---
name: "SDL_CreateSurfaceFrom"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "libsdl3-doc"
version: "3.2.10+ds-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/SDL_CreateSurfaceFrom"
---

# SDL\_CreateSurfaceFrom(3)

Allocate a new surface with a specific pixel format and existing pixel data.

## NAME

SDL\_CreateSurfaceFrom - Allocate a new surface with a specific pixel format and existing pixel data.

## HEADER FILE

Defined in SDL3/SDL\_surface.h

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include "SDL3/SDL.h"
```

**SDL\_Surface \* SDL\_CreateSurfaceFrom(int width, int height, SDL\_PixelFormat format, void \*pixels, int pitch);**

## DESCRIPTION

No copy is made of the pixel data. Pixel data is not managed automatically; you must free the surface before you free the pixel data.

Pitch is the offset in bytes from one row of pixels to the next, e.g. **width\*4** for  **SDL\_PIXELFORMAT\_RGBA8888** .

You may pass NULL for pixels and 0 for pitch to create a surface that you will fill in with valid values later.

## FUNCTION PARAMETERS

- *width*

  the width of the surface.

- *height*

  the height of the surface.

- *format*

  the  **SDL\_PixelFormat**\
    for the new surface's pixel format.

- *pixels*

  a pointer to existing pixel data.

- *pitch*

  the number of bytes between each row, including padding.

## RETURN VALUE

( **SDL\_Surface**\
  \*) Returns the new  **SDL\_Surface**

structure that is created or NULL on failure; call

**SDL\_GetError** () for more information.

## THREAD SAFETY

It is safe to call this function from any thread.

## AVAILABILITY

This function is available since SDL 3.2.0.

## SEE ALSO

**•**(3), [**SDL\_CreateSurface**(3)](/SDL_CreateSurface/3.md), **•**(3), [**SDL\_DestroySurface**(3)](/SDL_DestroySurface/3.md)