Creating dynamic images in ASP.NET

You might know that creating images in ASP was not possible without some sort of third party component or some plug-in to the browser or server. Many websites bought Macromedia Generator which could together with ASP create nice images on the server and then send them to the browser. But now with .NET and the new version of ASP.NET it has become embarassingly simple for everyone.

You might know that creating images in ASP was not possible without some sort of third party component or some plug-in to the browser or server. Many websites bought Macromedia Generator which could together with ASP create nice images on the server and then send them to the browser. But now with Microsoft.NET and the new version of ASP ASP.NET it has become embarassingly simple for everyone (if you only have ASP, then I’ve included links to some websites that make server-side objects for you to use).

In ASP.NET the namespaces section is crucial. With the right namespaces we are able to call and use properties and functions that is necessary for this
code to work. Please view comments in the code.

<%@ Page Language="VB" ContentType="image/jpeg" %>
<%@ import Namespace="System.Drawing" %>
<%@ import Namespace="System.Drawing.Imaging" %>
<%@ import Namespace="System.Drawing.Drawing2D" %>
<%
Response.Clear( )

'Set height and width of the image
Dim intheight As Integer = 400
Dim intwidth As Integer = 150

Dim bmpimage As new Bitmap(intwidth, intheight,
PixelFormat.Format24bppRgb)
Dim objimage as Graphics = Graphics.FromImage(bmpimage)

'Set alias and color to fill with
objimage.SmoothingMode = SmoothingMode.AntiAlias
objimage.Clear(Color.LightBlue)

'Set properties of the lines...
objimage.DrawRectangle(Pens.White,1,1,intwidth-3,intheight-3)
objimage.DrawRectangle(Pens.Black,1,1,intwidth,intheight)

 'Set text; what text, font and where to write it (two axis).
 objimage.DrawString("Kick-Ass!!!", _
New Font("Arial", 12, FontStyle.italic), _
SystemBrushes.WindowText, New PointF(30,50))
objimage.DrawString("Search and see", _
New Font("Arial", 12, FontStyle.italic), _
SystemBrushes.WindowText, New PointF(25,75))
objimage.DrawString("All .NET", _
New Font("Arial", 12, FontStyle.italic), _
SystemBrushes.WindowText, New PointF(35,150))
objimage.DrawString("www.ngcode.com", _
New Font("Arial", 8, FontStyle.Bold), _
SystemBrushes.WindowText, New PointF(20,200))

 'Display the image as a jpg
 bmpIMAGE.Save(Response.OutputStream, ImageFormat.Jpeg)
objimage.Dispose( )
bmpIMAGE.Dispose( )

Response.End( )

%>

Other recommended sites if you have ASP.NET

• (MSDN) Create Snazzy Web
  Charts and Graphics On the Fly with the .NET Framework by Scott Mitchell
• (DotJunkies) Creating graphics
  on-the-fly in ASP.NET by Eric Neff
• (ASP Alliance) Dynamic
  ASP.NET Text Images by Chris Garrett

Other recommended sites if you only have ASP:

• (ServerObjects) An
  AspImage component – US$ 69.95
• (WebsuperGoo) The Image
  Glue component – US$ 299
• (PowerWeb) Image 2-D component
  - US$ 149? (It is a little
  unclear)