Alternative to BitmapImage to load a PNG

Question

On a WPF project, I need to set a ImageSource property from a local Resource. I am trying to use the following code:

   var bmp = new BitmapImage();
   bmp.BeginInit();
   bmp.UriSource = new Uri("pack://application:,,,/Resources/Identicons/no_user.jpg", UriKind.Absolute);
   bmp.EndInit();
   Avatar = bmp;

Where Avatar is defined before as:

private ImageSource myAvatar;

The problem is that BitmapImage does not support MetaData information, that the source image have (it was created with Paint.net) so it throws a error. The error is the following:

Metadata = 'bmp.Metadata' threw an exception of type 'System.NotSupportedException'

So I believe that I need alternatives to BitmapImage to properly load the desired image.

As a end note, using the same image inside xaml, directly in a "source" property it works fine. Thank you

Build Action 'Resource' didn't work, but 'Embedded Resource' did :) — Yafim Simanovsky, Mar 13 '20 at 18:59
The correct Build Action for assembly resource files (as loaded by Resource File Pack URIs) is *Resource*, not *Embedded Resource*. — Clemens, Apr 09 '21 at 11:06

Clemens · Accepted Answer · 2015-07-29T13:47:49.477

1

Unlike BitmapImage, BitmapFrame supports the Metadata property:

So you may replace

Avatar = new BitmapImage(new Uri(...));

by

Avatar = BitmapFrame.Create(new Uri(...));

From MSDN:

BitmapFrame provides additional functionality not defined by BitmapSource ... BitmapFrame also supports the writing of metadata information by using the Metadata property or the CreateInPlaceBitmapMetadataWriter method.

edited Jul 29 '15 at 13:47

answered Jul 29 '15 at 13:34

Clemens

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Although this seams the correct answer, the return is null (no exception is shown), and I have sure that the image is available. Using: Avatar = BitmapFrame.Create(new Uri("pack://application:,,,/Resources/Identicons/no_user.jpg", UriKind.Absolute)); – Domvs Phi Jul 29 '15 at 14:57
Besides that the UriKind parameter isn't necessary, did you make sure that the image file is part of your Visual Studio project, as mentioned in my comment to your question? – Clemens Jul 29 '15 at 15:56
Yes it is. Is is located as a Resource. I even changed the name to another (wrong name) and a error is thrown about the missing file in that case. – Domvs Phi Jul 29 '15 at 16:00

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 29 '15 at 13:18

As you have the path to the image it can be done by below using Image Control,

XAML

<Image>
    <Image.Source>
        <BitmapImage UriSource="{Binding ImagePath}"></BitmapImage>
    </Image.Source>
</Image>

VM

public ViewerViewModel()// Constructor 
    {
        ImagePath = @"..\Images\Untitled.jpg";// Change the image path based on your input.
    }
    private string _ImagePath = string.Empty;
    public string ImagePath {
        get { return _ImagePath; }
        set { _ImagePath = value; NotifyPropertyChanged(); }
    }

I am adding the ImageSource into a property in a Class, so not Image Control available. Thank you for trying to help. — Domvs Phi, Jul 29 '15 at 15:03

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 29 '15 at 16:32

Problem solved. This was inside a Class with the property:

    private ImageSource myAvatar;
....

    public ImageSource Avatar
    {
        set { myAvatar = Avatar; }
        get { return myAvatar; }
    }

And I was trying to change the Avatar (that sets the myAvatar through the set). I do not understand why, but changing directly the myAvatar works. For example doing:

BitmapSource image = BitmapFrame.Create(new Uri("pack://application:,,,/Resources/Identicons/no_user.jpg", UriKind.Absolute));
myAvatar = image;

Is ok, but:

BitmapSource image = BitmapFrame.Create(new Uri("pack://application:,,,/Resources/Identicons/no_user.jpg", UriKind.Absolute));
Avatar = image;

Always sets Avatar as null. This is a method inside a class. I would appreciate to understand why as it is not clear to me. Thank you.

The property setter should be `set { myAvatar = value; }`. Otherwise the property is always set to the value it already has, i.e. `null`. — Clemens, Jul 29 '15 at 16:54
Correct, and the same Class have more than 10 'set { something = value; }'. Do not know how I missed this one, and I though was related with the image source... Thank you. — Domvs Phi, Jul 29 '15 at 17:30

Alternative to BitmapImage to load a PNG

3 Answers3

XAML

VM