How do I make a UIImageView darker when highlighted (tapped)?

Question

I have a UIImageView that shows a picture. When tapped and held, I'd like it to darken as long as the user has their finger over the imageview. Basically, I want it to act like a UIButton.

I currently have it do this with a UIGestureRecognizer:

- (void)viewDidLoad
{
    [super viewDidLoad];

    UITapGestureRecognizer *singleTap = [[UITapGestureRecognizer alloc]
                                         initWithTarget:self
                                         action:@selector(pictureViewTapped)];
    singleTap.numberOfTapsRequired = 1;
    singleTap.numberOfTouchesRequired = 1;
    [self.pictureImageView addGestureRecognizer:singleTap];
    [self.pictureImageView setUserInteractionEnabled:YES];
}

and in my pictureViewTapped , I have this (for now):

- (void)pictureViewTapped {
    NSLog(@"Picture view was tapped!");
}

How do I make the UIImageView darker? Any help is appreciated.

Answer 1

Easiest way is to use layers in the QuartzCore framework:

add: QuartzCore.framework to project in your project settings add to .h file: #import

create gesture for long press instead of tap as that behaviors as you described:

 self.longTap = [[UILongPressGestureRecognizer alloc] initWithTarget:self action:@selector(darkenImage)];
    [self.imageView setUserInteractionEnabled:YES];
    [self.imageView addGestureRecognizer:self.longTap];

method called when gesture active:

-(void)darkenImage {
    switch (self.longTap.state) {
        case UIGestureRecognizerStateBegan: // object pressed
        case UIGestureRecognizerStateChanged:
            [self.imageView.layer setBackgroundColor:[UIColor blackColor].CGColor];
            [self.imageView.layer setOpacity:0.9];
            break;
        case UIGestureRecognizerStateEnded: // object released
            [self.imageView.layer setOpacity:1.0];
            break;
        default: // unknown tap
            NSLog(@"%i", self.longTap.state);
            break;
    }
}

Answer 2

In my case, background will show through when set ImageView's layer opacity to 0.9.

I use solution that use new layer.

let coverLayer = CALayer()
coverLayer.frame = imageView.bounds;
coverLayer.backgroundColor = UIColor.blackColor().CGColor
coverLayer.opacity = 0.0
imageView.layer.addSublayer(coverLayer)

// when tapped
coverLayer.opacity = 0.1

Answer 3

Swift-Solution:

@IBOutlet weak var imageViewExport: UIImageView!
var tapGestureExport = UILongPressGestureRecognizer()

override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()

        imageViewExport.userInteractionEnabled = true

        tapGestureExport = UILongPressGestureRecognizer(target: self, action: "tapGestureExportAction:")
        imageViewExport.addGestureRecognizer(tapGestureExport)
    }

    func tapGestureExportAction(sender: UITapGestureRecognizer) {

        switch(tapGestureExport.state) {
        case UIGestureRecognizerState.Began,
                UIGestureRecognizerState.Changed:
            imageViewExport.backgroundColor = UIColor.blackColor()
            imageViewExport.layer.opacity = 0.9

        case UIGestureRecognizerState.Ended:        // released
            imageViewExport.layer.opacity = 1.0

            default: break // unknown tap 
            }
}