First launched in 2001, csImageFile has proved to be a powerful server side image editing tool at a competitive price. Over time we have made improvments in line with customer requests to provide the functionality that is needed for graphic processing with ASP, and other COM enabled environments running on a Windows platform, such as Cold Fusion.
csImageFile can perform the simple but important resize functions for producing dynamic thumbnails or resizing images following a user upload. Text can be added to images to provide annotations. The merging functions allow one image to be placed on top of another and transparency options allow watermarks to be created. Support for transparency includes alpha channels in PNGs as well as single colour transparency in GIFs. There are simple drawing functions so that lines and shapes can be drawn onto an existing image, or a new image can be created. Image enhancements include brightness, contrast, saturation, sharpen, blur and greyscale. Image manipulation functions include flip, rotate and crop.
Most of the image file formats used on the web are supported, and conversions can be made between them. To convert between images simply load the image in one format and save in another. CMYK images are automatically converted to RGB. Multi page TIFs are supported and individual pages can be extracted or saved back to the TIF.
Resizing images "on the fly" has two main uses. One is to display thumbnails without having to produce a separate image in advance. This can be useful when working with large picture galleries, or when the displayed images may change frequently. The other is to be able to resize user submitted images and file uploads. csImageFile can read images straight from our file upload component, csASPUpload.
The image joining and editing features allow the web developer to generate graphics dynamically. We have some examples in our demonstration area showing how a counter can be made either by joining images or by writing onto a predefined image. There is also an example of how a chess board can be constructed by adding the pieces to an empty board.
csImageFile can import and export data as binary streams as well as files. This makes it compatible with databases, and also with our csASPUpload component. There is a sample application using both components showing JPG images captured, resized and saved to a database. Output can be sent straight to a browser using the Response.BinaryWrite method in ASP.
Most of the IPTC fields can be read and edited with csImageFile. These fields are related to the "File Info" text that can be saved with Adobe Photoshop. The .FFO and .XMP file formats for saving the File Info text separate from an image are also supported. There is a downloadable sample application showing how to display and edit IPTC properties in a JPEG. The EXIF data recorded by digital cameras can be extracted from JPG files and preserved when an edited file is saved. The EXIF data can be edited if required.
Support has now been added to preserve embedded ICC Colour Profiles in JPEG and TIFF images.
Images can be exported to PDF format, including multi page PDF documents, allowing a conversion from many common image formats to PDF. If you require more advanced PDF functionality we recommend using the PDFBuilderASP component from Ciansoft.
The trial version is fully functional (up to the expiry date) allowing the component to be tested completely before deciding to buy the licensed version.
All the methods and properties are fully described in the Online Manual ( HTML or PDF ).
For a selection of demos, examples and tutorials using csImageFile in ASP - Click Here.
For Cold Fusion examples - Click Here.
csImageFile can be used with Visual Basic but we have an OCX control, csXImage that is usually more appropriate.
Click Here for some info on using csImageFile with ASP.NET.
Some downloadable examples of using csImageFile:
- ASP
- Simple Resize - code for resizing an image to fit a box and for displaying thumbnails from a directory.
- Upload to Database and Resize - example of using csASPUpload and MS Access.
- Upload to File and Resize - example of using csASPUpload and saving to disk.
- Simple Counter - a simple graphical counter.
- File Info - an example of reading and editing JPEG meta data. (ASP version)
- Photo Gallery - Creating a gallery of thumbnails.
- Multipage TIFFs - an example showing how to view pages in a multipage TIFF.
- Form Verification - Creating an image of text to verify user input.
- Cold Fusion
- Simple Resize - an example of resizing to fit a box. (Cold Fusion version)
- File Info - an example of reading and editing JPEG meta data. (Cold Fusion version)
Existing users can upgrade to the latest version - Click for details.