How to export Image list of 32bit icons into single 32bit bitmap file?

Question

I want to write a small utility which will help me load a single 32bit bitmap (with alpha) from a EXE resource:

ImageList1.DrawingStyle := dsTransparent;
ImageList1.Handle := ImageList_LoadImage(MainInstance, 'MyBitmap32', 16, ImageList1.AllocBy,
    CLR_NONE, IMAGE_BITMAP, LR_CREATEDIBSECTION or LR_LOADTRANSPARENT);

The above works well.

So to generate that bitmap, I'm loading 32 bit transparent icons from my disk (with alpha) into an ImageList

for i := 1 to 10 do ... ImageList2.AddIcon(AIcon)

Now, how do I export the 32 bitmap (which will be transparent and have the alpha channel) from this image list and save it as a file which should looks like this:

Here is my attempt. But the output bitmap does NOT look transparent and does not maintain the alpha channel:

procedure PrepareBitmap(bmp: TBitmap);
var
  pscanLine32: pRGBQuadArray;
  i, j: Integer;
begin
  for i := 0 to bmp.Height - 1 do
  begin
    pscanLine32 := bmp.Scanline[i];
    for j := 0 to bmp.Width - 1 do
    begin
      pscanLine32[j].rgbReserved := 0;
    end;
  end;
end;

procedure TForm1.Button4Click(Sender: TObject);
var
  bmp: TBitmap;
  I: Integer;
  IL: TImageList;
begin
  IL := Imagelist10;
  bmp := TBitmap.Create;
  bmp.PixelFormat := pf32Bit;
  bmp.Canvas.brush.Color := clNone;
  bmp.Width := IL.Width * IL.Count;
  bmp.Height := IL.Height;
  //SetBkMode(bmp.Canvas.Handle, TRANSPARENT); //TRANSPARENT
  PrepareBitmap(bmp);
  for I := 0 to IL.Count - 1 do
  begin
    IL.Draw(bmp.Canvas, (I * 16), 0, I, True);
  end;
  bmp.SaveToFile('2.bmp');
end;

Note that even if you I manage to use GetImageBitmap (I did with 24bit imagelist), the output bitmap is vertical and cannot be load via ImageList_LoadImage:

Even in the code given by Bummi the output bitmap becomes anti-aliased which is no good. here is an example (with 800% zoom - only first 3 icons):

Good bitmap with alpha channel which will load OK with ImageList_LoadImage:

Bad bitmap with alpha channel (notice the anti-alias with black):

The Only way I could get perfect results was with GDI+ and reading the icons directly from disk files (NOT the ImageList).
This Only works ok on Vista NOT XP (in older versions of GDI+ GdipCreateBitmapFromHICON and GdipCreateBitmapFromHBITMAP functions destroy alpha channel - they write alpha=255 for each pixel).

procedure TForm1.Button3Click(Sender: TObject);
var
  i, num_icons: Integer;
  ico: TIcon;
  icon: HICON;

  encoderClsid: TGUID;
  g: TGPGraphics;
  in_img: TGPBitmap;
  out_img: TGPImage;  
begin
  num_icons := 24;
  out_img := TGPBitmap.Create(16 * num_icons , 16, PixelFormat32bppARGB);

  for i := 1 to num_icons do
  begin
     // does not produce correct bitmap:
     //ico := TIcon.Create;
     //ImageList1.GetIcon(i - 1, ico);
     //in_img := TGPBitmap.Create(ico.Handle);

     in_img := TGPBitmap.Create('D:\Delphi\Projects\Icons\Icon_' + inttostr(i) + '.ico');
     g := TGPGraphics.Create(out_img);
     g.DrawImage(in_img, (i - 1) * 16, 0);
     g.Free;
     in_img.Free;
  end;

  GetEncoderClsid('image/bmp', encoderClsid);
  out_img.Save('output.bmp', encoderClsid);
  out_img.Free;

  ImageList2.DrawingStyle := dsTransparent; 
  // Load from file: 
  ImageList2.Handle := ImageList_LoadImage(0, 'output.bmp', 16, ImageList2.AllocBy,
    CLR_NONE, IMAGE_BITMAP, LR_CREATEDIBSECTION or LR_LOADTRANSPARENT
     or LR_LOADFROMFILE);
end;

All my attempts to load the Icons from the Imagelist directly, failed and resulted anti-aliased bitmaps.

