Loading Images Using SDL_image

I initially implemented animations by following Lazy Foo’ Productions’ tutorial on animating sprites, but I encountered an error with the #import <SDL2/SDL_image.h> directive because SDL_image is an additional library that needs to be installed separately.

What is SDL_image?

SDL_image is a simple library for loading images of various formats as SDL surfaces.

How to Install SDL_image

I followed another Lazy Foo’ Productions tutorial to install the library: lazyfoo.net/tutorials/SDL/06_extension_libraries_and_loading_other_image_formats/mac/xcode/.

The basic steps are:

1. Download the library from GitHub. I downloaded and installed SDL_image 2.8.4.
2. Add the SDL2_image.framework to the project (under the “General” tab).
3. Change imports to #import <SDL2_image/SDL_image.h>.

Alternative Installation Process for Xcode

There is an alternative installation process for Xcode that includes SDL_image as an Xcode project in the main project’s workspace. There is a getting started guide at github.com/libsdl-org/SDL_image/blob/0e9b6b67/docs/INTRO-xcode.md.

I didn’t use this alternative installation process until later when I built the iOS version of this project.