BitmapFactory.decodeResource() returns null for shape defined in xml drawable

Question

I looked through multiple similar questions, although I haven't found a proper answer to my issue.

I have a drawable, defined in shape.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" android:shape="rectangle" >      <solid android:color="@color/bg_color" /> </shape> 

I want to convert it to Bitmap object in order to perform some operations, but BitmapFactory.decodeResource() returns null.

This is how I'm doing it:

Bitmap bmp = BitmapFactory.decodeResource(getResources(), R.drawable.shape); 

What am I doing wrong? Is BitmapFactory.decodeResource() applicable for xml defined drawables?

Answer 1

Since you want to load a Drawable, not a Bitmap, use this:

Drawable d = getResources().getDrawable(R.drawable.your_drawable, your_app_theme); 

To turn it into a Bitmap:

public static Bitmap drawableToBitmap (Drawable drawable) {      if (drawable instanceof BitmapDrawable) {         return ((BitmapDrawable)drawable).getBitmap();     }      Bitmap bitmap = Bitmap.createBitmap(drawable.getIntrinsicWidth(), drawable.getIntrinsicHeight(), Config.ARGB_8888);     Canvas canvas = new Canvas(bitmap);      drawable.setBounds(0, 0, canvas.getWidth(), canvas.getHeight());     drawable.draw(canvas);      return bitmap; } 

Taken from: How to convert a Drawable to a Bitmap?