Directly Manipulate the IMAGE property

[BodwadUK]

Well my brain is fried so I hope I can write a post that makes sense...if not I am sorry

I am trying to create a fast pixel change function that changes the IMAGE property on a picturebox. The function I have only changes the PICTURE property and the code is below;

Public Sub GetBitmapImageData(PB As PictureBox)
Dim Pic() As Byte
Dim sa As SAFEARRAY2D
Dim bmp As BITMAP
Dim StartArrayLeft As Long
Dim StartArrayTop As Long
Dim x As Long
Dim y As Long
Dim Pos As Long
Dim NewImage As Long

    
    
    'Copy The Image
    GetObjectAPI PB.Picture, Len(bmp), bmp
    
    'Create Some storage space of the right size
    With sa
        .cbElements = 1
        .cDims = 2
        .Bounds(0).lLbound = 0
        .Bounds(0).cElements = bmp.bmHeight
        .Bounds(1).lLbound = 0
        .Bounds(1).cElements = bmp.bmWidthBytes
        .pvData = bmp.bmBits
    End With
    
    'Now get the data
    CopyMemory ByVal VarPtrArray(Pic), VarPtr(sa), 4
  
    'Now Grab Up until the end
    ReDim ImagePixelData(bmp.bmHeight, bmp.bmWidth)
    
    For y = 0 To bmp.bmHeight - 1 'To 0 Step -1
        'Initialise Pos
        Pos = 0
        For x = 0 To bmp.bmWidth - 1
            ImagePixelData(bmp.bmHeight - y, x).B = Pic(Pos, y)
            ImagePixelData(bmp.bmHeight - y, x).G = Pic(Pos + 1, y)
            ImagePixelData(bmp.bmHeight - y, x).R = Pic(Pos + 2, y)
            
            Randomize
            Pic(Pos, y) = Rnd * 255
            
            'Increment to next pixel
            Pos = Pos + 3
        Next x
    Next y
    
    'Delete Array to clear it
    CopyMemory ByVal VarPtrArray(Pic), 0&, 4

    
End Sub

Does anyone know how I can convert this manipulate the image field instead of the picture field? It appears that the image field is not a bitmap style format. I cant actually find what type or format its in. If I could get the raw data from the image field then I would be able to make adjustments.

Failing that does anyone know how to convert the image property into the picture property?

I hope this post makes some sort of sense, I really cant think straight after trying all sorts of API stuff.

[Milk]

As far as I understand an objects Image is a wrapper for a GDI DDB (Device Dependent Bitmap). An objects Picture is a wrapper for a GDI DIB (Device Independant Bitmap).

DIBs are owned by the system so you can mess with them directly using a safearray hack. DDBs are owned by the device and can't be messed with directly. GDI functions can work with either. DDBs are faster than DIBs.

Edit:

Dim OBmp As IPictureDisp
Set OBmp = Object.Image
'or
Object.Picture = Object.Image

[BodwadUK]

Oh cool thanks that info is really helpful, its a nightmare trying to find anything out about the image property. Its structure etc is a mystery

I have found a method using the SetDIBits and GetDIBits API. These are used on a bitmap created in the API that has the image Blt'ed to it. I will post the code once I manage to finalise it