Convert png images to 9 patch in Android Studio

Question

In android studio,you can edit 9 patches directly from with the IDE. But is it also possible to convert an png image to 9-patch using the IDE? (similar to the android 9-patch tool provided by the SDK).

Solution 1

Well I don't think there is any tool in Android Studio but you can do this by Android Asset Studio

Android Asset Studio Simple Nine-patch Generator

This is a very handy tool to create simple 9 patch images for all dpi with a clean user interface.

Solution 2

If you rename the resource from *.png to *.9.png then in Android Studio you may edit it with 9 patch (a tool provided with the Android SDK).

Solution 3

Android Studio now has this option available by right-clicking on the image file in your res folder, then selecting Create 9-Patch file. You can then open the newly created 9-patch file and start editing!

Solution 4

Update: Android Studio now has a feature that can be used to generate 9patch images. To do this navigate to /home/android-studio/data/sdk/tools on your terminal and run draw9patch.

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Comments

[user2392650]

Thanks Vipul!. Seems like a very glaring omission the android studio. How can we request for this feature to be added.

[dmSherazi]

@vipul the link is very helpful

[Reinstate Monica]

@Paschalis You're correct. When I renamed the file manually, Android Studio initially recognised it and let me edit it as a 9 patch image, but it wouldn't compile. The name contained illegal characters, I'm guessing the full stop. CodeMonkey's answer worked though.

[Raja Jawahar]

Copy your image and put into drawable folder and just right click on that one, you will get the option Create a 9 patch

[Anis LOUNIS aka AnixPasBesoin]

It's possible nowadays with Android studio. Right click on your png, make it a 9 patch and then double click on it and the magic will happen.

[Arnold Brown]

the image created successfully but the image contain black borders