Convert BMP to PNG in memory for Clipboard pasting in .Net

Question

This similar question's answers all require the file to be saved. However, I'm trying to convert the file and then copy it to the clipboard.

How can I convert a Bitmap (or any image) to a PNG without saving it to the file system?

Update:
I'm trying to paste the image into an application (in this case Evernote). When you copy an image into the clipboard (e.g. via the browser), it remembers its image format and when you paste it in, it will create an image with the same exact format. For example, if you copy a PNG, it will paste a PNG. If you copy a JPG, it will paste a JPG, etc.

I am trying to take whatever image is currently in the clipboard, scale it to the size I want, and then keep it in the clipboard as a PNG, such that when it is pasted into Evernote, it will create a PNG.

When I copy a PNG image in my browser, I see the following formats: HTML FORMAT, CF_BITMAP, CF_DIB, CF_DIBV5. I'm not sure which of these Evernote is using for pasting. I was under the impression that it was CF_BITMAP, but after reading the comments below, I guess it's using one of the other formats.

How can I place an image in the clipboard which will be treated as a PNG when pasted?

Meeker

where do you plan on pasting it? I'm thinking the clipboard doesn't store images in a file format like jpg/png. unless you are planning on pasting it into a directory as a file? – Fanfani

@russau: I updated the question to clarify what I'm trying to do. – Meeker

"When you copy an image into the clipboard (e.g. via the browser), it remembers its image format" - This is completely false. You are probably confusing this because some applications use a png memory stream to compensate for the fact the standard Windows clipboard has no transparency support. – Quieten

Answer 1

Save the Bitmap to a MemoryStream

byte[] result = null;
using (MemoryStream stream = new MemoryStream())
{
    bitmap.Save(stream, ImageFormat.Png);
    result = stream.ToArray();
}

Fanfani

Could you please include the code necessary to convert it to an Image? (I'm trying to figure this out myself right now and I'll post it as a comment so you can copy/paste) – Meeker

My best guess is Image result = Image.FromStream(stream); instead of the result = ... line. If you agree, could you please update the answer? – Meeker

@eagle: Am Image is an Image. It's only a Bmp/Png/Jpg/etc when it is written to a stream (file or memory). – Govea

@eagle: You already have a Bitmap. Bitmap derives from Image, so it’s already an Image to begin with. – Guyenne

@James, @Timwi: I updated the question to clarify what I'm trying to do. – Meeker

Byte arrays like png need to be put on the clipboard as MemoryStream anyway; no need to convert it to array. – Quieten