[ios] How can I change image tintColor in iOS and WatchKit

I have an UIImageView called "theImageView", with UIImage in a single color (transparent background) just like the left black heart below. How can I change the tint color of this image programmatically in iOS 7 or above, as per the tint method used in the iOS 7+ Navigation Bar icons?

Can this method also work in WatchKit for an Apple Watch app?

I had to do this in Swift using an extension.

I thought I'd share how I did it:

extension UIImage {
    func imageWithColor(color1: UIColor) -> UIImage {
        UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(self.size, false, self.scale)
        color1.setFill()

        let context = UIGraphicsGetCurrentContext() as CGContextRef
        CGContextTranslateCTM(context, 0, self.size.height)
        CGContextScaleCTM(context, 1.0, -1.0);
        CGContextSetBlendMode(context, CGBlendMode.Normal)

        let rect = CGRectMake(0, 0, self.size.width, self.size.height) as CGRect
        CGContextClipToMask(context, rect, self.CGImage)
        CGContextFillRect(context, rect)

        let newImage = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext() as UIImage
        UIGraphicsEndImageContext()

        return newImage
    }
}

Usage:

theImageView.image = theImageView.image.imageWithColor(UIColor.redColor())

Swift 4

extension UIImage {
    func imageWithColor(color1: UIColor) -> UIImage {
        UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(self.size, false, self.scale)
        color1.setFill()

        let context = UIGraphicsGetCurrentContext()
        context?.translateBy(x: 0, y: self.size.height)
        context?.scaleBy(x: 1.0, y: -1.0)
        context?.setBlendMode(CGBlendMode.normal)

        let rect = CGRect(origin: .zero, size: CGSize(width: self.size.width, height: self.size.height))
        context?.clip(to: rect, mask: self.cgImage!)
        context?.fill(rect)

        let newImage = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext()
        UIGraphicsEndImageContext()

        return newImage!
    }
}

Usage:

theImageView.image = theImageView.image?.imageWithColor(color1: UIColor.red)

Swift 4

Change tint of UIImage SVG / PDF, that work for image with unique color :

import Foundation
    
// MARK: - UIImage extensions

public extension UIImage {

    //
    /// Tint Image
    ///
    /// - Parameter fillColor: UIColor
    /// - Returns: Image with tint color
    func tint(with fillColor: UIColor) -> UIImage? {
        let image = withRenderingMode(.alwaysTemplate)
        UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(size, false, scale)
        fillColor.set()
        image.draw(in: CGRect(origin: .zero, size: size))

        guard let imageColored = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext() else {
            return nil
        }
        
        UIGraphicsEndImageContext()
        return imageColored
    }
}

Change tint of UIImageView, that work for image with unique color :

let imageView = UIImageView(frame: CGRect(x: 50, y: 50, width: 50, height: 50))
imageView.image = UIImage(named: "hello.png")!.withRenderingMode(.alwaysTemplate)
imageView.tintColor = .yellow

Change tint of UIImage for picture, use that :

import Foundation

// MARK: - Extensions UIImage

public extension UIImage {

    /// Tint, Colorize image with given tint color
    /// This is similar to Photoshop's "Color" layer blend mode
    /// This is perfect for non-greyscale source images, and images that 
    /// have both highlights and shadows that should be preserved<br><br>
    /// white will stay white and black will stay black as the lightness of 
    /// the image is preserved
    ///
    /// - Parameter TintColor: Tint color
    /// - Returns:  Tinted image
    public func tintImage(with fillColor: UIColor) -> UIImage {
        
        return modifiedImage { context, rect in
            // draw black background - workaround to preserve color of partially transparent pixels
            context.setBlendMode(.normal)
            UIColor.black.setFill()
            context.fill(rect)
            
            // draw original image
            context.setBlendMode(.normal)
            context.draw(cgImage!, in: rect)
            
            // tint image (loosing alpha) - the luminosity of the original image is preserved
            context.setBlendMode(.color)
            fillColor.setFill()
            context.fill(rect)
            
            // mask by alpha values of original image
            context.setBlendMode(.destinationIn)
            context.draw(context.makeImage()!, in: rect)
        }
    }
    
    /// Modified Image Context, apply modification on image
    ///
    /// - Parameter draw: (CGContext, CGRect) -> ())
    /// - Returns:        UIImage
    fileprivate func modifiedImage(_ draw: (CGContext, CGRect) -> ()) -> UIImage {
        
