Picture Files

[Nove]

What would be the easiest way of translating the contents of a DC to a picture file, like a bitmap? Or better yet, would there be a relatively fast way to gather all the contents up into a one dimensional byte array without all the bitmap header stuff? I'm looking for something faster than getpixel. Thanks.

[si_the_geek]

The fastest method is to use a DIB (Device Independent Bitmap).

See the "GetDIBits" tutorial here for a good explanation of how to use them.

[Nove]

Thanks that explained it. The code there however uses the image.handle property of a picturebox. I want to get the contents of the DC of a window not in my project. Is there any way to do this? Thanks.

[si_the_geek]

I've only ever used it that way myself... The trouble is that GetDIBits needs a handle to the bitmap.

You could use a temporary PictureBox for the image, it wouldn't take long to Blt the image into it. I know it's a bit of a waste of resources, but you could clear it out again after setting up the DIB.