How to read the Color of a Screen Pixel

Question

Okay, I am looking for a function or something that will read the color of a certain pixel on my monitor, and when that color is detected, another function will be enabled. I figure using RGB. All help appreciated. Thank You.

Do you want to monitor the entire desktop or a specific application for this pixel change? — Eric J.
a certain pixel. Like say the pixel at 125, 130 I need it to wait until it detects the RGB of that pixel go to a certain RGB. — Brandon
Why do you need to do this? It seems like there is some sort of underlying reason that if you give us just a bit more information we might be able to give you a better way to achieve the same thing. Are you writing a game and need to determine when two objects collide? Are you trying to figure out if a certain program has started? — Lee
It is for a game, it is two check if it is at a certain screen, and when it is, it starts a function. — Brandon
But you should know what screen the game's at as you're in control of the code... — ChrisF♦

John Gietzen John Gietzen · Accepted Answer · 2009-09-27T17:05:01

This is the most efficient: It grabs a pixel at the location of the cursor, and doesn't rely on only having one monitor.

using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Drawing.Imaging;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Diagnostics;

namespace FormTest
{
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        [DllImport("user32.dll")]
        static extern bool GetCursorPos(ref Point lpPoint);

        [DllImport("gdi32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto, SetLastError = true, ExactSpelling = true)]
        public static extern int BitBlt(IntPtr hDC, int x, int y, int nWidth, int nHeight, IntPtr hSrcDC, int xSrc, int ySrc, int dwRop);

        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        private void MouseMoveTimer_Tick(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            Point cursor = new Point();
            GetCursorPos(ref cursor);

            var c = GetColorAt(cursor);
            this.BackColor = c;

            if (c.R == c.G && c.G < 64 && c.B > 128)
            {
                MessageBox.Show("Blue");
            }
        }

        Bitmap screenPixel = new Bitmap(1, 1, PixelFormat.Format32bppArgb);
        public Color GetColorAt(Point location)
        {
            using (Graphics gdest = Graphics.FromImage(screenPixel))
            {
                using (Graphics gsrc = Graphics.FromHwnd(IntPtr.Zero))
                {
                    IntPtr hSrcDC = gsrc.GetHdc();
                    IntPtr hDC = gdest.GetHdc();
                    int retval = BitBlt(hDC, 0, 0, 1, 1, hSrcDC, location.X, location.Y, (int)CopyPixelOperation.SourceCopy);
                    gdest.ReleaseHdc();
                    gsrc.ReleaseHdc();
                }
            }

            return screenPixel.GetPixel(0, 0);
        }
    }
}

Now, obviously, you don't have to use the cursor's current location, but this is the general idea.

EDIT:

Given the above GetColorAt function you can poll a certain pixel on the screen in a safe, performance friendly way like this:

private void PollPixel(Point location, Color color)
{
    while(true)
    {
        var c = GetColorAt(location);

        if (c.R == color.R && c.G == color.G && c.B == color.B)
        {
            DoAction();
            return;
        }

        // By calling Thread.Sleep() without a parameter, we are signaling to the
        // operating system that we only want to sleep long enough for other
        // applications.  As soon as the other apps yield their CPU time, we will
        // regain control.
        Thread.Sleep()
    }
}

You can wrap that in a Thread if you want, or execute it from a Console application. "Whatever suits your fancy," I guess.

How to read the Color of a Screen Pixel

6 Answers