        // using scale correctly preserves retina images
        UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(size, false, scale)
        let context: CGContext! = UIGraphicsGetCurrentContext()
        assert(context != nil)
        
        // correctly rotate image
        context.translateBy(x: 0, y: size.height)
        context.scaleBy(x: 1.0, y: -1.0)
        
        let rect = CGRect(x: 0.0, y: 0.0, width: size.width, height: size.height)
        
        draw(context, rect)
        
        let image = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext()
        UIGraphicsEndImageContext()
        return image!
    }
}

For tinting the image of a UIButton

let image1 = "ic_shopping_cart_empty"
btn_Basket.setImage(UIImage(named: image1)?.withRenderingMode(.alwaysTemplate), for: .normal)
btn_Basket.setImage(UIImage(named: image1)?.withRenderingMode(.alwaysTemplate), for: .selected)
btn_Basket.imageView?.tintColor = UIColor(UIColor.Red)

Swift 3 version of extension answer from fuzz

func imageWithColor(color: UIColor) -> UIImage {
    UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(self.size, false, self.scale)
    color.setFill()

    let context = UIGraphicsGetCurrentContext()! as CGContext
    context.translateBy(x: 0, y: self.size.height)
    context.scaleBy(x: 1.0, y: -1.0);
    context.setBlendMode(.normal)

    let rect = CGRect(x: 0, y: 0, width: self.size.width, height: self.size.height) as CGRect
    context.clip(to: rect, mask: self.cgImage!)
    context.fill(rect)

    let newImage = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext()! as UIImage
    UIGraphicsEndImageContext()

    return newImage
}

This is my UIImage extension and you can directly use changeTintColor function for an image.

extension UIImage {

    func changeTintColor(color: UIColor) -> UIImage {
        var newImage = self.withRenderingMode(.alwaysTemplate)
        UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(self.size, false, newImage.scale)
        color.set()
        newImage.draw(in: CGRect(x: 0.0, y: 0.0, width: self.size.width, height: self.size.height))
        newImage = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext()!
        UIGraphicsEndImageContext()
        return newImage
    }

    func changeColor(color: UIColor) -> UIImage {
        let backgroundSize = self.size
        UIGraphicsBeginImageContext(backgroundSize)
        guard let context = UIGraphicsGetCurrentContext() else {
            return self
        }
        var backgroundRect = CGRect()
        backgroundRect.size = backgroundSize
        backgroundRect.origin.x = 0
        backgroundRect.origin.y = 0

        var red: CGFloat = 0
        var green: CGFloat = 0
        var blue: CGFloat = 0
        var alpha: CGFloat = 0
        color.getRed(&red, green: &green, blue: &blue, alpha: &alpha)
        context.setFillColor(red: red, green: green, blue: blue, alpha: alpha)
        context.translateBy(x: 0, y: backgroundSize.height)
        context.scaleBy(x: 1.0, y: -1.0)
        context.clip(to: CGRect(x: 0.0, y: 0.0, width: self.size.width, height: self.size.height),
                 mask: self.cgImage!)
        context.fill(backgroundRect)

        var imageRect = CGRect()
        imageRect.size = self.size
        imageRect.origin.x = (backgroundSize.width - self.size.width) / 2
        imageRect.origin.y = (backgroundSize.height - self.size.height) / 2

        context.setBlendMode(.multiply)
        context.draw(self.cgImage!, in: imageRect)

        let newImage = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext()
        UIGraphicsEndImageContext()
        return newImage!
    }

}

Example usage like this

let image = UIImage(named: "sample_image")
imageView.image = image.changeTintColor(color: UIColor.red)

And you can use change changeColor function to change the image color

With Swift

let commentImageView = UIImageView(frame: CGRectMake(100, 100, 100, 100))
commentImageView.image = UIImage(named: "myimage.png")!.imageWithRenderingMode(UIImageRenderingMode.AlwaysTemplate)
commentImageView.tintColor = UIColor.blackColor()
addSubview(commentImageView)

If anyone care a solution without UIImageView:

// (Swift 3)
extension UIImage {
    func tint(with color: UIColor) -> UIImage {
        var image = withRenderingMode(.alwaysTemplate)
        UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(size, false, scale)
        color.set()

        image.draw(in: CGRect(origin: .zero, size: size))
        image = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext()!
        UIGraphicsEndImageContext()
        return image
    }
}

iOS

Solution for doing it from Interface Builder, set templateImage param in keyPath and choose your tint color from IB

extension UIImageView {

// make template image with tint color
var templateImage: Bool {
    set {
        if newValue, let image = self.image {
            let newImage = image.withRenderingMode(.alwaysTemplate)
            self.image = newImage
        }
    } get {
        return false
    }
}

