Clipper - an open source freeware library for clipping and offsetting lines and polygons.

Clipper - an open source freeware library for
clipping and offsetting lines and polygons.

The Clipper library performs line & polygon clipping - intersection, union, difference & exclusive-or,
and line & polygon offsetting. The library is based on Vatti's clipping algorithm.

The download package contains the library's full source code (written in Delphi, C++ and C#),
numerous demos, a help file and links to third party Python, Perl, Ruby and Haskell modules.

Version: 6.1.3
Last updated: 19 January 2014
Freeware for both open source and commercial applications (Boost Software License).
Copyright © 2010-2014 Angus Johnson

 

 

• Screenshots of included demo applications
• Feature comparison with other polygon clipping libraries
• Online documentation
• Code snippets in C++, C# and Delphi showing how to use the Clipper library
• Download

Clipper's features compared with 3 other polygon clipping libraries:

	Speed tests* (faster is better) ...					Features ...		Cost
	Classic 174239¹	Ellipses & Fan	Ellipses & Rectangles	Overlap Stars	Complex Polygons²	Supports complex polygons	Miscellaneous	Free for commercial use
General Polygon Clipper	2785 ms	112 ms	125 ms	31 ms	Multiple errors³	Yes	Last updated Dec 2004	No
PolyBool	835 ms	138 ms	174 ms	28 ms	N/A	No	Last updated Jun 2006	No
Boost Geometry	78 ms	43 ms	33 ms	25 ms	N/A	No	C++ only Depends on Boost Library	Yes
Clipper	113 ms	31 ms	36 ms	9 ms	No errors	Yes	C++,C#,Delphi, Offsetting, Minkowski Sum	Yes

* Speed tests were performed using the latest versions of all software as published on the respective websites (as of 11 April 2013). The benchmark test utility with full source code can be downloaded here. Tests were performed on a PC with 2.53 gigahertz Intel Core2 Duo P8700 processor with 4GB RAM running Window 7 Professional.
¹ The 'Classic 174239' test uses a test data sample from the PolyBoolean website here.
² The 'Complex Polygons' test consists of intersecting a single subject and single clip polygon with random vertices. Coordinates are rounded to multiples of 10 to substantially increase the frequency that more than two edges intersect at a given point. This "stress-tests" the clipping algorithms. (PolyBoolean and Boost Geometry could not be tested since they do not allow boolean operations on complex polygons.)
³ The errors in GPC's random polygon test are unhandled exceptions that result in a failure of the clipping operation.

An independent test of multiple polygon clipping libraries can be found here:
http://rogue-modron.blogspot.com/2011/04/polygon-clipping-wrapper-benchmark.html

Code snippets showing how to use the Clipper library to do a polygon intersection ...

C++

<span style="color:#000000"> <span style="color:#3333ff"><strong>#include </strong></span><span style="color:#3333ff"><strong>"clipper.hpp"</strong></span> <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong><em>//from clipper.hpp ...</em></strong></span> <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong><em>//typedef signed long long cInt;</em></strong></span> <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong><em>//struct IntPoint {cInt X; cInt Y;};</em></strong></span> <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong><em>//typedef std::vector<IntPoint> Path;</em></strong></span> <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong><em>//typedef std::vector<Path> Paths;</em></strong></span> ... <span style="color:#000000"><strong>using namespace</strong></span> ClipperLib; Paths subj(<span style="color:#009900"><strong>2</strong></span>), clip(<span style="color:#009900"><strong>1</strong></span>), solution; <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong><em>//define outer blue 'subject' polygon</em></strong></span> subj[<span style="color:#009900"><strong>0</strong></span>] << IntPoint(<span style="color:#009900"><strong>180</strong></span>,<span style="color:#009900"><strong>200</strong></span>) << IntPoint(<span style="color:#009900"><strong>260</strong></span>,<span style="color:#009900"><strong>200</strong></span>) << IntPoint(<span style="color:#009900"><strong>260</strong></span>,<span style="color:#009900"><strong>150</strong></span>) << IntPoint(<span style="color:#009900"><strong>180</strong></span>,<span style="color:#009900"><strong>150</strong></span>); <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong><em>//define subject's inner triangular 'hole' (with reverse orientation)</em></strong></span> subj[<span style="color:#009900"><strong>1</strong></span>] << IntPoint(<span style="color:#009900"><strong>215</strong></span>,<span style="color:#009900"><strong>160</strong></span>) << IntPoint(<span style="color:#009900"><strong>230</strong></span>,<span style="color:#009900"><strong>190</strong></span>) << IntPoint(<span style="color:#009900"><strong>200</strong></span>,<span style="color:#009900"><strong>190</strong></span>); <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong><em>//define orange 'clipping' polygon</em></strong></span> clip[<span style="color:#009900"><strong>0</strong></span>] << IntPoint(<span style="color:#009900"><strong>190</strong></span>,<span style="color:#009900"><strong>210</strong></span>) << IntPoint(<span style="color:#009900"><strong>240</strong></span>,<span style="color:#009900"><strong>210</strong></span>) << IntPoint(<span style="color:#009900"><strong>240</strong></span>,<span style="color:#009900"><strong>130</strong></span>) << IntPoint(<span style="color:#009900"><strong>190</strong></span>,<span style="color:#009900"><strong>130</strong></span>); <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong><em>//draw input polygons with user-defined routine ... </em></strong></span> DrawPolygons(subj, <span style="color:#009900"><strong>0x160000FF</strong></span>, <span style="color:#009900"><strong>0x600000FF</strong></span>); <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong><em>//blue</em></strong></span> DrawPolygons(clip, <span style="color:#009900"><strong>0x20FFFF00</strong></span>, <span style="color:#009900"><strong>0x30FF0000</strong></span>); <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong><em>//orange</em></strong></span> <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong><em>//perform intersection ...</em></strong></span> Clipper c; c.AddPaths(subj, ptSubject, true); c.AddPaths(clip, ptClip, true); c.Execute(ctIntersection, solution, pftNonZero, pftNonZero); <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong><em>//draw solution with user-defined routine ... </em></strong></span> DrawPolygons(solution, <span style="color:#009900"><strong>0x3000FF00</strong></span>, <span style="color:#009900"><strong>0xFF006600</strong></span>); <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong><em>//solution shaded green</em></strong></span> </span>

