In this tutorial, we will learn to change background transition in Android Studio. We will be using AnimationDrawable for this project.
What if I told you that animations require less effort than you think? Have you ever heard about Transitions API? Yes, it is that thing promoted by Google for fancy animations between Activities. Sadly, it is available only starting from Android 5.0. So no one is actually using it. But imagine that this API can be efficiently used in many different cases and, what’s even more exciting, available on older Android versions.
Let’s start with some history
New animateLayoutChange parameter was introduced for ViewGroup in Android 4.0. But even with calling getLayoutTransition() and configuring some stuff inside it, it was still unstable and not flexible enough. So you couldn’t do much with it.
Version 4.4 Kitkat brings us idea of Scenes and Transitions. Scene is technically the state of all views in our Scene root (layout container). Transition is the set of Animators which will be applied for the view to perform smooth transition from the one scene to another. Will it be more fascinating with the examples? Yeah.
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Simple types of Transition
- ChangeBounds. It animates changes to view position and size. This one moves the button in our example.
- Fade. It extends Visibility class and performs most popular animations — fade in and fade out. In example it’s applied to TextView.
- TransitionSet. It’s Transition that is actually a set of another Transitions. They can be started together or sequential, to change it call setOrdering.
- AutoTransition. It’s TransitionSet that contains Fade out, ChangeBounds and Fade in in sequential order. At first, views that don’t exist in the second scene are faded out, then change bounds applied for changes of position and size, and, finally, new views appear with fade in. AutoTransition used by default when you don’t specify any transition in the second argument of beginDelayedTransition.
How to change background transition in Android Steps:
MainActivity.java
In this, we are adding the AnimationDrawable to the layout ID which we have set on the XML file. setEnterFadeDuration will start the fade animation. Then, we will call start() to run the animation.
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
private ConstraintLayout layout;
@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
layout = findViewById(R.id.layout);
AnimationDrawable animationDrawable = (AnimationDrawable) layout.getBackground();
animationDrawable.setEnterFadeDuration(2000);
animationDrawable.setExitFadeDuration(3000);
animationDrawable.start();
}
}
Acitivity_main.xml
Now to change background transition in android , We have defined all the background layout we want in our apps in the drawable folder as background_list.xml. In this, we define a simple button over the background image.
<android.support.constraint.ConstraintLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
tools:context=".MainActivity"
android:background="@drawable/background_list"
android:id="@+id/layout"
>
<Button
android:id="@+id/button"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:background="@drawable/button_shape"
android:paddingHorizontal="25dp"
android:text="HELLO!"
android:textSize="22dp"
/>
</android.support.constraint.ConstraintLayout>
Background_list.xml
In this XML, we start tag with <animation-list> and a series of nested <item>tags. These items are having the image name which is in the drawable folder and we cant set the duration also of each item.
<animation-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<item
android:drawable="@drawable/image-one"
android:duration="6000"/>
<item
android:drawable="@drawable/image-two"
android:duration="6000"/>
<item
android:drawable="@drawable/image-three"
android:duration="6000"/>
</animation-list>
Testing Your App
Before you finalize the transition, it’s crucial to test it on different devices and screen sizes. This ensures that the transition looks consistent across various platforms.
Benefits of Smooth Transitions
Smooth background transitions enhance the user experience by providing a sense of fluidity and professionalism to your app. They can captivate users and leave a lasting impression.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using overly complex animations that slow down the app
- Neglecting to optimize the background image for different screen sizes
- Skipping testing on multiple devices
Tips for Effective Design
- Keep the transition subtle and relevant to your app’s theme
- Pay attention to color schemes that complement the background
- Regularly update and improve your app’s design based on user feedback
Final Words
Here concludes this tutorial, focusing on the intriguing realm of Change Background Transitions. I trust that you have found value in this tutorial and that it has yielded the desired outcomes you were seeking. Should any hurdles emerge during the tutorial’s implementation, kindly voice your concerns in the comments section below. Rest assured, we are committed to promptly aiding you in overcoming any obstacles.
It’s vital to emphasize that this tutorial surpasses mere code replication. It is an opportunity to grasp the nuances of various change background transitions and comprehend their functionality within the Android framework. By delving into this tutorial, you not only gain the ability to manipulate code but also cultivate a deep understanding of the underlying mechanics governing transitions.
For those engaged in the world of Android development or those who are novices to the field, I encourage you to explore our comprehensive Android development series. This resource is readily accessible in the How-To section of our website. Here, you can embark on a journey of learning and growth, propelling yourself forward in the realm of Android development.
In conclusion, I extend my gratitude for embarking on this tutorial journey with us. Remember, your journey doesn’t conclude here; it’s merely a transition in your ongoing pursuit of knowledge and expertise. Embrace the change background transition not only as a technical aspect but also as a metaphor for your evolution as a developer. Your feedback fuels our dedication to enhancing your learning experience.