Get RAW Bitmap Data from a file

  • Thread starter Thread starter RB0135
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R

RB0135

Hi All,

I have some Windows BMP, 1BPP, monochrome files that I need to get the
raw data from to load a graphics buffer on a Roll Printer (which I
know can be done). Lets forget about the Roll Printer in this equation
as I am not sure I am getting the correct "raw" image from the file.

However, when I print what I think is the raw data, I get the image
size, but the information within the image looks nothing like it
should be, and looks like it is an out of sync TV, or interlaced not
progressive. But, the image itself is unreadable, nothing looking even
remotely to the original.

What I need to verify (or am asking for help) is to get the raw data
out of the bitmap file correctly. Here is some code that I use to get
the raw data (I think).

Dim bmBitmap As Image = New Bitmap("test.bmp")
(also tried Dim bmBitmap As bitmap= New Bitmap("test.bmp") )

Dim raw As System.Drawing.Imaging.BitmapData = Nothing 'used to get
attributes of the image
Dim rawImage() As Byte = Nothing 'the image as a byte[]

Try
'Freeze the image in memory
raw = bmbitmap.LockBits(New Rectangle(0, 0,
bmbitmap.Width, bmbitmap.Height),
System.Drawing.Imaging.ImageLockMode.ReadOnly,
Imaging.PixelFormat.Format1bppIndexed)

Dim size As Integer = raw.Height * raw.Stride
rawImage = New Byte(size - 1)

'Copy the image into the byte()
System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.Copy(raw.Scan0,
rawImage, 0, size)
Finally
If Not raw Is Nothing Then
'Unfreeze the memory for the image
bmbitmap.UnlockBits(raw)
End If
End Try


The rawimage is what I try to print.

Am I doing something wrong or am I missing some steps.

I have also tried to load the RAWIMAGE returned bytes in a PictureBox,
with the following code

Dim ms As New IO.MemoryStream(rawimage)
pbPicture.Image = Image.FromStream(ms) <-- errors here

but get the "PARAMETER IS INCORRECT" error message, and I know from
other posts, this is usually because the BYTE data is invalid (or not
raw), although the byte length returned is 2880 bytes, which does
equate to the width*height*8 of the image.

So, to state again, I just need the raw bytes that makeup the image
within the bmp files.. I am sure I am close, but I am also sure I
might be missing out on one step.

Any help/links most appreciated.

Thanks,
Robert
 
RB0135 said:
Dim rawImage() As Byte = Nothing 'the image as a byte[]
Click to expand...

You don't have to set it to Nothing because it is Nothing as you have
not assigned anything yet.
rawImage = New Byte(size - 1)
Click to expand...

Can't compile this. The syntax above does not work. ReDim has to be
used.

but get the "PARAMETER IS INCORRECT" error message, and I know from
other posts, this is usually because the BYTE data is invalid (or
not raw), although the byte length returned is 2880 bytes, which
does equate to the width*height*8 of the image.
Click to expand...


I'm not sure...:
You try Image.FromStream but you only have the pixel data without header
bytes. If you wanted to use Image.FromStream, you would have to use a
BinaryReader and read the whole file because only the pixel data is
insufficient. Or you have to open the Filestream and pass it to
Image.Fromstream directly. However, why don't you then use
Image.FromFile or New Bitmap("test.bmp") ? If you need pixel data,
LockBits is the right way, but what do you do want to do with the byte
array in variable rawImage? The pixel data is in it, but that's not
sufficient to be used with Image.FromStream.


Armin
 
Thanks for your reply..

The code I used and presented in the original post was from the MS
Robotic Lib SDK and does compile OK..

I understand your point about the redim, but mine compiles fine
without it...

The part of code using the MemoryStream and a picture box, was another
Idea I was testing to get the bytes, but it is not relevant to the
overall issue.

The various bits of code are tests I am trying to do to get PIXEL DATA
in the right format and the right data from the BMP file.

The data is transferred to the Roll Printer in Bytes, where it
interperets it. Each bit is on or off.

All this is explained in the original post.

Thats what I need the rawimage data to be.. A bit representation of
the image from the BMP file.. I dont want the header information,
just, I suppose, what the image looks like in Bytes.

Does this make sense?


From your reply, the lockbits is the right way to go, but I am not
getting the representation needed from the file.

I have read that BMP's store the data from bottom to top, left to
right (or similar).. Is this the case?

Do I need more processing of the rawimage data to get the
representation of the image from it?

Thanks again,
Robert


RB0135 said:
Dim rawImage() As Byte = Nothing  'the image as a byte[]
Click to expand...

You don't have to set it to Nothing because it is Nothing as you have
not assigned anything yet.
           rawImage = New Byte(size - 1)
Click to expand...

