Creating visually appealing applications on Android can often involve adding beautiful UI effects. One popular effect is the glass-like blur, which provides a sleek, modern aesthetic. In this tutorial, we will explore how to implement such a blur effect using the EtsyBlur library—a powerful tool for Android developers.

What is EtsyBlur?

EtsyBlur is an Android library that allows developers to easily add a glass-like blur effect to their applications, mimicking the blur used in the original Etsy app. It works seamlessly with a variety of Android components, making it a versatile addition to your UI toolkit.

Setting Up EtsyBlur

To get started, you need to integrate the EtsyBlur library into your Android project. Here’s how:

• Ensure your project’s minimum API level is 11 (Honeycomb) or above.
• Open your build.gradle file and add the following dependency:

dependencies {
    compile 'com.ms-square:etsyblur:0.2.1'
    android {
        defaultConfig {
            renderscriptTargetApi 25
            renderscriptSupportModeEnabled true
        }
    }
}

How to Use EtsyBlur

Using the EtsyBlur library is quite simple. Below we’ll demonstrate its integration with both NavigationView and DialogFragment.

For NavigationView

To enable blurring in a NavigationView, follow these steps:

• In your Activity‘s onCreate() method, initialize the drawer layout and add the blur support:

drawerLayout = (DrawerLayout) findViewById(R.id.drawer_layout);
BlurSupport.addTo(drawerLayout);

• Make sure you have a BlurringView defined in your layout XML file:

For DialogFragment

To create a dialog with a blurred background:

• Extend the BlurDialogFragment class in your custom dialog:

public class CreateDialogDialogFragment extends BlurDialogFragment {
    @Override
    public Dialog onCreateDialog(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        return new AlertDialog.Builder(getActivity(), R.style.EtsyBlurAlertDialogTheme)
                .setTitle("Hello")
                .setPositiveButton("OK", null)
                .create();
    }

    @NonNull
    protected BlurConfig blurConfig() {
        return new BlurConfig.Builder()
                .asyncPolicy(SmartAsyncPolicyHolder.INSTANCE.smartAsyncPolicy())
                .debug(true)
                .build();
    }
}

Understanding the Code through Analogy

Think of integrating the EtsyBlur library like setting up a new decorative window in a home. The DrawerLayout serves as your window frame, while the NavigationView acts like the curtain, hiding what’s beyond it. The BlurringView is the magic film that transforms the view outside into a soft blur—allowing light in but providing privacy and beauty. By configuring the blur options, just like choosing the right tint for your window film, you can adjust how blurred or clear the background is, to best suit your design aesthetic.

Troubleshooting

Here are some common challenges you might encounter while using EtsyBlur:

• Blur Effect Not Appearing: Ensure you’ve placed your BlurringView correctly in the XML hierarchy. It must be a direct child of the DrawerLayout or the DialogFragment.
• Api Level Issue: Verify that your app’s minimum SDK version is set correctly to at least API Level 11.
• Blur Not Working on Some Devices: Check if the device supports RenderScript; if not, use the Java fallback option specified in the library.

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Conclusion

Adding beautiful glass-like blur effects to your Android applications can greatly enhance the user interface. With EtsyBlur, this is now a simple and efficient process. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can bring an elegant touch to your app while keeping the coding straightforward.

At fxis.ai, we believe that such advancements are crucial for the future of AI, as they enable more comprehensive and effective solutions. Our team is continually exploring new methodologies to push the envelope in artificial intelligence, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest technological innovations.