Delphi

<span style="color:#000000"> <span style="color:#000000"><strong>uses</strong></span> Clipper; ... <span style="color:#000000"><strong>var</strong></span> i: integer; subj, clip, solution: TPaths; <span style="color:#000000"><strong>begin</strong></span> setlength(subj, <span style="color:#009900"><strong>2</strong></span>); setlength(subj[<span style="color:#009900"><strong>0</strong></span>], <span style="color:#009900"><strong>4</strong></span>); subj[<span style="color:#009900"><strong>0</strong></span>][<span style="color:#009900"><strong>0</strong></span>] := IntPoint(<span style="color:#009900"><strong>180</strong></span>,<span style="color:#009900"><strong>200</strong></span>); subj[<span style="color:#009900"><strong>0</strong></span>][<span style="color:#009900"><strong>1</strong></span>] := IntPoint(<span style="color:#009900"><strong>260</strong></span>,<span style="color:#009900"><strong>200</strong></span>); subj[<span style="color:#009900"><strong>0</strong></span>][<span style="color:#009900"><strong>2</strong></span>] := IntPoint(<span style="color:#009900"><strong>260</strong></span>,<span style="color:#009900"><strong>150</strong></span>); subj[<span style="color:#009900"><strong>0</strong></span>][<span style="color:#009900"><strong>3</strong></span>] := IntPoint(<span style="color:#009900"><strong>180</strong></span>,<span style="color:#009900"><strong>150</strong></span>); setlength(subj[<span style="color:#009900"><strong>1</strong></span>], <span style="color:#009900"><strong>3</strong></span>); subj[<span style="color:#009900"><strong>1</strong></span>][<span style="color:#009900"><strong>0</strong></span>] := IntPoint(<span style="color:#009900"><strong>215</strong></span>,<span style="color:#009900"><strong>160</strong></span>); subj[<span style="color:#009900"><strong>1</strong></span>][<span style="color:#009900"><strong>1</strong></span>] := IntPoint(<span style="color:#009900"><strong>230</strong></span>,<span style="color:#009900"><strong>190</strong></span>); subj[<span style="color:#009900"><strong>1</strong></span>][<span style="color:#009900"><strong>2</strong></span>] := IntPoint(<span style="color:#009900"><strong>200</strong></span>,<span style="color:#009900"><strong>190</strong></span>); setlength(clip, <span style="color:#009900"><strong>1</strong></span>); setlength(clip[<span style="color:#009900"><strong>0</strong></span>], <span style="color:#009900"><strong>4</strong></span>); clip[<span style="color:#009900"><strong>0</strong></span>][<span style="color:#009900"><strong>0</strong></span>] := IntPoint(<span style="color:#009900"><strong>190</strong></span>,<span style="color:#009900"><strong>210</strong></span>); clip[<span style="color:#009900"><strong>0</strong></span>][<span style="color:#009900"><strong>1</strong></span>] := IntPoint(<span style="color:#009900"><strong>240</strong></span>,<span style="color:#009900"><strong>210</strong></span>); clip[<span style="color:#009900"><strong>0</strong></span>][<span style="color:#009900"><strong>2</strong></span>] := IntPoint(<span style="color:#009900"><strong>240</strong></span>,<span style="color:#009900"><strong>130</strong></span>); clip[<span style="color:#009900"><strong>0</strong></span>][<span style="color:#009900"><strong>3</strong></span>] := IntPoint(<span style="color:#009900"><strong>190</strong></span>,<span style="color:#009900"><strong>130</strong></span>); DrawPolygons(subj, <span style="color:#009900"><strong>$160000FF</strong></span>, <span style="color:#009900"><strong>$600000FF</strong></span>); DrawPolygons(clip, <span style="color:#009900"><strong>$20FFFF00</strong></span>, <span style="color:#009900"><strong>$30FF0000</strong></span>); <span style="color:#000000"><strong>with</strong></span> TClipper<span style="color:#000000"><strong>.</strong></span>Create <span style="color:#000000"><strong>do</strong></span> <span style="color:#000000"><strong>try</strong></span> AddPaths(subj, ptSubject, true); AddPaths(clip, ptClip, true); Execute(ctIntersection, solution, pftNonZero, pftNonZero); DrawPolygons(solution, <span style="color:#009900"><strong>$3000FF00</strong></span>, <span style="color:#009900"><strong>$FF006600</strong></span>); <span style="color:#000000"><strong>finally</strong></span> free<span style="color:#000000"><strong>;</strong></span> <span style="color:#000000"><strong>end</strong></span>; <span style="color:#000000"><strong>end</strong></span>; </span>