Can't compile this. The syntax above does not work. ReDim has to be
used.
butgetthe "PARAMETER IS INCORRECT" error message, and I know from
other posts, this is usually because the BYTEdatais invalid (or
notraw), although the byte length returned is 2880 bytes, which
does equate to the width*height*8 of the image.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure...:
You try Image.FromStream but you only have the pixeldatawithout header
bytes. If you wanted to use Image.FromStream, you would have to use a
BinaryReader and read the wholefilebecause only the pixeldatais
insufficient. Or you have to open the Filestream and pass it to
Image.Fromstream directly. However, why don't you then use
Image.FromFile or   NewBitmap("test.bmp") ? If you need pixeldata,
LockBits is the right way, but what do you do want to do with the byte
array in variable rawImage? The pixeldatais in it, but that's not
sufficient to be used with Image.FromStream.

Armin
Click to expand...
 
RB0135 said:
Thanks for your reply..

The code I used and presented in the original post was from the MS
Robotic Lib SDK and does compile OK..

I understand your point about the redim, but mine compiles fine
without it...
Click to expand...

Strange. I tried it in VB 2008 Express and, as I expected, the syntax is
not valid because, in VB, in opposite to C#, there is no "[]" for
arrays. Therefore, "New Byte(size -1)" is interpreted as a constructor,
but a Byte does not have such a constructor.

Are you really using VB.Net? ;-)

The part of code using the MemoryStream and a picture box, was
another Idea I was testing to get the bytes, but it is not relevant
to the overall issue.

The various bits of code are tests I am trying to do to get PIXEL
DATA in the right format and the right data from the BMP file.

The data is transferred to the Roll Printer in Bytes, where it
interperets it. Each bit is on or off.

All this is explained in the original post.
Click to expand...

Not this way, nevertheless I got it now.
Thats what I need the rawimage data to be.. A bit representation of
the image from the BMP file.. I dont want the header information,
just, I suppose, what the image looks like in Bytes.

Does this make sense?
Click to expand...

Yes, but you don't show how you pass it to the roll printer.
From your reply, the lockbits is the right way to go, but I am not
getting the representation needed from the file.
Click to expand...

How do you check this? I don't see any code that prints anything.
I have read that BMP's store the data from bottom to top, left to
right (or similar).. Is this the case?

Do I need more processing of the rawimage data to get the
representation of the image from it?
Click to expand...

I can only guess that you expect one byte per pixel, but you specified
Imaging.PixelFormat.Format1bppIndexed as the format which means one bit
per pixel (1 byte = 8 pixel). I don't know how you process the data in
rawImage. In addition, IIRC, there is no indexed bitmap support in a
certain area that I unfortunatelly don't remember currently.

It's always good to have a look here:
http://www.bobpowell.net/
In the GDI+ FAQs, there is an example of creating a 1bpp image. There is
also something about directly accessing pixel data. Maybe this helps in
any way, too.

And we have m.p.d.framework.drawing.

Though, I'm still interested in how you really process 'rawImage'.


Armin
 
Armin,

Thanks again for your reply.

Ok.. here is some more information. There is too much code to paste
here on the printing and I didnt think at the time that was all that
relevant, when I am sure I was NOT pulling the correct data out:

I looked at my code again and realised after the line rawImage = New
Byte(size - 1) , I had to braces {} after the code, which was left
over from the C# conversion. However, this made my source compile.
When I removed them, and used the Redim, I got the same result anyway.

The Roll Printer is an Epson TM-T88 and a Posiflex PP7000 (The
Posiflex uses the Epson command set). Both are giving the same result,
so that is why I am also presuming I have the wrong raw data of the
Bitmap

I am using code from this MS Knowledgebase that allows printing RAW
data to the printer, rather than a driver (there isnt a driver for
these Roll printers and using the Generic/text driver does not allow
all characters to be transmitted to it). Here is the link:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=322090

To get the information to the printer, I need to send it the Define
Graphic Download command:

RawPrinterHelper.SendStringToPrinter(pDocket.PrinterSettings.PrinterName.ToString(),
Chr(29) & "*" & Chr(bmBitmap.Width / 8) & Chr(bmBitmap.Height / 8))
(this routine is in the above KB article, and the Chr(29) command is
the Epson command to turn on Define Graphic Download).

Here is a section of the manual for the Epson:
GS * x y d1 ... d(x * y * 8) defines a downloaded bit image using x *
8 dots in the horizontal direction
and y * 8 dots in the vertical direction. Once a downloaded bit image
has been defined, it is available
until another definition is made; ESC & or ESC @ is executed; the
printer is reset; or the power is
turned off. When this command is executed, the user-defined characters
are cleared. The default
setting is no downloaded bit image defined.

Back to my program.......

