---
name: "SDL_DEFINE_PIXELFORMAT"
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_DEFINE_PIXELFORMAT"
---

# SDL\_DEFINE\_PIXELFORMAT(3)

A macro for defining custom non-FourCC pixel formats.

## NAME

SDL\_DEFINE\_PIXELFORMAT - A macro for defining custom non-FourCC pixel formats.

## HEADER FILE

Defined in SDL3/SDL\_pixels.h

## SYNOPSIS

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

**#define SDL\_DEFINE\_PIXELFORMAT(type, order, layout, bits, bytes) .BI** *((1***\<\<***28)***\|***((type)***\<\<***24)***\|***((order)***\<\<***20)***\|***((layout)***\<\<***16)***\|***.BI*     **((bits) \<\< 8) \| ((bytes) \<\< 0))**

## DESCRIPTION

For example, defining  **SDL\_PIXELFORMAT\_RGBA8888**

looks like this:

-

  ```
  SDL_DEFINE_PIXELFORMAT(SDL_PIXELTYPE_PACKED32, SDL_PACKEDORDER_RGBA, SDL_PACKEDLAYOUT_8888, 32, 4)
  ```

## RETURN VALUE

Returns a format value in the style of  **SDL\_PixelFormat** .

## THREAD SAFETY

It is safe to call this macro from any thread.

## AVAILABILITY

This macro is available since SDL 3.2.0.