BitmapFactory.decodeResource() returns null for shape defined in xml drawable

Since you want to load a Drawable, not a Bitmap, use this:

Drawable d = getResources().getDrawable(R.drawable.your_drawable, your_app_theme);

To turn it into a Bitmap:

public static Bitmap drawableToBitmap (Drawable drawable) {

    if (drawable instanceof BitmapDrawable) {
        return ((BitmapDrawable)drawable).getBitmap();
    }

    Bitmap bitmap = Bitmap.createBitmap(drawable.getIntrinsicWidth(), drawable.getIntrinsicHeight(), Config.ARGB_8888);
    Canvas canvas = new Canvas(bitmap); 
    drawable.setBounds(0, 0, canvas.getWidth(), canvas.getHeight());
    drawable.draw(canvas);

    return bitmap;
}

Taken from: How to convert a Drawable to a Bitmap?