On OSX, how do I gradient fill a path stroke?
If you convert the NSBezierPath to a CGPath, you can use the CGContextReplacePathWithStrokedPath() method to retrieve a path that is the outline of the stroked path. Graham Cox's excellent GCDrawKit has a -strokedPath category method on NSBezierPath that will do this for you without needing to drop down to Core Graphics.
Once you have the outlined path, you can fill that path with an NSGradient.
I can't seem to find an acceptable way however, to 'stroke'-draw a path with a line width of a few pixels and fill this stroke using a gradient. How is this done?
[Original answer replaced with the following]
Ah, I see. You want to apply the gradient to the stroke.
To do that, you use a blend mode. I explained how to do this in an answer on another question. Here's the list of steps, adapted to your goal:
- Begin a transparency layer.
- Stroke the path with any non-transparent color.
- Set the blend mode to source in.
- Draw the gradient.
- End the transparency layer.