}

Now i use this method based in Duncan Babbage response:

+ (UIImageView *) tintImageView: (UIImageView *)imageView withColor: (UIColor*) color{
    imageView.image = [imageView.image imageWithRenderingMode:UIImageRenderingModeAlwaysTemplate];
    [imageView setTintColor:color];
    return imageView;
}

In storyboard and image Assets. you can change this two also:

Update the Render Mode to Template Image

Update the tint Color in Views.

Swift 5

Redrawing image with background and fill color

extension UIImage {
  func withBackground(color: UIColor, fill fillColor: UIColor) -> UIImage {
    UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(size, true, scale)
    
    guard let ctx = UIGraphicsGetCurrentContext(), let image = cgImage else { return self }
    defer { UIGraphicsEndImageContext() }
    
    ctx.concatenate(CGAffineTransform(a: 1, b: 0, c: 0, d: -1, tx: 0, ty: size.height))
    
    let rect = CGRect(origin: .zero, size: size)
    
    // draw background
    ctx.setFillColor(color.cgColor)
    ctx.fill(rect)
    
    // draw image with fill color
    ctx.clip(to: rect, mask: image)
    ctx.setFillColor(fillColor.cgColor)
    ctx.fill(rect)
    
    return UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext() ?? self
  }
}

You can use this in Swift 3 if you have an image to replace the clear button

func addTextfieldRightView(){

    let rightViewWidth:CGFloat = 30

    let viewMax = self.searchTxt.frame.height
    let buttonMax = self.searchTxt.frame.height - 16

    let buttonView = UIView(frame: CGRect(
        x: self.searchTxt.frame.width - rightViewWidth,
        y: 0,
        width: viewMax,
        height: viewMax))

    let myButton = UIButton(frame: CGRect(
        x: (viewMax - buttonMax) / 2,
        y: (viewMax - buttonMax) / 2,
        width: buttonMax,
        height: buttonMax))

    myButton.setImage(UIImage(named: "BlueClear")!, for: .normal)

    buttonView.addSubview(myButton)

    let clearPressed = UITapGestureRecognizer(target: self, action: #selector(SearchVC.clearPressed(sender:)))
    buttonView.isUserInteractionEnabled = true
    buttonView.addGestureRecognizer(clearPressed)

    myButton.addTarget(self, action: #selector(SearchVC.clearPressed(sender:)), for: .touchUpInside)

    self.searchTxt.rightView = buttonView
    self.searchTxt.rightViewMode = .whileEditing
}

For swift 3 purposes

theImageView.image = theImageView.image!.withRenderingMode(.alwaysTemplate)
theImageView.tintColor = UIColor.red

if you have any id for the SVG image, you can fill the colours with respect to the ID.

    let image = SVGKImage(named: "iconName")
    let svgIMGV = SVGKFastImageView(frame: self.imgView.frame)
         svgIMGV.image = image
          svgIMGV.fillTintColor(colorImage: UIColor.red, iconID: "Bank")

// Add in extension SVGKImageView
extension SVGKImageView {
 func fillTintColor(colorImage: UIColor, iconID: String) {
        if self.image != nil && self.image.caLayerTree != nil {
            print(self.image.caLayerTree.sublayers)
            guard let sublayers = self.image.caLayerTree.sublayers else { return }
            fillRecursively(sublayers: sublayers, color: colorImage, iconID: iconID)
        }
    }

     private func fillRecursively(sublayers: [CALayer], color: UIColor, iconID: String, hasFoundLayer: Bool) {
        var isLayerFound = false
        for layer in sublayers {
            if let l = layer as? CAShapeLayer {

                print(l.name)                
                //IF you want to color the specific shapelayer by id else remove the l.name  == "myID"  validation
                if let name =  l.name,  hasFoundLayer == true && name == "myID" {
                    self.colorThatImageWIthColor(color: color, layer: l)
                    print("Colouring FInished")
                }
            } else {
                if layer.name == iconID {
                    if let innerSublayer = layer.sublayers as? [CAShapeLayer] {
                        fillRecursively(sublayers: innerSublayer, color: color, iconID: iconID, hasFoundLayer: true )
                        print("FOund")
                    }
                } else {
                    if let l = layer as? CALayer, let sub = l.sublayers {
                        fillRecursively(sublayers: sub, color: color, iconID: iconID, hasFoundLayer: false)
                    }
                }
            }

