c# - Save Live Charts image

Question

I need to save and print an image from cartesian live chart, I've searched in docs and tutorials but I can't find anything. How can I do this? I'm using WinForms and C# with Visual Studio 2012 Express.

Answer 1

You can simply convert the graph control to a bitmap as shown in this answer and then save it to a file. Using the graph control (cartesianChart1) from the LiveCharts example:

Bitmap bmp = new Bitmap(cartesianChart1.Width, cartesianChart1.Height);
cartesianChart1.DrawToBitmap(bmp, new Rectangle(0, 0, bmp.Width, bmp.Height));
bmp.Save("C:\\graph.png", ImageFormat.Png);

This works even if your graph is behind another window.

Use Tatranskymedved's answer to print the image.

Answer 2

As it seems that the graph itself does not support printing / taking screens to image, I would suggest creating this functionality Yourself.

What are You going to need?

1. Take screen shot - Capture screenshot of active window?

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ScreenCapture sc = new ScreenCapture();
// capture entire screen, and save it to a file
Image img = sc.CaptureScreen();
// display image in a Picture control named imageDisplay
this.imageDisplay.Image = img;
// capture this window, and save it
sc.CaptureWindowToFile(this.Handle,"C:\\temp2.gif",ImageFormat.Gif);

In case You need just printscreen of control: C# Take ScreenShot of .net control within application and attach to Outlook Email

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public static void TakeCroppedScreenShot( string fileName, int x, int y, int width, int height, ImageFormat format)
{
    Rectangle r = new Rectangle(x, y, width, height);
    Bitmap bmp = new Bitmap(r.Width, r.Height, PixelFormat.Format32bppArgb);
    Graphics g = Graphics.FromImage(bmp);
    g.CopyFromScreen(r.Left, r.Top, 0, 0, bmp.Size, CopyPixelOperation.SourceCopy);
    bmp.Save(fileName, format);
}

2. Print the screen shot - Print images c#.net

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using System.Drawing.Printing;
...
protected void btnPrint_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    PrintDocument pd = new PrintDocument();
    pd.PrintPage += PrintPage;
    pd.Print();       
}

private void PrintPage(object o, PrintPageEventArgs e)
{
    System.Drawing.Image img = System.Drawing.Image.FromFile("D:\\Foto.jpg");
    Point loc = new Point(100, 100);
    e.Graphics.DrawImage(img, loc);     
}