Using Images, Bitmaps, and Metafiles

Windows GDI+ provides the Image class for working with raster images (bitmaps) and vector images (metafiles). The Bitmap class and the Metafile class both inherit from the Image class. The Bitmap class expands on the capabilities of the Image class by providing additional methods for loading, saving, and manipulating raster images. The Metafile class expands on the capabilities of the Image class by providing additional methods for recording and examining vector images.

The following topics cover the Image, Bitmap, and Metafile classes in more detail:

• Loading and Displaying Bitmaps
• Loading and Displaying Metafiles
• Recording Metafiles
• Cropping and Scaling Images
• Rotating, Reflecting, and Skewing Images
• Using Interpolation Mode to Control Image Quality During Scaling
• Creating Thumbnail Images
• Using a Cached Bitmap to Improve Performance
• Improving Performance by Avoiding Automatic Scaling
• Reading and Writing Metadata