How do I render a JCheckBox to an image without ever showing it on screen?

Question

I'm interested in Painting a JCheckBox to a BufferedImage without ever displaying the JCheckBox on-screen.
Here is what I've got so far
//new checkbox
JCheckBox box = new JCheckBox();
//I just want the box, no padding/borders/etc...
box.setBorder(BorderFactory.createEmptyBorder());
// I wish I could call box.getPreferredSize() here, but it returns [0,0]. However, I know that [13,13] is right for my environment
Dimension cbDims = new Dimension(13,13);
GraphicsConfiguration gc = GraphicsEnvironment
                .getLocalGraphicsEnvironment()
                .getDefaultScreenDevice()
                .getDefaultConfiguration();
//create a BufferedImage appropriate for the user's display
BufferedImage bi = gc.createCompatibleImage(cbDims.width, cbDims.height, Transparency.TRANSLUCENT);
box.paint(bi.createGraphics()); //draw... Result is blankHowever, I get the image I'm looking for if I add
JDialog d = new JDialog();
JPanel p = new JPanel();
d.setContentPane(p);
p.add(box);
d.setVisible(true); after I create the JCheckBox.
Edited by: cmumeche on Aug 25, 2009 12:26 PM

Answer 1

Swing related questions should be posted in the Swing forum.
I use the [Screen Image|http://www.camick.com/java/blog.html?name=screen-image] for this. It explains how to get an image of non visible component(s). The trick is to set the size of the component first.
I wish I could call box.getPreferredSize() here, but it returns [0,0].I find that hard to believe. It works fine for me when I use:
component.setSize( component.getPreferredSize() );If you need further help then you need to create a [Short, Self Contained, Compilable and Executable, Example Program (SSCCE)|http://homepage1.nifty.com/algafield/sscce.html], that demonstrates the incorrect behaviour.