Storing WPF Image Resources

Question

For a WPF application which will need 10 - 20 small icons and images for illustrative purposes, is storing these in the assembly as embedded resources the right way to go?

If so, how do I specify in XAML that an Image control should load the image from an embedded resource?

Answer 1

If you will use the image in multiple places, then it's worth loading the image data only once into memory and then sharing it between all Image elements.

To do this, create a BitmapSource as a resource somewhere:

<BitmapImage x:Key="MyImageSource" UriSource="../Media/Image.png" /> 

Then, in your code, use something like:

<Image Source="{StaticResource MyImageSource}" /> 

In my case, I found that I had to set the Image.png file to have a build action of Resource rather than just Content. This causes the image to be carried within your compiled assembly.

Answer 2

I found to be the best practice of using images, videos, etc. is:

• Change your files "Build action" to "Content". Be sure to check Copy to build directory.
  • Found on the "Right-Click" menu at the Solution Explorer window.
• Image Source in the following format:
  • "/«YourAssemblyName»;component/«YourPath»/«YourImage.png»"

Example

<Image Source="/WPFApplication;component/Images/Start.png" /> 

Benefits:

• Files are not embedded into the assembly.
  • The Resource Manager will raise some memory overflow problems with too many resources (at build time).
• Can be called between assemblies.