How to create a custom layout for your camera in Android?

Hello everyone,

Today’s example shows how to create a custom layout for your camera preview, that is if you want a custom layout while your camera is opening.
This example helps you to achieve this.

First create a fresh project and name it CameraCustomLayout and copy this code to CameraCustomLayout.java file.

package com.coderzheaven.pack;

import java.io.IOException;
import android.app.Activity;
import android.content.pm.ActivityInfo;
import android.graphics.PixelFormat;
import android.hardware.Camera;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.view.LayoutInflater;
import android.view.SurfaceHolder;
import android.view.SurfaceView;
import android.view.View;
import android.view.ViewGroup.LayoutParams;

public class CustomCameraActivity extends Activity implements SurfaceHolder.Callback {

	Camera camera;
	SurfaceView surfaceView;
	SurfaceHolder surfaceHolder;
	boolean previewing = false;
	LayoutInflater controlInflater = null;

    @Override
    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.main);

        setRequestedOrientation(ActivityInfo.SCREEN_ORIENTATION_LANDSCAPE);

        getWindow().setFormat(PixelFormat.UNKNOWN);
        surfaceView = (SurfaceView)findViewById(R.id.camerapreview);
        surfaceHolder = surfaceView.getHolder();
        surfaceHolder.addCallback(this);
        surfaceHolder.setType(SurfaceHolder.SURFACE_TYPE_PUSH_BUFFERS);

        controlInflater = LayoutInflater.from(getBaseContext());
        View viewControl = controlInflater.inflate(R.layout.custom, null);
        LayoutParams layoutParamsControl = new LayoutParams(LayoutParams.FILL_PARENT,
        								   					LayoutParams.FILL_PARENT);
        this.addContentView(viewControl, layoutParamsControl);
    }

	@Override
	public void surfaceChanged(SurfaceHolder holder, int format, int width, int height) {
		if(previewing){
			camera.stopPreview();
			previewing = false;
		}

		if (camera != null){
			try {
				camera.setPreviewDisplay(surfaceHolder);
				camera.startPreview();
				previewing = true;
			} catch (IOException e) {
				e.printStackTrace();
			}
		}
	}

	@Override
	public void surfaceCreated(SurfaceHolder holder) {
		camera = Camera.open();
	}

	@Override
	public void surfaceDestroyed(SurfaceHolder holder) {
		camera.stopPreview();
		camera.release();
		camera = null;
		previewing = false;
	}
}

After that create an xml file named custom.xml inside the res/layout folder and copy this code into it.
This is the layout which comes when you open the camera in your device.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:orientation="vertical"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="fill_parent"
    android:gravity="left">

	<Button
		android:text="Click Me"
		android:id="@+id/Button01"
		android:layout_width="wrap_content"
		android:layout_height="wrap_content">
	</Button>
	<Button
		android:text="Click Me too"
		android:id="@+id/Button02"
		android:layout_width="wrap_content"
		android:layout_height="wrap_content">
	</Button>
</LinearLayout>

Now in the main.xml file copy this code.
This file contains the SurfaceView which holds the cameraPreview.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:orientation="vertical"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="fill_parent"
    >
<SurfaceView
	android:id="@+id/camerapreview"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    />
</LinearLayout>

Now you are done.
Note : Please run it on a real device, because camera will not work on the emulator.

You can download the source code from here.
PLease dont forget to comment on this post if you like it.