Android Drawables and Images from Pluralsight

Effectively display images on Android device screens using drawables. This course will teach you how to create and use drawables to draw graphics on the screen for a clean user interface.

A drawable resource is a general concept for a graphic (such as an image) that can be drawn on the screen. In this course, Android Drawables and Images, you'll learn foundational concepts of creating and using drawables to display images on the device screen.

First, you'll explore what are drawables and how to implement commonly used drawables such as raster drawables and vector drawables. Next, you'll discover how to generate app icons for multiple device screens with ease using a special tool known as Image Asset Studio and use them as app launcher icons, notification icons, action bar icons, and tab icons. Finally, you'll learn various other drawables such as nine-patch drawables, state list drawables, and the drawables related to animations and transitions.

When you’re finished with this course, you’ll have the skills and knowledge of creating and using drawables needed to build a clean user interface.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Introduction to Drawables and Images

Implementing Raster Drawables and Vector Drawables

Creating App Icons

Exploring Miscellaneous Drawable Concepts

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explains foundational concepts of Android Drawables and Images

Demonstrates how to implement raster drawables and vector drawables, which are commonly used in Android development

Provides guidance on using Image Asset Studio to generate app icons for various device screens, ensuring consistency and quality

Covers advanced concepts such as nine-patch drawables, state list drawables, and drawables related to animations and transitions, enabling you to create complex and interactive user interfaces

Teaches best practices for using drawables to optimize performance and enhance user experience in Android applications

Instructed by Sriyank Siddhartha, who is recognized for contributions to Android development

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Android Drawables and Images with these activities:

Read Android Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide

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This book will provide you with a comprehensive overview of Android development.

View Android Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide... on Amazon

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Read the book's introduction and first few chapters
Work through the book's examples and exercises
Use the book as a reference guide for future projects

Review Android Project Structure

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Familiarizing yourself with the structure will prepare you for structuring your own projects during the course.

Browse courses on Android Development

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Set up an Android Studio Project
Explore Android Studio interface and its components
Examine the 'app' folder
Investigate the 'res' folder
Check the 'AndroidManifest.xml' file

Create a Basic Android App

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Building a simple app will reinforce your understanding of Android development fundamentals.

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Create a new Android Studio project
Design the app's layout
Write the app's code
Run the app on an emulator or device

Four other activities

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Raster Drawable Exercises

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Working through these exercises will solidify your understanding of raster drawables.

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Create a new drawable resource file
Add a bitmap image to the drawable resource file
Set the drawable's size and scale type
Use the drawable in a layout XML file

Design a Custom App Icon

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Creating a custom app icon will allow you to apply your knowledge of drawables to a practical task.

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Sketch out your icon design
Create a new image file for your icon
Edit the image file to create your icon
Export the image file as a PNG or JPG
Add the icon to your app's drawable resources

Contribute to Android Open Source Projects

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Contributing to open source projects will expose you to real-world Android development practices.

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Find an Android open source project to contribute to
Read the project's documentation and code
Identify an area where you can contribute
Fork the project and create a branch for your changes
Make your changes, test them, and submit a pull request

Provide Support in Android Development Forums

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Mentoring others will help solidify your own understanding and give back to the community.

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Join Android developer forums
Answer questions and provide guidance to other developers
Share your knowledge and experiences
Connect with other Android developers

Career center

Learners who complete Android Drawables and Images will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Graphic designer

Graphic Designers use their technical skills to communicate visually by creating visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. Taking a course on Android Drawables and Images can help build a foundation that would allow you to create more engaging visual digital content.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic designer

User Experience (UX) Designer

User Experience (UX) Designers make sure that any user interacting with a product or service has a positive experience. They work to create products that are intuitive, easy-to-use, and visually appealing. The first step in creating a user interface is drawing visual layouts. A course on Android Drawables and Images will give you a leg up over the competition.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience (UX) Designer

Web Developer

Web Developers use markup languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to build the graphical interface of websites and online applications, turning website designs into functional websites. A course on Android Drawables and Images can provide the skills necessary to design beautiful graphics for the web.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

Multimedia Artist and Animator

Multimedia Artists and Animators create visual effects, animations, and other moving images for various mediums. They use a variety of software and techniques to design and develop their artwork. Being able to design visually appealing images is a critical part of this job, and studying Android Drawables and Images is a great way to practice this.

See salaries and explore the career path for Multimedia Artist and Animator

Motion Graphics Designer

Motion Graphics Designers create visual effects, animations, and other moving images for various mediums. They use a variety of software and techniques to design and develop their artwork. A course on Android Drawables and Images could be helpful in developing the skills necessary to design engaging, visual content.

See salaries and explore the career path for Motion Graphics Designer

Art Director

Art Directors oversee the visual style and concepts for various creative projects, such as advertising campaigns, films, magazines, and websites. They work with a team of artists, designers, and other creative professionals to ensure that the visual elements of a project are consistent and effective. An understanding of the use of Android Drawables and Images may be helpful in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Director

Mobile App Developer

Mobile App Developers design and build mobile applications for smartphones and tablets. They work with a variety of programming languages and software tools to create apps that are both functional and visually appealing. Building strong foundational skills in Android image handling will aid you in building professional apps.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mobile App Developer

Interaction Designer

Interaction Designers create interactive experiences for websites, software, and other digital products. They focus on making sure that these experiences are easy to use, efficient, and enjoyable for the user. A course on Android Drawables and Images can help you develop skills in visual communication and user experience design that can be useful in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interaction Designer

Technical Illustrator

Technical Illustrators create technical drawings and diagrams that help to explain complex concepts and procedures. They use a variety of software and techniques to create clear and accurate illustrations. An understanding of the use of Android Drawables and Images may be helpful in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Illustrator

Art teacher

Art Educators develop and teach art curricula for students of all ages. They use a variety of teaching methods and materials to help students develop their artistic skills and knowledge. A course on Android Drawables and Images may be useful in developing the skills necessary to teach visual art effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art teacher

Computer Animator

Computer Animators create computer-generated animations for various mediums, such as films, television shows, video games, and commercials. They use a variety of software and techniques to create realistic and engaging animations. Being able to create visual assets will be helpful to your career as a Computer Animator.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Animator

Photographer

Photographers take pictures for a variety of purposes, such as art, journalism, and commercial advertising. They use a variety of cameras and equipment to capture images that are both visually appealing and informative. A course on Android Drawables and Images may be useful in developing the technical skills to photograph and edit images effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Photographer

Video Game Designer

Video Game Designers create the overall concept and design for video games. They work with a team of artists, programmers, and other creative professionals to bring their vision to life. Being able to develop engaging visuals for games is a big part of this job, which makes a course on Android Drawables and Images very useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Video Game Designer

Graphic Artist

Graphic Artists create visual concepts for a variety of purposes, such as advertising, marketing, and branding. They use a variety of software and techniques to create images that are both visually appealing and effective. The ability to create and manipulate images is essential for this job, making a course on Android Drawables and Images a good choice.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic Artist

Web Designer

Web Designers create the layout and design of websites. They use a variety of software and techniques to create websites that are both visually appealing and easy to navigate. Studying Android Drawables and Images can help you develop the skills to design beautiful user interfaces for websites.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Designer