---
title: "How to: Encode a Visual to an Image File"
ms.date: "03/30/2017"
dev_langs: 
  - "csharp"
  - "vb"
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "image files [WPF], encoding from visuals"
  - "encoding image formats [WPF]"
  - "visuals [WPF], encoding to an image file"
ms.assetid: 2036385b-ea47-4d54-8027-5797f52c8149
---
# How to: Encode a Visual to an Image File
This example demonstrates how to encode a <xref:System.Windows.Media.Visual> object into an image file using a <xref:System.Windows.Media.Imaging.RenderTargetBitmap> and a <xref:System.Windows.Media.Imaging.PngBitmapEncoder>.  
  
## Example  
 The <xref:System.Windows.Media.DrawingVisual> is created using a <xref:System.Windows.Media.Imaging.BitmapImage> and <xref:System.Windows.Media.FormattedText> which is rendered to a <xref:System.Windows.Media.Imaging.RenderTargetBitmap>. The rendered bitmap is then used to create a <xref:System.Windows.Media.Imaging.BitmapFrame> which is added to the <xref:System.Windows.Media.Imaging.PngBitmapEncoder> to create a new Portable Network Graphics (PNG) file.  
  
 [!code-csharp[ImagingSnippetGallery_procedural_snip#RTBEncodeInline1](~/samples/snippets/csharp/VS_Snippets_Wpf/ImagingSnippetGallery_procedural_snip/CSharp/RenderTargetBitmapExample_Encode.cs#rtbencodeinline1)]
 [!code-vb[ImagingSnippetGallery_procedural_snip#RTBEncodeInline1](~/samples/snippets/visualbasic/VS_Snippets_Wpf/ImagingSnippetGallery_procedural_snip/VB/RenderTargetBitmapExample_Encode.vb#rtbencodeinline1)]  
  
 A <xref:System.Windows.Media.Imaging.PngBitmapEncoder> was used in this example but any of the derived <xref:System.Windows.Media.Imaging.BitmapEncoder> objects could have been used to create the image file.  
  
## See also

- <xref:System.Windows.Media.DrawingContext>
- [Imaging Overview](imaging-overview.md)
- [Drawing Objects Overview](drawing-objects-overview.md)
- [Using DrawingVisual Objects](using-drawingvisual-objects.md)