Once I have the rawimage Byte array, I am sending this through that
Epson Command, via this command from the KB Article:

' Allocate some unmanaged memory for those bytes.
pUnmanagedBytes = Marshal.AllocCoTaskMem(rawimage.Length)
' Copy the managed byte array into the unmanaged array.
Marshal.Copy(byBytes, 0, pUnmanagedBytes, image.Length)


RawPrinterHelper.SendBytesToPrinter(pDocket.PrinterSettings.PrinterName.ToString(),
pUnmanagedBytes, rawimage.Length)

Of course, I get the right sized image being printed on the printer,
but looks NOTHING like it should. As I mentioned, it just seems like a
lot of lines (within the size of the image) like an out of sync TV
picture...


This is the example they give:

x=16: y=5
PRINT #1, CHR$(&H1D);"*";CHR$(x);CHR$(y);
FOR i=1 TO x*y*8
READ a$: d=VAL("&H"+a$)
PRINT #1, CHR$(d);
NEXT i
PRINT #1, CHR$(&H1D);"/";CHR$(0);CHR$(&HA);¬ Normal
END

DATA FF,FF,FF,FF,FF,FF,FF,FF,FF,FF,C0,00,00,00,03,C0
DATA 00,00,00,03,CF,FF,FF,FF,F3,CF,FF,FF,FF,F3,CF,FF
DATA FF,FF,F3,CF,FF,FF,FF,F3,CF,FF,FF,FF,F3,CF,C0,FC
DATA 03,F3,CF,C0,FC,03,F3,CF,C0,FC,03,F3,CF,C0,FC,03
DATA F3,CF,C0,FC,03,F3,CF,C0,FC,03,F3,CF,C0,FC,03,F3
DATA CF,C0,FC,03,F3,CF,C0,FC,03,F3,CF,C0,00,03,F3,C0
DATA 00,00,00,03,C0,FF,00,03,F3,C3,FF,C0,03,F3,C7,FF
DATA E0,03,F3,C7,FF,F0,03,F3,CF,FF,F8,03,F3,CF,FF,FC
DATA 03,F3,CF,E3,FE,03,F3,CF,C1,FF,03,F3,CF,C0,FF,83
DATA F3,CF,C0,7F,C7,F3,CF,C0,3F,FF,F3,CF,C0,1F,FF,F3
DATA CF,C0,0F,FF,E3,CF,C0,07,FF,E3,CF,C0,03,FF,C3,C0
DATA 00,00,FF,03,C0,00,00,00,03,C0,3F,FF,FC,03,C0,FF
DATA FF,FF,03,C3,FF,FF,FF,C3,C7,FF,FF,FF,E3,C7,FF,FF
DATA FF,E3,CF,FF,FF,FF,F3,CF,F0,00,0F,F3,CF,C0,00,03
DATA F3,CF,C0,00,03,F3,CF,C0,00,03,F3,CF,C0,00,03,F3
DATA CF,C0,00,03,F3,CF,C0,00,03,F3,CF,C0,00,03,F3,CF
DATA C0,00,03,F3,CF,C0,00,03,F3,C0,00,00,00,03,C0,00
DATA 00,00,73,C0,00,00,03,C3,C0,00,00,1E,03,C0,00,00
DATA 70,03,C0,00,03,C0,03,C0,00,1E,00,03,C0,00,78,00
DATA 03,C0,03,C0,00,03,C0,0E,00,00,03,C0,78,00,00,03
DATA C3,C0,00,00,03,CE,00,00,00,03,C0,00,00,00,03,CF
DATA FF,FF,FF,F3,CF,FF,FF,FF,F3,CF,FF,FF,FF,F3,CF,FF
DATA FF,FF,F3,CF,FF,FF,FF,F3,CF,FF,FF,FF,F3,CF,C0,0F
DATA C0,03,CF,C0,0F,C0,03,CF,C0,0F,C0,03,CF,C0,0F,C0
DATA 03,CF,C0,0F,C0,03,CF,E0,1F,C0,03,CF,FF,FF,C0,03
DATA CF,FF,FF,CO,03,C7,FF,FF,80,03,C7,FF,FF,80,03,C1
DATA FF,FE,00,03,C0,3F,F0,00,03,C0,00,00,00,03,C0,0F
DATA FF,F0,03,C0,FF,FF,FF,03,C3,FF,FF,FF,C3,C7,FF,FF
DATA FF,E3,C7,FF,FF,FF,E3,CF,FF,FF,FF,F3,CF,F0,00,0F
DATA F3,CF,C0,00,03,F3,CF,C0,00,03,F3,CF,C0,00,03,F3
DATA CF,C0,00,03,F3,CF,C0,00,03,F3,CF,C0,00,03,F3,CF
DATA C0,00,03,F3,CF,F0,00,0F,F3,CF,FF,FF,FF,F3,C7,FF
DATA FF,FF,E3,C7,FF,FF,FF,E3,C3,FF,FF,FF,C3,C0,FF,FF
DATA FF,03,C0,0F,FF,F0,03,C0,00,00,00,03,C0,FF,00,03
DATA F3,C3,FF,C0,03,F3,C7,FF,E0,03,F3,C7,FF,F0,03,F3
DATA CF,FF,F8,03,F3,CF,FF,FC,03,F3,CF,E3,FE,03,F3,CF
DATA C1,FF,03,F3,CF,C0,FF,83,F3,CF,C0,7F,C7,F3,CF,C0
DATA 3F,FF,F3,CF,C0,1F,FF,F3,CF,C0,0F,FF,E3,CF,C0,07
DATA FF,E3,CF,C0,03,FF,C3,C0,00,00,FF,C3,C0,00,00,00
DATA 03,C0,00,00,00,03,FF,FF,FF,FF,FF,FF,FF,FF,FF,FF

