(LIGHTMAGENTA);
37    ellipse(maxX - 100, centerY, 0, 90, 80, 50);
38    outtextxy(maxX - 150, centerY - 80, "Quarter");
39    
40    // Example 5: Filled ellipse
41    setcolor(YELLOW);
42    setfillstyle(SOLID_FILL, YELLOW);
43    ellipse(centerX, centerY, 0, 360, 40, 25);
44    // For filled ellipse, use fillellipse() if available
45    // Otherwise use floodfill
46    floodfill(centerX, centerY, YELLOW);
47    outtextxy(centerX - 30, centerY + 35, "Filled");
48    
49    getch();
50    closegraph();
51    
52    return 0;
53}

Expected Output:

Ellipse Examples in C

Horizontal Ellipse

Top Half

Filled

Quarter

Vertical Ellipse

Understanding Ellipse Parameters:

Type	Start Angle	End Angle	Result
Full Ellipse	0	360	Complete ellipse
Top Half	0	180	Upper semicircle
Bottom Half	180	360	Lower semicircle
Quarter	0	90	First quadrant

Example 3: Rectangles and Bars

The rectangle() function draws an outline, whilebar() draws a filled rectangle. These are essential for UI elements, charts, and game graphics.

rectangles.c

1#include <graphics.h>
2#include <conio.h>
3
4int main() {
5    int gd = DETECT, gm;
6    
7    initgraph(&gd, &gm, "");
8    
9    int maxX = getmaxx();
10    int maxY = getmaxy();
11    
12    // Title
13    setcolor(YELLOW);
14    outtextxy(maxX/2 - 120, 20, "Rectangles and Bars in C");
15    
16    // Example 1: Simple rectangle outline
17    setcolor(WHITE);
18    rectangle(50, 80, 200, 180);
19    outtextxy(70, 190, "rectangle()");
20    
21    // Example 2: Filled bar (solid rectangle)
22    setcolor(LIGHTGREEN);
23    setfillstyle(SOLID_FILL, LIGHTGREEN);
24    bar(250, 80, 400, 180);
25    outtextxy(300, 190, "bar()");
26    
27    // Example 3: 3D Bar effect
28    setcolor(LIGHTCYAN);
29    setfillstyle(SOLID_FILL, CYAN);
30    bar3d(450, 80, 550, 180, 20, 1);  // With 3D depth
31    outtextxy(460, 190, "bar3d()");
32    
33    // Example 4: Different fill patterns
34    int patterns[] = {EMPTY_FILL, SOLID_FILL, LINE_FILL, 
35                      LTSLASH_FILL, SLASH_FILL, BKSLASH_FILL,
36                      LTBKSLASH_FILL, HATCH_FILL};
37    char* patternNames[] = {"EMPTY", "SOLID", "LINE", 
38                            "LTSLASH", "SLASH", "BKSLASH",
39                            "LTBKSLASH", "HATCH"};
40    
41    int startX = 50;
42    int y = 260;
43    
44    outtextxy(50, 230, "Fill Patterns:");
45    
46    for(int i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
47        setcolor(WHITE);
48        setfillstyle(patterns[i], LIGHTMAGENTA);
49        bar(startX + i*75, y, startX + i*75 + 60, y + 60);
50        rectangle(startX + i*75, y, startX + i*75 + 60, y + 60);
51        outtextxy(startX + i*75, y + 70, patternNames[i]);
52    }
53    
54    // Example 5: Nested rectangles (frame effect)
55    setcolor(RED);
56    rectangle(50, 380, 200, 480);
57    setcolor(YELLOW);
58    rectangle(60, 390, 190, 470);
59    setcolor(GREEN);
60    rectangle(70, 400, 180, 460);
61    setcolor(CYAN);
62    rectangle(80, 410, 170, 450);
63    outtextxy(70, 490, "Nested Frame");
64    
65    getch();
66    closegraph();
67    
68    return 0;
69}

Expected Output:

Function	Description	Use Case
rectangle()	Draws outline only	Borders, frames
bar()	Filled rectangle	Buttons, bars, blocks
bar3d()	3D effect bar	Charts, 3D effects

Nested Rectangles

Multiple rectangle() calls with different colors create a frame effect

Function Comparison:

Function	Parameters	Description
rectangle()	(x1, y1, x2, y2)	Draws outline only (no fill)
bar()	(x1, y1, x2, y2)	Draws filled rectangle (uses fillstyle)
bar3d()	(x1, y1, x2, y2, depth, topflag)	Draws 3D bar with depth effect

Example 4: Lines, Arcs, and Polygons

Beyond basic shapes, graphics.h provides functions for drawing lines, arcs, and complex polygons. These are useful for creating diagrams, charts, and custom shapes.

