Can the picturebox be used to display vector-based images?

Question

Can the a PictureBox control be used to display vector-based images?

I have read a post from someone claiming that the PictureBox can be used to display vector-based images instead of bitmap images. So the box can be resized and the picture will retain its quality like a vector image should.

So I decided to try it out, although I am looking quality. Is it a problem with my vector images not being fully vector? If this is not possible, is there another way to do this without resorting to WPF?

I'm using VB.NET.

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/397189/how-to-display-vector-graphics-svg-in-a-winforms-application — PlagueEditor, Sep 25 '12 at 15:59

score 7 · Accepted Answer · edited Sep 25 '12 at 21:21

Yes, that's possible. It has be a MetaFile, not a Bitmap. Best displayed by using the Paint() event so it can rescale on the fly as the picture box changes size. Sample code:

Public Class Form1
    Public Sub New()
        InitializeComponent()
        PictureBox1.Dock = DockStyle.Fill
        image = New System.Drawing.Imaging.Metafile(New System.IO.MemoryStream(My.Resources.schoolbus))
    End Sub

    Private Sub PictureBox1_Paint(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs) Handles PictureBox1.Paint
        e.Graphics.DrawImage(image, New Rectangle(Point.Empty, PictureBox1.ClientSize))
    End Sub

    Private Sub PictureBox1_Resize(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles PictureBox1.Resize
        PictureBox1.Invalidate()
    End Sub

    Private image As System.Drawing.Imaging.Metafile

End Class

Where "schoolbus" was a sample .wmf file I added as a resource. The file format is the usual sticking point, there are not that many paint programs still supporting it. You can get one from here.

Thanks again Hans. Im happy to hear I don't need to resort to any third party controls not in the framework. I appreciate that. — user1632018, Sep 26 '12 at 16:16

WSBT · Answer 2 · 2020-12-10T21:05:53.140

3

This is an outdated answer from 2012, Adobe SVG view is no longer supported.

PictureBox does not support vector-based images. If you do not want to use WPF, you might want to download an SVG view control. Here's one from Adobe: http://www.adobe.com/svg/viewer/install/

Once you installed it, the control DLL file should be located at, for example, C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\SVG Viewer 3.0\NPSVG3.dll.

If you add the control on your form, you can load the file as stated below.

AxSVGCtl1.SRC = Filename

Using Adobe's SVG control from .NET shows how to use the SVG control in .NET although it is C# code.

edited Dec 10 '20 at 21:05

answered Sep 25 '12 at 19:15

WSBT

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Thanks for the information. I will keep this in mind in case I end up needing to go this route. – user1632018 Sep 26 '12 at 16:18
1

The Adobe page is now showing "Adobe SVG Viewer Discontinued". – RenniePet Apr 30 '13 at 03:53

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 12 '23 at 19:40

Use this my friend

                                Dim TheMetaImage As System.Drawing.Imaging.Metafile
                                Dim TheStreamContentResult As System.IO.Stream = Nothing
                                Dim MyHttpClient As New HttpClient
                                TheStreamContentResult = Await MyHttpClient.GetStreamAsync(TheTabPicIcon.ImageLocation).ContinueWith(Function(TT)
                                                                                                                                         Return TT.Result
                                                                                                                                     End Function
            )
                                TheMetaImage = New System.Drawing.Imaging.Metafile(TheStreamContentResult)
                                Using MyG As Graphics = Graphics.FromImage(TheTabPicIcon.Image)
                                    MyG.DrawImage(TheMetaImage, New Rectangle(Point.Empty, TheTabPicIcon.ClientSize))
                                End Using

The "TheTabPicIcon" is the picture box, while the SVG file URL stored in TheTabPicIcon.ImageLocation, you can store it anywhere you want.

Best regards

Can the picturebox be used to display vector-based images?

3 Answers3

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