Here is a link to download the icons I'm working with

And here is another picture to illustrate the output bitmap results:

I think I made it work finally. still needs twining but it works for me. the key is to copy the icons bitmaps to the destination scanlines, instead of drawing the icons to the destination canvas.

procedure CopyBitmapChannels(Src, Dst: TBitMap; DstOffset: Integer);
var
  pscanLine32Src, pscanLine32Dst: pRGBQuadArray;
  nScanLineCount, nPixelCount: Integer;
begin
  with Src do
  begin
    for nScanLineCount := 0 to Height - 1 do
    begin
      pscanLine32Src := Scanline[nScanLineCount];
      pscanLine32Dst := Dst.Scanline[nScanLineCount];
      for nPixelCount := 0 to Width - 1 do
        with pscanLine32Src[nPixelCount] do
        begin
          pscanLine32Dst[nPixelCount + DstOffset].rgbReserved := rgbReserved;
          pscanLine32Dst[nPixelCount + DstOffset].rgbRed := rgbRed;
          pscanLine32Dst[nPixelCount + DstOffset].rgbGreen := rgbGreen;
          pscanLine32Dst[nPixelCount + DstOffset].rgbBlue := rgbBlue;
        end;
    end;
  end;
end;

procedure TForm1.Button2Click(Sender: TObject);
var
  h_Bitmap, h_Mask: HBITMAP;
  bm_out, bm_ico: TBitmap;
  hico : HICON;
  icoInfo: TIconInfo;
  i, icon_size, num_icons: Integer;
  in_IL: TImageList;
begin
  // in_IL := ImageList1; // imagelist ready with 32 bit icons
  in_IL := nil; // from files

  icon_size := 16;
  num_icons := 24;

  bm_out := TBitmap.Create;
  bm_out.Width := icon_size * num_icons;
  bm_out.Height := icon_size;
  SetBitmapAlpha(bm_out, 0, 0, 0, 0); // no need to actually modify ScanLines but anyway 

  for i := 0 to num_icons - 1 do
  begin
    if in_IL = nil then
      hico := LoadImage(0, PChar('D:\Delphi\Projects\Icons\Icon_' + inttostr(i + 1) + '.ico'), IMAGE_ICON, 0, 0,
        LR_LOADFROMFILE or LR_LOADTRANSPARENT or LR_CREATEDIBSECTION)
    else
      hico := ImageList_GetIcon(in_IL.Handle, i, ILD_TRANSPARENT); // RGB is slightly changed - not 100% perfect but close enough!

    // get icon info (hbmColor -> bitmap)
    GetIconInfo(hico, icoInfo);
    bm_ico := TBitmap.Create;
    h_Bitmap := CopyImage(icoInfo.hbmColor, IMAGE_BITMAP, 0, 0, {LR_COPYDELETEORG or} LR_COPYRETURNORG or LR_CREATEDIBSECTION);
    bm_ico.Handle := h_Bitmap;

    CopyBitmapChannels(bm_ico, bm_out, i * icon_size);

    DestroyIcon(hico);
    DeleteObject(h_Bitmap);
    bm_ico.Free;
  end;
  bm_out.SaveToFile('output.bmp');
  bm_out.Free;
  // output.bmp is now ready to load with ImageList_LoadImage
end;

BTW, I could copy GetImageBitmap handle like this: ImageList_GetImageInfo(ImageList1.Handle, 0, Info); h_Bitmap := CopyImage(Info.hbmImage, IMAGE_BITMAP, 0, 0, LR_COPYRETURNORG) but in any case it is not usable later with ImageList_LoadImage.

Answer 1

Create your imagelist using a Use a 32-bit DIB section.

