Create Images with Ruby

Create Images with Ruby Using ruby-libgd

ruby-libgd is a native Ruby graphics library designed to create images with Ruby. It provides fast, reliable, and fully in-process Ruby image generation using the GD raster engine.

If you are searching for a way to:

Create images with Ruby programmatically
Generate PNG and JPEG images in Ruby
Build dynamic charts and dashboards with Ruby
Perform server-side image generation in Ruby
Replace ImageMagick with a native Ruby image solution

ruby-libgd is built specifically for dynamic image generation in Ruby applications.

Why Use ruby-libgd for Ruby Image Generation?

Ruby lost its native graphics layer. ImageMagick is slow, fragile, and unsuitable for server-side image generation in Ruby.

ruby-libgd restores the ability to create images with Ruby using a true raster engine: no shelling out, no background daemons, and full pixel-level control directly from Ruby code.

Install

gem install ruby-libgd

apt install -y libgd-dev pkg-config

How to Create Images with Ruby

Creating images with Ruby using ruby-libgd is simple and fast. The library allows Ruby applications to generate images dynamically without spawning external processes.


require "gd"

img = GD::Image.new(400,400)

blue  = GD::Color.rgb(0,120,255)
green = GD::Color.rgb(0,200,120)

img.line(50,50,350,350, blue)
img.rectangle(50,50,350,350, blue)
img.filled_circle(200,200,80, green)

poly = [
  [200,50],
  [350,200],
  [200,350],
  [50,200]
]
img.filled_polygon(poly, GD::Color.rgb(240,200,0))

img.save("shapes.png")

This example demonstrates how to create images with Ruby and export them as PNG files.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Ruby create images?

Yes. Ruby can create images using ruby-libgd, which provides native image generation for PNG and JPEG files.

Is ruby-libgd an alternative to ImageMagick?

Yes. ruby-libgd is a lightweight, native alternative for creating images with Ruby without external dependencies.

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