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FastPixel - A much faster alternative to Bitmap.SetPixel

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15 Aug 2006CPOL 114.1K   3K   43   24
Ever wanted something faster than SetPixel? Well, you've found it.

Sample Image - screenShot.jpg

Introduction

I have been working on some graphics code lately, and have been quite irritated with SetPixel and its performance overheads. There is an alternative though: lock the bitmap and interact directly with an array of bytes each representing R, G, or B (and sometimes A, depending on whether it's an alpha bitmap or not).

Usage

VB
Dim fp As New FastPixel(image)
fp.Lock()
fp.SetPixel(x, y, Color.Green)
fp.Unlock(True)

What I've learnt

  • Using Bitmap.Width or Bitmap.Height during an intense operation is very slow, because GdipGetImageWidth (or GdipGetImageHeight) is used to retrieve the value, and it isn't cached.
  • Using this class introduces speeds over 20 times faster than using SetPixel, on average.

Conclusion

Use the class!

Sorry about the length of this article, but there isn't much to explain. It's quite basic, and I just wanted to get it out there so people could use it :>

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


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Comments and Discussions

 
QuestionSmall Correction Pin
v_wheeler13-Apr-18 12:54
professionalv_wheeler13-Apr-18 12:54 
QuestionFaster Still Pin
v_wheeler13-Apr-18 12:19
professionalv_wheeler13-Apr-18 12:19 
GeneralVery usefull piece of code Pin
nmajor21-Apr-08 23:26
nmajor21-Apr-08 23:26 
QuestionWould like to use Fast Pixel but...why do I get this error? Pin
led1-Apr-08 12:23
led1-Apr-08 12:23 
GeneralGreat code... but there may be an issue Pin
Stimphy17-Jan-07 8:36
Stimphy17-Jan-07 8:36 
GeneralCounterpart code in MFC/GDI... [modified] Pin
Jun Du6-Jan-07 2:28
Jun Du6-Jan-07 2:28 
GeneralA C# code translation of this utility Pin
ratamoa19-Oct-06 10:43
ratamoa19-Oct-06 10:43 
GeneralRe: A C# code translation of this utility Pin
Christian Graus19-Oct-06 10:55
protectorChristian Graus19-Oct-06 10:55 
GeneralRe: A C# code translation of this utility Pin
AndrewVos19-Oct-06 23:31
AndrewVos19-Oct-06 23:31 
Err, the point of this code is to create something faster than Bitmap.GetPixel/Bitmap.SetPixel.

I think it's far succeeded it's requirement.

startmenuex.com
GeneralRe: A C# code translation of this utility Pin
AndrewVos19-Oct-06 23:40
AndrewVos19-Oct-06 23:40 
Question1 bit conversion? Pin
beckerben23-Aug-06 2:59
beckerben23-Aug-06 2:59 
AnswerRe: 1 bit conversion? [modified] Pin
Alex@UEA24-Aug-06 0:04
Alex@UEA24-Aug-06 0:04 
GeneralRe: 1 bit conversion? Pin
Alex@UEA24-Aug-06 0:19
Alex@UEA24-Aug-06 0:19 
GeneralRe: 1 bit conversion? Pin
beckerben24-Aug-06 2:00
beckerben24-Aug-06 2:00 
GeneralRe: 1 bit conversion? Pin
Alex@UEA24-Aug-06 3:43
Alex@UEA24-Aug-06 3:43 
GeneralCorrection [modified] Pin
567890123416-Aug-06 3:55
567890123416-Aug-06 3:55 
GeneralRe: Correction Pin
AndrewVos16-Aug-06 6:01
AndrewVos16-Aug-06 6:01 
GeneralRe: Correction Pin
567890123416-Aug-06 6:32
567890123416-Aug-06 6:32 
GeneralEasy of use Pin
NormDroid15-Aug-06 23:17
professionalNormDroid15-Aug-06 23:17 
GeneralRe: Easy of use Pin
AndrewVos16-Aug-06 0:25
AndrewVos16-Aug-06 0:25 
GeneralRe: Ease of use Pin
Dustin Metzgar16-Aug-06 2:46
Dustin Metzgar16-Aug-06 2:46 
GeneralRe: Ease of use Pin
anomaly25-Oct-06 20:06
anomaly25-Oct-06 20:06 
GeneralRe: Easy of use Pin
Axel Rietschin16-Aug-06 0:46
professionalAxel Rietschin16-Aug-06 0:46 
GeneralRe: Easy of use Pin
NormDroid16-Aug-06 0:54
professionalNormDroid16-Aug-06 0:54 

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