I cant show you the graphic it prints. I can certainly email you the
whole manual in PDF..

The bitmap that I am using has come from POSIFLEX and is what they
state to test for Printing to the printer.

Now, I understand the 1bpp, but it seems the printer takes one byte
per 8 pixels, so I was presuming that the RAW data is in the correct
format. Also, when running the LockBits, it only allows me to use the
format1bpp parameter. Any other format, even DONTCARE fails with
INVALID PARAMETER.

You mentioned you dont know what I do with the rawimage data. As I
mention here, I send it to the printer, but I am wondering and asking,
do I need to process it further before sending it to the printer

I will check the link you gave me.. much appreciated.

If you can offer anymore assistance, or need extra information, please
let me know.

Thanks,
Robert

RB0135 said:
Thanks for your reply..
Click to expand...
The code I used and presented in the original post was from the MS
Robotic Lib SDK and does compile OK..
Click to expand...
I understand your point about the redim, but mine compiles fine
without it...
Click to expand...

Strange. I tried it in VB 2008 Express and, as I expected, the syntax is
not valid because, in VB, in opposite to C#, there is no "[]" for
arrays. Therefore, "New Byte(size -1)" is interpreted as a constructor,
but a Byte does not have such a constructor.

Are you really using VB.Net? ;-)
The part of code using the MemoryStream and a picture box, was
another Idea I was testing togetthe bytes, but it is not relevant
to the overall issue.
Click to expand...
The various bits of code are tests I am trying to do togetPIXEL
DATAin the right format and the rightdatafrom the BMPfile.
Click to expand...
Thedatais transferred to the Roll Printer in Bytes, where it
interperets it. Each bit is on or off.
Click to expand...
All this is explained in the original post.
Click to expand...

Not this way, nevertheless I got it now.
Thats what I need the rawimagedatato be.. A bit representation of
the image from the BMPfile.. I dont want the header information,
just, I suppose, what the image looks like in Bytes.
Click to expand...
Does this make sense?
Click to expand...

Yes, but you don't show how you pass it to the roll printer.
From your reply, the lockbits is the right way to go, but I am not
getting the representation needed from thefile.
Click to expand...

How do you check this? I don't see any code that prints anything.
I have read that BMP's store thedatafrom bottom to top, left to
right (or similar).. Is this the case?
Click to expand...
Do I need more processing of the rawimagedatatogetthe
representation of the image from it?
Click to expand...

I can only guess that you expect one byte per pixel, but you specified
Imaging.PixelFormat.Format1bppIndexed as the format which means one bit
per pixel (1 byte = 8 pixel). I don't know how you process thedatain
rawImage. In addition, IIRC, there is no indexedbitmapsupport in a
certain area that I unfortunatelly don't remember currently.

It's always good to have a look here:http://www.bobpowell.net/
In the GDI+ FAQs, there is an example of creating a 1bpp image. There is
also something about directly accessing pixeldata. Maybe this helps in
any way, too.

And we have m.p.d.framework.drawing.

Though, I'm still interested in how you really process 'rawImage'.

Armin
Click to expand...
 
RB0135 said:
I cant show you the graphic it prints. I can certainly email you the
whole manual in PDF..
Click to expand...

Good idea. Couldn't download it because at the Epson site a login is
required, and at the Posiflex site I wasn't able to find a complete
manual.
If you can offer anymore assistance, or need extra information,
please let me know.
Click to expand...

The manual would really be nice. I did printing escape sequences some
years ago, so I think can handle it quickly. Please send to: az dot
no_spam at freenet dot de (like the re-address, just insert an "_")


Armin
 
FYI, the problem has been solved. The printer expected the pixel data
column by column, not row by row, which was not documented. After
finding this out, we had to write a function that changes the
orientation of the retrieved bitmap's pixel data (which was not simple
because of 1bpp format).

So, if anybody has the same printer and problem, this is the answer. :)


Armin
 
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