C#

<span style="color:#000000"> <span style="color:#3333ff"><strong>using</strong></span> ClipperLib; <span style="color:#3333ff"><strong>using</strong></span> <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>Path</strong></span> = <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>List</strong></span><<span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>IntPoint</strong></span>>; <span style="color:#3333ff"><strong>using</strong></span> <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>Paths</strong></span> = <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>List</strong></span><<span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>List</strong></span><<span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>IntPoint</strong></span>>>; ... <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>Paths</strong></span> subj = <span style="color:#3333ff"><strong>new</strong></span> <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>Paths</strong></span>(2); subj.Add (<span style="color:#3333ff"><strong>new</strong></span> <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>Path</strong></span>(4)); subj[0].Add(<span style="color:#3333ff"><strong>new</strong></span> <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>IntPoint</strong></span>(180, 200)); subj[0].Add(<span style="color:#3333ff"><strong>new</strong></span> <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>IntPoint</strong></span>(260, 200)); subj[0].Add(<span style="color:#3333ff"><strong>new</strong></span> <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>IntPoint</strong></span>(260, 150)); subj[0].Add(<span style="color:#3333ff"><strong>new</strong></span> <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>IntPoint</strong></span>(180, 150)); subj.Add(<span style="color:#3333ff"><strong>new</strong></span> <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>Path</strong></span>(3)); subj[1].Add(<span style="color:#3333ff"><strong>new</strong></span> <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>IntPoint</strong></span>(215, 160)); subj[1].Add(<span style="color:#3333ff"><strong>new</strong></span> <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>IntPoint</strong></span>(230, 190)); subj[1].Add(<span style="color:#3333ff"><strong>new</strong></span> <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>IntPoint</strong></span>(200, 190)); <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>Paths</strong></span> clip = <span style="color:#3333ff"><strong>new</strong></span> <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>Paths</strong></span>(1); clip.Add(<span style="color:#3333ff"><strong>new</strong></span> <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>Path</strong></span>(4)); clip[0].Add(<span style="color:#3333ff"><strong>new</strong></span> <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>IntPoint</strong></span>(190, 210)); clip[0].Add(<span style="color:#3333ff"><strong>new</strong></span> <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>IntPoint</strong></span>(240, 210)); clip[0].Add(<span style="color:#3333ff"><strong>new</strong></span> <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>IntPoint</strong></span>(240, 130)); clip[0].Add(<span style="color:#3333ff"><strong>new</strong></span> <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>IntPoint</strong></span>(190, 130)); DrawPolygons(subj, <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>Color</strong></span>.FromArgb(0x16, 0, 0, 0xFF), <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>Color</strong></span>.FromArgb(0x60, 0, 0, 0xFF)); DrawPolygons(clip, <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>Color</strong></span>.FromArgb(0x20, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0), <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>Color</strong></span>.FromArgb(0x30, 0xFF, 0, 0)); <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>Paths</strong></span> solution = <span style="color:#3333ff"><strong>new</strong></span> <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>Paths</strong></span>(); <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>Clipper</strong></span> c = <span style="color:#3333ff"><strong>new</strong></span> <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>Clipper</strong></span>(); c.AddPaths(subj, <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>PolyType</strong></span>.ptSubject, true); c.AddPaths(clip, <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>PolyType</strong></span>.ptClip, true); c.Execute(<span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>ClipType</strong></span>.ctIntersection, solution, <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>PolyFillType</strong></span>.pftEvenOdd, <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>PolyFillType</strong></span>.pftEvenOdd); DrawPolygons(solution, <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>Color</strong></span>.FromArgb(0x30, 0, 0xFF, 0), <span style="color:#2bb6e2"><strong>Color</strong></span>.FromArgb(0xFF, 0, 0x66, 0)); </span>

 

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