Custom QGraphicsItem paint function problem

[stampede]

The pixmap will be switched each time the paint method is called, this is probably not what you want.
Connect the timer to a slot, where you will switch the pixmap and update the item:

/*slot*/
void Foo::timeout(){
    if( this->_pixmap == pixmap1 ){
        this->_pixmap = pixmap2;
    } else{
        this->_pixmap = pixmap1;
    }
    update();
}
 
void Foo::paint(QPainter *painter, const QStyleOptionGraphicsItem *option, QWidget *widget)
{
    painter->drawPixmap(bodyRect, this->_pixmap);
}

/*slot*/
void Foo::timeout(){
    if( this->_pixmap == pixmap1 ){
        this->_pixmap = pixmap2;
    } else{
        this->_pixmap = pixmap1;
    }
    update();
}

void Foo::paint(QPainter *painter, const QStyleOptionGraphicsItem *option, QWidget *widget)
{
    painter->drawPixmap(bodyRect, this->_pixmap);
}

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Now on each timeout the pixmap will be switched, and item updated, no matter how often its rendered.
Btw. If you are using Qt >= 4.6, take a look at the QGraphicsObject class.