lines_polygons.c

1#include <graphics.h>
2#include <conio.h>
3#include <math.h>  // For sin, cos
4
5int main() {
6    int gd = DETECT, gm;
7    
8    initgraph(&gd, &gm, "");
9    
10    int maxX = getmaxx();
11    int maxY = getmaxy();
12    
13    // Title
14    setcolor(YELLOW);
15    outtextxy(maxX/2 - 120, 10, "Lines, Arcs and Polygons");
16    
17    // ========== LINES ==========
18    outtextxy(50, 50, "Lines:");
19    
20    // Simple line
21    setcolor(WHITE);
22    line(50, 80, 200, 80);
23    outtextxy(210, 75, "line()");
24    
25    // Different line styles
26    int styles[] = {SOLID_LINE, DOTTED_LINE, CENTER_LINE, DASHED_LINE};
27    char* styleNames[] = {"SOLID", "DOTTED", "CENTER", "DASHED"};
28    
29    for(int i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
30        setlinestyle(styles[i], 0, NORM_WIDTH);
31        setcolor(LIGHTCYAN);
32        line(50, 110 + i*25, 180, 110 + i*25);
33        outtextxy(190, 105 + i*25, styleNames[i]);
34    }
35    
36    // ========== ARCS ==========
37    setlinestyle(SOLID_LINE, 0, NORM_WIDTH);
38    outtextxy(320, 50, "Arcs:");
39    
40    // Full arc (like a rainbow)
41    setcolor(LIGHTRED);
42    arc(400, 150, 0, 180, 80);  // Upper half
43    
44    setcolor(LIGHTGREEN);
45    arc(400, 150, 30, 150, 60);  // Smaller arc
46    
47    setcolor(LIGHTMAGENTA);
48    arc(400, 150, 60, 120, 40);  // Even smaller
49    
50    outtextxy(360, 160, "arc() - Rainbow");
51    
52    // ========== POLYGON ==========
53    outtextxy(50, 250, "Polygons:");
54    
55    // Triangle using drawpoly
56    int triangle[] = {100, 290, 150, 350, 50, 350, 100, 290};
57    setcolor(LIGHTCYAN);
58    drawpoly(4, triangle);  // 4 points (last = first to close)
59    outtextxy(70, 360, "Triangle");
60    
61    // Pentagon (5 sides)
62    int pentagon[12];  // 6 points * 2 coordinates
63    int cx = 250, cy = 320, radius = 40;
64    for(int i = 0; i < 6; i++) {
65        pentagon[i*2] = cx + radius * cos(2*3.14159*i/5 - 3.14159/2);
66        pentagon[i*2+1] = cy + radius * sin(2*3.14159*i/5 - 3.14159/2);
67    }
68    setcolor(LIGHTGREEN);
69    drawpoly(6, pentagon);
70    outtextxy(220, 370, "Pentagon");
71    
72    // Star (filled polygon)
73    int star[22];  // 11 points
74    cx = 380; cy = 320;
75    for(int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
76        int r = (i % 2 == 0) ? 50 : 20;  // Alternate radius
77        star[i*2] = cx + r * cos(2*3.14159*i/10 - 3.14159/2);
78        star[i*2+1] = cy + r * sin(2*3.14159*i/10 - 3.14159/2);
79    }
80    star[20] = star[0];  // Close the star
81    star[21] = star[1];
82    
83    setcolor(YELLOW);
84    setfillstyle(SOLID_FILL, YELLOW);
85    fillpoly(11, star);
86    outtextxy(360, 380, "Star");
87    
88    // ========== BEZIER/SPLINE EFFECT ==========
89    outtextxy(480, 250, "Curved Lines:");
90    
91    // Create smooth curve using multiple small lines
92    setcolor(LIGHTMAGENTA);
93    int prevX = 500, prevY = 320;
94    for(int x = 0; x <= 100; x += 2) {
95        int y = 320 + 30 * sin(x * 3.14159 / 25);
96        line(prevX, prevY, 500 + x, y);
97        prevX = 500 + x;
98        prevY = y;
99    }
100    outtextxy(510, 380, "Sine Wave");
101    
102    getch();
103    closegraph();
104    
105    return 0;
106}

Expected Output:

Lines, Arcs and Polygons

Lines:

SOLID

DOTTED

DASHED

Arcs (Rainbow):

Polygons:

Triangle

Pentagon

★

Star

Sine Wave

Line Styles Reference:

setlinestyle(style, pattern, thickness)

• SOLID_LINE (0) - Continuous line
• DOTTED_LINE (1) - Dotted pattern
• CENTER_LINE (2) - Center line (─·─·─)
• DASHED_LINE (3) - Dashed pattern

Thickness Options

• NORM_WIDTH (1) - Normal width (1 pixel)
• THICK_WIDTH (3) - Thick width (3 pixels)

Modern Alternatives to graphics.h

While graphics.h is great for learning, modern graphics programming uses more powerful and cross-platform libraries. Here are the recommended alternatives:

SDL2 (Simple DirectMedia Layer)

Cross-platform, modern, widely used for games

✓Works on Windows, Linux, macOS
✓2D and 3D graphics support
✓Audio, input, networking
✓Active development and community

