What is paper.js
Paper.js, which is online at paperjs.org, is a client client-side library for working with the Canvas element.
If you want to draw graphics on a web page “on the fly”, and/or allow manipulation of graphics right in the browser, paperjs may be the tool you want.
Example of paper.js
with Flask
Here is an running example on Heroku: https://spis16-webapps-paperjs.herokuapp.com/
And here is the repository of code that makes that example work: https://github.com/ucsd-cse-spis-2016/spis16-webapps-paperjs
Alternatives to paper.js
Another option is processingjs, which is a browser-based implementation of a programming language known as Processing (online at processing.org)
- The chief advantages of processingjs over
paper.js
is that more people know Processing, and you are more likely to use it in future CS, CSE, or Cognitive Science courses. - One key advantage of
paper.js
over Processing is that withpaper.js
, it is easy to save/restore the things you draw to and from SVG, a plain text representation of your drawing as vector graphics.- With processing, all you have is pixels (digital ink on paper.)
- With paper.js, you can save and retrieve what you have drawn, and do computations on it.
https://spis16-webapps-paperjs.herokuapp.com/