ImageList1.Handle :=ImageList_Create(16, 16, ILC_COLOR32 ,4, 4);

To display Bitmaps containing alpha channel information you may use the AlphaBlend function or GDI+ functions.

uses CommCtrl;

Procedure DisplayAlphaChanelBitmap(BMP:TBitmap;C:TCanvas;X,Y:Integer);
var
  BF:TBlendFunction;
begin
    BF.BlendOp := AC_SRC_OVER;
    BF.BlendFlags := 0;
    BF.SourceConstantAlpha := 255;
    BF.AlphaFormat := AC_SRC_ALPHA;
    Windows.AlphaBlend(C.Handle, x, y, BMP.Width, BMP.Height, BMP.Canvas.Handle
                      , 0, 0, BMP.Width, BMP.Height, BF)
end;

You will have to provide the appropriate handle type and alphaformat (on newer Delphiversions)
for your bitmap and you will have to clean the Scanlines , afterwards drawing will work es expected.

type
  pRGBQuadArray = ^TRGBQuadArray;
  TRGBQuadArray = ARRAY [0 .. 0] OF TRGBQuad;
  TRefChanel=(rcBlue,rcRed,rcGreen);

procedure SetBitmapAlpha(ABitmap: TBitMap; Alpha, ARed, Green, Blue: Byte);
var
  pscanLine32: pRGBQuadArray;
  nScanLineCount, nPixelCount : Integer;
begin
  with ABitmap do
  begin
    PixelFormat := pf32Bit;
    HandleType := bmDIB;
    ignorepalette := true;
    // alphaformat := afDefined; not available with D5 and D7
    for nScanLineCount := 0 to Height - 1 do
    begin
      pscanLine32 := Scanline[nScanLineCount];
      for nPixelCount := 0 to Width - 1 do
        with pscanLine32[nPixelCount] do begin
          rgbReserved := Alpha;
          rgbBlue := Blue;
          rgbRed := ARed;
          rgbGreen := Green;
        end;
    end;    
  end;
end;

Extract the icons and paint them to thm transparent bitmap

procedure TForm1.Button3Click(Sender: TObject);
var
 BMP:TBitMap;
 ICO:TIcon;
 I: Integer;    
begin
  BMP:=TBitMap.Create;
  BMP.Width := Imagelist1.Width * Imagelist1.Count;
  BMP.Height := Imagelist1.Height;
  try
  SetBitmapAlpha(BMP,0,0,0,0);
  for I := 0 to Imagelist1.Count-1 do
    begin
     ICO:=TIcon.Create;
     try
       Imagelist1.GetIcon(i,ICO);
       BMP.Canvas.Draw(i * Imagelist1.Width, 0, ico);
     finally
       ICO.Free;
     end;
    end;
  BMP.SaveToFile('C:\Temp\Transparent.bmp');
  Canvas.Pen.Width := 3;
  Canvas.Pen.Color := clRed;
  Canvas.MoveTo(10,15);
  Canvas.LineTo(24*16+10,15);
  DisplayAlphaChanelBitmap( BMP, Canvas , 10 , 10)
  finally
    BMP.Free;
  end;
end;

Using Delphi 5 or Delphi 7 with non transparent icons

If you are loading ICO's as shown with

ImageList1.Handle := ImageList_LoadImage(MainInstance, 'MyBitmap32', 16, ImageList1.AllocBy,
        CLR_NONE, IMAGE_BITMAP, LR_CREATEDIBSECTION or LR_LOADTRANSPARENT); 

The Icons itself do not contain transparency informations, all painting is done by the mask. So you could fill your Bitmap with a "magic" color here clFuchsia (C_R, C_G, C_B), paint your icons and set the Alpha channel for all Pixels not containg the "magic" color to 255.

const
C_R=255;
C_G=0;
C_B=255;



procedure AdaptBitmapAlphaByColor(ABitmap: TBitMap;  ARed, AGreen, ABlue: Byte);
var
  pscanLine32: pRGBQuadArray;
  nScanLineCount, nPixelCount : Integer;
begin
  with ABitmap do
  begin
    for nScanLineCount := 0 to Height - 1 do
    begin
      pscanLine32 := Scanline[nScanLineCount];
      for nPixelCount := 0 to Width - 1 do
        with pscanLine32[nPixelCount] do
        begin
          if NOT (
          (rgbBlue = ABlue)
          AND (rgbRed = ARed)
          AND (rgbGreen = AGreen)
          ) then rgbReserved := 255;
        end;
    end;
  end;
end;

procedure TForm1.Button3Click(Sender: TObject);
var
 BMP:TBitMap;
 ICO:TIcon;
 I: Integer;
begin
  BMP:=TBitMap.Create;
  BMP.Width := Imagelist1.Width * Imagelist1.Count;
  BMP.Height := Imagelist1.Height;
  try
  SetBitmapAlpha(BMP,0,C_R,C_G,C_B);
  for I := 0 to Imagelist1.Count-1 do
    begin
     ICO:=TIcon.Create;
     try
       Imagelist1.GetIcon(i,ICO);
       BMP.Canvas.Draw(i * Imagelist1.Width, 0, ico);
     finally
       ICO.Free;
     end;
    end;
  AdaptBitmapAlphaByColor(BMP, C_R, C_G, C_B);
  BMP.SaveToFile('C:\Temp\Transparent.bmp');
  finally
    BMP.Free;
  end;
end;

Answer 2

ImageList component that ships with Delphi internally already stores all its Images in one large bitmap. You can access this bitmap though it's handle wihch you can retrieve by calling

ImageList1.GetImageBitmap

EDIT: After some thinking and trying I must admit that the approach I recomended is not good. Why? Accesing internal bitmap of ImageList is probably not the best idea as there seems to be some inconsistencies how image list treats its images between different Delphi versions. This means that any such code that works in current version of Delphi may no longer work in future versions.

Now if I only check the difference between Delphi 7 where ImageList images are stored in multiple lines and Delphi XE3 where ImageList images are stored in a single column it means that your code needs to take this into account.

Anywhay this is the approach I used for expoting the ImageList internal image contents to a file if anybody wants to further work on this approach:

var Bitmap: TBitmap;
begin
  Bitmap := TBitmap.Create;
  Bitmap.Handle := ImageList1.GetImageBitmap;
  Bitmap.SaveToFile('D:\Proba.bmp');
  Bitmap.ReleaseHandle;
  Bitmap.Free;
end;

Answer 3

I created the GDI+ version that saves to a Bitmap or PNG.

The first trick is converting the ImageList to a GDI+ Bitmap:

function ImageListToGPBitmap(SourceImageList: TImageList): TGPBitmap;
var
    bmp: TGPBitmap;
    g: TGPGraphics;
    dc: HDC;
    i: Integer;
    x: Integer;

    procedure GdipCheck(Status: Winapi.GDIPAPI.TStatus);
    begin
        if Status <> Ok then
            raise Exception.CreateFmt('%s', [GetStatus(Status)]);
    end;
begin
    //Note: Code is public domain. No attribution required.
    bmp := TGPBitmap.Create(SourceImageList.Width*SourceImageList.Count, SourceImageList.Height);
    GdipCheck(bmp.GetLastStatus);

    g := TGPGraphics.Create(bmp);
    GdipCheck(g.GetLastStatus);

    g.Clear($00000000);
    GdipCheck(g.GetLastStatus);

    dc := g.GetHDC;

    for i := 0 to dmGlobal.imgImages.Count-1 do
    begin
        x := i*dmGlobal.imgImages.Width;

        ImageList_DrawEx(dmGlobal.imgImages.Handle, i, dc,
                        x, 0, dmGlobal.imgImages.Width, dmGlobal.imgImages.Height,
                        CLR_NONE, CLR_DEFAULT,
                        ILD_TRANSPARENT);
    end;
    g.ReleaseHDC(dc);
    g.Free;

    Result := bmp;
end;

Once it's a Bitmap, you can save it to whatever format you prefer. I prefer image/png, but you can just as well save it to an image/bmp:

var
    bmp: TGPBitmap;
    filename: string;
    encoder: TGUID;
begin
    if not IsDebuggerPresent then
        Exit;

    //Get GDI+ Bitmap of the imageList
    bmp := ImageListToGPBitmap(dmGlobal.imgImages);

    //Save the image to a file
    filename := ChangeFileExt(GetTemporaryFilename('imgl', False), '.bmp');
    Winapi.GDIPUtil.GetEncoderClsid('image/bmp', {out}encoder);
    bmp.Save(filename, encoder);

    filename := ChangeFileExt(GetTemporaryFilename('imgl', False), '.png');
    Winapi.GDIPUtil.GetEncoderClsid('image/png', {out}encoder);
    bmp.Save(filename, encoder);
    //Note: Code is public domain. No attribution required.