Converting a bitmap to a byte array

using a memory stream

This just asks the .Save() method to save the bytes to a memory stream, then you can get the written bytes to the stream:

 

// Bitmap bytes have to be created via a direct memory copy of the bitmap
        private byte[] BmpToBytes_MemStream(Bitmap bmp)
        {
            MemoryStream ms = new MemoryStream();
            // Save to memory using the Jpeg format
            bmp.Save(ms, ImageFormat.Jpeg);

            // read to end
            byte[] bmpBytes = ms.GetBuffer();
            bmp.Dispose();
            ms.Close();

            return bmpBytes;
        }

 

converting that back to a bitmap is easy.

 

//Bitmap bytes have to be created using Image.Save()
private Image BytesToImg (byte[] bmpBytes)
{
    MemoryStream ms = new MemoryStream(bmpBytes);
    Image img = Image.FromStream(ms);
    // Do NOT close the stream!
    
    return img;
}

 

from:http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=358917