Changing the UINavigationBar background image - iphone

Question

I've been trying to change the background image of the UINavigationBar of my application. I tried several ways. First I added to my AppDelegate class the following code:
#implementation UINavigationBar (CustomImage)
- (void)drawRect:(CGRect)rect {
UIImage *image = [UIImage imageNamed: #"navigationbar.png"];
[image drawInRect:CGRectMake(0, 0, self.frame.size.width, self.frame.size.height)];
}
#end
But it wasn't working. My next try was to write a CustomizedNavigationBar Class which is overriding the drawRect method. It looked like that:
CustomizedNavigationBar.h
#import <UIKit/UIKit.h>
#interface CustomizedNavigationBar : UINavigationBar
#end
CustomizedNavigationBar.m
#import "CustomizedNavigationBar.h"
#implementation CustomizedNavigationBar
- (void) drawRect:(CGRect)rect {
UIImage *image = [UIImage imageNamed: #"navigationbar.png"];
[image drawInRect:CGRectMake(0, 0, self.frame.size.width, self.frame.size.height)];
NSLog(#"I got called!!!!!");
}
#end
In my .xib file where the NavigationBar is defined I changed the class to the new CustomizedNavigationBar. But still it is not working..
As another test I downloaded an example project where the background image should be changed. But even with that sample code it was not working.
What am I doing wrong? I am using IOS 5. Any suggestions or other ways I could define a background image?
Thanks for your answers!

Answer 1

Starting in iOS 5 you should use the -setBackgroundImage:forBarMetrics: method:
[myNavbar setBackgroundImage:[UIImage imageNamed: #"UINavigationBarBackground.png"]
forBarMetrics:UIBarMetricsDefault];
And in Swift 4:
navigationBar.setBackgroundImage(UIImage(named: "UINavigationBarBackground.png"),
for: .default)

Answer 2

Considering all iOS versions, this seems to be accomplishing both Custom background image and Custom size of UINavigationBar:
#interface CustomNavigationBar : UINavigationBar
#end
#implementation CustomNavigationBar
-(void) drawRect:(CGRect)rect
{
UIImage *image = [UIImage imageNamed: #"navigationBar"];
[image drawInRect:CGRectMake(0, 0, self.frame.size.width, self.frame.size.height)];
//for iOS5
[self setBackgroundImage:[UIImage imageNamed: #"navigationBar"] forBarMetrics:UIBarMetricsDefault];
}
//for custom size of the UINavigationBar
- (CGSize)sizeThatFits:(CGSize)size {
CGSize newSize = CGSizeMake(320,31);
return newSize;
}
#end
I use such codes in a common place like a Utilities file.
Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Just try with this code.. In your implmentation (.m) file.
#import "RootViewController.h"
#implementation UINavigationBar (CustomImage)
- (void)drawRect:(CGRect)rect {
UIImage *image = [UIImage imageNamed: #"navheader.png"];
[image drawInRect:CGRectMake(0, 0, self.frame.size.width, self.frame.size.height)];
}
#end
#implementation RootViewController
- (void)viewDidLoad {
[super viewDidLoad];
// Uncomment the following line to display an Edit button in the navigation bar for this view controller.
// self.navigationItem.rightBarButtonItem = self.editButtonItem;
self.title=#"You are Done.";
}
This has worked in excellent way for me.
Above Code Worked for only IOS 4. if you use the IOS 5 then use.....
[myNavbar setBackgroundImage:[UIImage imageNamed:
#"UINavigationBarBackground.png"]
forBarMetrics:UIBarMetricsDefault];

Answer 4

You can add UIImageview to navigation bar as follows
UINavigationBar navBar = [[UINavigationBar alloc]init];
[navBar addSubview: imageview];
[navBar release];
You can check the post :
iPhone - NavigationBar Custom Background

Answer 5

You can also try this for Navigationbar Background.
UINavigationBar *navigationBar = self.navigationController.navigationBar;
UIImage *image = [UIImage imageNamed: #"NavBar-Wood.png"];
[navigationBar setBackgroundImage:image forBarMetrics: UIBarMetricsDefault];
self.navigationController.navigationBar.tintColor = [UIColor brownColor];
Thanks.

Answer 6

Another way to set an image in navigation bar is,
UIImage* logo = [ UIImage imageNamed:#"Logo.png" ];
UIImageView* logoView = [[[UIImageView alloc] initWithImage:logo] autorelease];
self.navigationItem.titleView = logoView;
This will not change whole navigation bar background. But adds a background image centered on the navigation bar, which is sometime more intended (what I was looking for).

Answer 7

Well for iOS 4 there is a simple solution, like:
nvc.navigationBar.layer.contents = (id)img.CGImage;