docs-desktop/dotnet-desktop-guide/framework/winforms/controls/how-to-load-a-picture-using-the-designer-windows-forms.md

title, description, ms.date, helpviewer_keywords, ms.assetid

title	description	ms.date	helpviewer_keywords	ms.assetid
How to: Load a Picture Using the Designer	Learn how to use the Windows Forms PictureBox control to load and display a picture on a form at design time.	03/30/2017	picture formats images [Windows Forms], displaying on Windows Forms pictures [Windows Forms], displaying forms [Windows Forms], displaying images PictureBox control [Windows Forms], adding pictures	4dc7b973-afb1-4276-8322-20825af96655

How to: Load a Picture Using the Designer (Windows Forms)

With the Windows Forms xref:System.Windows.Forms.PictureBox control, you can load and display a picture on a form at design time by setting the xref:System.Windows.Forms.PictureBox.Image%2A property to a valid picture. The following table shows the acceptable file types.

Type	File name extension
Bitmap	.bmp
Icon	.ico
GIF	.gif
Metafile	.wmf
JPEG	.jpg

To display a picture at design time

1. Draw a xref:System.Windows.Forms.PictureBox control on a form.

2. In the Properties window, select the xref:System.Windows.Forms.PictureBox.Image%2A property, then select the ellipsis button to display the Open dialog box.

3. If you're looking for a specific file type (for example, .gif files), select it in the Files of type box.

4. Select the file you want to display.

To clear the picture at design time

1. In the Properties window, select the xref:System.Windows.Forms.PictureBox.Image%2A property. Right-click the small thumbnail image that appears to the left of the name of the image object, and then choose Reset.

See also

• xref:System.Windows.Forms.PictureBox
• PictureBox Control Overview
• How to: Modify the Size or Placement of a Picture at Run Time
• How to: Set Pictures at Run Time
• PictureBox Control