OpenGL

Industry standard for 3D graphics

✓Hardware-accelerated rendering
✓Professional quality graphics
✓Cross-platform (with GLFW/GLUT)
✓Used in games, simulations, CAD

Cairo Graphics

2D vector graphics library

✓High-quality anti-aliased output
✓PDF, SVG, PNG output
✓Great for GUI applications
✓Used in GTK+, Firefox

raylib

Simple game programming library

✓Easy to learn (like graphics.h)
✓Modern and well-maintained
✓2D and 3D support
✓Great documentation

Best Practices

Always call closegraph()

Release graphics memory before program exits to prevent memory leaks

Check for initialization errors

Use graphresult() after initgraph() to check if graphics initialized successfully

Use getmaxx() and getmaxy() for positioning

Makes your graphics code resolution-independent

Don't use graphics.h for production software

It's meant for learning. Use SDL2, OpenGL, or raylib for real applications

!Code Pitfalls: Common Mistakes & What to Watch For

Copied code often suggests `graphics.h` for graphics programming without warning about its severe limitations and obsolescence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:Why doesn't graphics.h work on my modern compiler?

A: graphics.h is a legacy library from Turbo C (1980s DOS). For modern Windows, use WinBGIm with Code::Blocks or Dev-C++. For cross-platform graphics, consider SDL2 or raylib instead.

Q:What's the difference between bar() and rectangle()?

A: rectangle() draws only the outline (border) of a rectangle. bar() draws a filled rectangle using the current fill style. Use rectangle for borders, bar for filled shapes.

Q:How do I fill a circle with color?

A: Draw the circle first, then use floodfill(x, y, borderColor) with a point inside the circle. Set the fill style first withsetfillstyle(SOLID_FILL, color).

Q:Should I use graphics.h for a real project?

A: No — it's meant for learning only. For real applications, use SDL2 (games), OpenGL (3D), Cairo (2D vector), or raylib (simple games). These are cross-platform, modern, and actively maintained.

Summary

What You Learned:

✓What graphics.h is and its history
✓OS and compiler support (Windows, Linux, DOS)
✓How to set up graphics.h with MinGW/Dev-C++
✓Drawing circles, ellipses, rectangles, lines
✓Using colors, fill patterns, and line styles

Key Functions:

initgraph() - Start graphics
closegraph() - End graphics
circle(x, y, r) - Draw circle
ellipse(x, y, sa, ea, xr, yr) - Draw ellipse
rectangle(x1, y1, x2, y2) - Draw rectangle
line(x1, y1, x2, y2) - Draw line
setcolor(c) - Set drawing color

What You Will Learn

?Why Learn Graphics Programming?

What is graphics.h?

Operating System & Compiler Support

Important: Platform Limitations

Detailed Compiler Support

Turbo C/C++ (Native)

MinGW GCC + WinBGIm

Code::Blocks

Dev-C++

Setup Instructions

Method 1: Windows with MinGW (Recommended)

Method 2: Dev-C++ (Easiest for Beginners)

Method 3: Linux with libgraph

Key Graphics Functions

Available Colors

Fill Patterns (setfillstyle)

Understanding Screen Coordinates

Graphics Coordinate System

Example 1: Drawing a Circle

Expected Output:

Step-by-Step Explanation:

Example 2: Drawing an Ellipse

Expected Output:

Understanding Ellipse Parameters:

Example 3: Rectangles and Bars

Expected Output:

Function Comparison:

Example 4: Lines, Arcs, and Polygons

Expected Output:

Line Styles Reference:

Modern Alternatives to graphics.h

SDL2 (Simple DirectMedia Layer)

OpenGL

Cairo Graphics

raylib

Best Practices

!Code Pitfalls: Common Mistakes & What to Watch For

Copied code often suggests `graphics.h` for graphics programming without warning about its severe limitations and obsolescence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:Why doesn't graphics.h work on my modern compiler?

Q:What's the difference between bar() and rectangle()?

Q:How do I fill a circle with color?

Q:Should I use graphics.h for a real project?

Summary

What You Learned:

Key Functions:

Test Your Knowledge

Related Tutorials

Command Line Arguments in C

Runtime Errors and Exceptions in C

Multi-File Programs in C

Have Feedback?

What You Will Learn

?Why Learn Graphics Programming?

What is graphics.h?

Operating System & Compiler Support

Important: Platform Limitations

Detailed Compiler Support

Turbo C/C++ (Native)

MinGW GCC + WinBGIm

Code::Blocks

Dev-C++

Setup Instructions

Method 1: Windows with MinGW (Recommended)

Method 2: Dev-C++ (Easiest for Beginners)

Method 3: Linux with libgraph

Key Graphics Functions

Available Colors

Fill Patterns (setfillstyle)

Understanding Screen Coordinates

Graphics Coordinate System

Example 1: Drawing a Circle

Expected Output:

Step-by-Step Explanation:

Example 2: Drawing an Ellipse

Expected Output:

Understanding Ellipse Parameters:

Example 3: Rectangles and Bars

Expected Output: