This reference is for Processing 2.0+. If you have a previous version, use the reference included with your software. If you see any errors or have suggestions, please let us know. If you prefer a more technical reference, visit the Processing Javadoc.

Name | ### background()
Examples |
    background(51);
    background(255, 204, 0);
    PImage img;
    img = loadImage("laDefense.jpg");
    background(img);
Description | The background() function sets the color used for the background of the Processing window. The default background is light gray. This function is typically used within draw() to clear the display window at the beginning of each frame, but it can be used inside setup() to set the background on the first frame of animation or if the backgound need only be set once. An image can also be used as the background for a sketch, although the image's width and height must match that of the sketch window. Images used with background() will ignore the current tint() setting. To resize an image to the size of the sketch window, use image.resize(width, height). It is not possible to use the transparency alpha parameter with background colors on the main drawing surface. It can only be used along with a PGraphics object and createGraphics().
Syntax |
    background(rgb)
    background(rgb, alpha)
    background(gray)
    background(gray, alpha)
    background(v1, v2, v3)
    background(v1, v2, v3, alpha)
    background(image)
Parameters |
rgb | int: any value of the color datatype
alpha | float: opacity of the background
gray | float: specifies a value between white and black
v1 | float: red or hue value (depending on the current color mode)
v2 | float: green or saturation value (depending on the current color mode)
v3 | float: blue or brightness value (depending on the current color mode)
image | PImage: PImage to set as background (must be same size as the sketch window)
Returns | void
Related | stroke() fill() tint() colorMode()

Updated on May 19, 2014 05:30:02pm PDT