Question

Is there a way to convert an image to grayscale 16 bits per pixel format, rather than setting each of the r,g and b components to luminance. I currently have a bmp from file.

Bitmap c = new Bitmap("filename");

I want a Bitmap d, that is grayscale version of c. I do see a constructor that includes System.Drawing.Imaging.PixelFormat, but I don’t understand how to use that. I’m new to Image Processing and the relevant C# libraries, but have a moderate experience with C# itself.

Any help, reference to an online source, hint or suggestion will be appreciated.

EDIT: d is the grayscale version of c.

Answer 1

“I want a Bitmap d, that is grayscale.
I do see a consructor that includes
System.Drawing.Imaging.PixelFormat,
but I don’t understand how to use
that.”

Here is how to do this

Bitmap grayScaleBP = new 
         System.Drawing.Bitmap(2, 2, System.Drawing.Imaging.PixelFormat.Format16bppGrayScale);

EDIT: To convert to grayscale

             Bitmap c = new Bitmap("fromFile");
             Bitmap d;
             int x, y;

             // Loop through the images pixels to reset color.
             for (x = 0; x < c.Width; x++)
             {
                 for (y = 0; y < c.Height; y++)
                 {
                     Color pixelColor = c.GetPixel(x, y);
                     Color newColor = Color.FromArgb(pixelColor.R, 0, 0);
                     c.SetPixel(x, y, newColor); // Now greyscale
                 }
             }
            d = c;   // d is grayscale version of c  

Faster Version from switchonthecode follow link for full analysis:

public static Bitmap MakeGrayscale3(Bitmap original)
{
   //create a blank bitmap the same size as original
   Bitmap newBitmap = new Bitmap(original.Width, original.Height);

   //get a graphics object from the new image
   using(Graphics g = Graphics.FromImage(newBitmap)){

       //create the grayscale ColorMatrix
       ColorMatrix colorMatrix = new ColorMatrix(
          new float[][] 
          {
             new float[] {.3f, .3f, .3f, 0, 0},
             new float[] {.59f, .59f, .59f, 0, 0},
             new float[] {.11f, .11f, .11f, 0, 0},
             new float[] {0, 0, 0, 1, 0},
             new float[] {0, 0, 0, 0, 1}
          });

       //create some image attributes
       using(ImageAttributes attributes = new ImageAttributes()){

           //set the color matrix attribute
           attributes.SetColorMatrix(colorMatrix);

           //draw the original image on the new image
           //using the grayscale color matrix
           g.DrawImage(original, new Rectangle(0, 0, original.Width, original.Height),
                       0, 0, original.Width, original.Height, GraphicsUnit.Pixel, attributes);
       }
   }
   return newBitmap;
}