Coordinate Spaces

Items in the canvas typically have a number of properties specifying their location and size. For example the GooCanvasRect item has “x”, “y”, “width” and “height” properties.

However, items can also have a transformation matrix (e.g. the “transform” property). Transformation matrices modify the item's coordinate space in some way. Modifications include translation (moving the origin), rotation, scaling, and skewing, or combinations of these. Thus the final position of the item on the canvas can be altered dramatically.

The simple animation features in GooCanvas are accomplished by modifying the item's transformation matrix over time. (See goo_canvas_item_animate().)

Since items are in a hierarchy it is possible to move or rotate an entire group of items by simply changing the transformation matrix of the group containing them.

The coordinate space used within the item itself (e.g. where the “x” and “y” properties of a GooCanvasRect are specified) is referred to as "Item Space". The coordinate space used by the entire canvas is referred to as "Canvas Space" (or "Device Space"). "Item Space" and "Canvas Space" may or may not be the same, depending on whether the item or any of its ancestors have a transformation matrix set. (Note that the entire canvas may also be scrolled and/or zoomed, which means that there may be additional transformations above "Canvas Space".)

Functions are provided to convert between coordinate spaces, e.g. goo_canvas_convert_to_item_space() and goo_canvas_convert_from_item_space() convert canvas space coordinates to item space and vice versa.