System.Drawing.Common

The System.Drawing.Common package allows .NET Core and .NET 6+ applications to access GDI+ graphics functionality. This package is especially useful for porting .NET Framework applications that rely on the System.Drawing namespace.

Getting Started

To get started with System.Drawing.Common, install it using the NuGet Package Manager, the .NET CLI, or by editing your project file directly.

NOTE: If you are developing a WinForms application, you do not need to install the System.Drawing.Common package separately (to this end, you use the Sdk attribute for the Project element like <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk"> in the .csproj or the .vbproj file and then specify <UseWindowsForms>true</UseWindowsForms>). This package is then automatically included as part of the .NET SDK for WinForms Apps, which means you can start using the System.Drawing namespace right away in your WinForms projects.

Usage

The following examples demonstrate some basic tasks you can accomplish with System.Drawing.Common.

Create a Simple Bitmap and Save it

C#

using System.Drawing;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        using (Bitmap bitmap = new Bitmap(100, 100))
        {
            using (Graphics g = Graphics.FromImage(bitmap))
            {
                g.Clear(Color.Red);
            }
            bitmap.Save("output.bmp");
        }
    }
}

VB

Imports System.Drawing

Module Program
    Sub Main()
        Using bitmap As New Bitmap(100, 100)
            Using g As Graphics = Graphics.FromImage(bitmap)
                g.Clear(Color.Red)
            End Using
            bitmap.Save("output.bmp")
        End Using
    End Sub
End Module

Additional Documentation

For more in-depth tutorials and API references, you can check the following resources:

• NuGet Gallery | System.Drawing.Common
• System.Drawing.Common Namespace | Microsoft Docs
• Drawing with System.Drawing.Common | Microsoft Learn

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