        }
    }

    func colorThatImageWIthColor(color: UIColor, layer: CAShapeLayer) {
        if layer.strokeColor != nil {
            layer.strokeColor = color.cgColor
        }
        if layer.fillColor != nil {
            layer.fillColor = color.cgColor
        }
    }

}

OR Checkout this example.

https://github.com/ravisfortune/SVGDEMO

profileImageView.image = theImageView.image!.withRenderingMode(.alwaysTemplate)
profileImageView.tintColor = UIColor.green

OR

First select Particular image in image asset and then select reddened as Template instead of Default and after that write line. profileImageView.tintColor = UIColor.green

There is a native method for UIImage since iOS 13

let image = yourImage.withTintColor(.systemRed)

Subclass which can be used from code and Interface Builder as well:

@implementation TintedImageView

- (instancetype)initWithFrame:(CGRect)frame {
    self = [super initWithFrame:frame];
    if (self) {
        [self setup];
    }
    return self;
}

- (instancetype)initWithCoder:(NSCoder *)aDecoder {
    self = [super initWithCoder:aDecoder];
    if (self) {
        [self setup];
    }
    return self;
}

-(void)setup {
    self.image = [self.image imageWithRenderingMode:UIImageRenderingModeAlwaysTemplate];
}

@end

Try this

http://robots.thoughtbot.com/designing-for-ios-blending-modes

or

- (void)viewDidLoad
{
[super viewDidLoad];

UILabel *label = [[UILabel alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectMake(10, 30, 300, 50)];
label.numberOfLines = 0;
label.font = [UIFont systemFontOfSize:13];
label.text = @"These checkmarks use the same gray checkmark image with a tintColor applied to the image view";
[self.view addSubview:label];

[self _createImageViewAtY:100 color:[UIColor purpleColor]];
}

- (void)_createImageViewAtY:(int)y color:(UIColor *)color {
UIImage *image = [[UIImage imageNamed:@"gray checkmark.png"] imageWithRenderingMode:UIImageRenderingModeAlwaysTemplate];
UIImageView *imageView = [[UIImageView alloc] initWithImage:image];
CGRect frame = imageView.frame;
frame.origin.x = 100;
frame.origin.y = y;
imageView.frame = frame;

if (color)
    imageView.tintColor = color;

[self.view addSubview:imageView];
}

Take benefit of Extension in Swift :-

extension UIImageView {
    func changeImageColor( color:UIColor) -> UIImage
    {
        image = image!.withRenderingMode(.alwaysTemplate)
        tintColor = color
        return image!
    }
}

   //Change color of logo 
   logoImage.image =  logoImage.changeImageColor(color: .red)

Here's a category that should do the trick

@interface UIImage(Overlay)
@end

@implementation UIImage(Overlay)

- (UIImage *)imageWithColor:(UIColor *)color1
{
        UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(self.size, NO, self.scale);
        CGContextRef context = UIGraphicsGetCurrentContext();
        CGContextTranslateCTM(context, 0, self.size.height);
        CGContextScaleCTM(context, 1.0, -1.0);
        CGContextSetBlendMode(context, kCGBlendModeNormal);
        CGRect rect = CGRectMake(0, 0, self.size.width, self.size.height);
        CGContextClipToMask(context, rect, self.CGImage);
        [color1 setFill];
        CGContextFillRect(context, rect);
        UIImage *newImage = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext();
        UIGraphicsEndImageContext();
        return newImage;
}
@end

so you would do:

theImageView.image = [theImageView.image imageWithColor:[UIColor redColor]];

Also, for the above answers, in iOS 13 and later there is a clean way

let image = UIImage(named: "imageName")?.withTintColor(.white, renderingMode: .alwaysTemplate)

With iOS 13 and above, you can simply use

let image = UIImage(named: "Heart")?.withRenderingMode(.alwaysTemplate)
if #available(iOS 13.0, *) {
   imageView.image = image?.withTintColor(UIColor.white)
}

let navHeight = self.navigationController?.navigationBar.frame.height;
let menuBtn = UIButton(type: .custom)
menuBtn.frame = CGRect(x: 0, y: 0, width: 45, height: navHeight!)     
menuBtn.setImage(UIImage(named:"image_name")!.withRenderingMode(.alwaysTemplate), for: .normal)        
menuBtn.tintColor = .black