StbImageNext

StbImageNext is the safe fork of StbImageSharp

In other words, it's a cross-platform .NET library for decoding images.

Supported Image Formats

Format	Decode	Notes
PNG	Yes
JPEG / JPG	Yes
BMP	Yes
GIF	Yes	Including animated frames
TGA	Yes
PSD	Yes
HDR	Yes	Radiance format, floating-point

Installation

https://www.nuget.org/packages/StbImageNext/

Basic Usage

Add the namespace at the top of your file:

using StbImageNext;
using System.IO;

Load an image from a file stream

using var stream = File.OpenRead("photo.jpg");
using var image = ImageResult.FromStream(stream);

// image.Width   -> pixel width
// image.Height  -> pixel height
// image.Data    -> decoded pixel data (byte array)
// image.Comp    -> color components of the decoded data
// image.SourceComp -> color components of the source file

Load an image from a byte array

byte[] imageData = File.ReadAllBytes("photo.png");
using var image = ImageResult.FromMemory(imageData);

Request a specific pixel format

You can request that the decoded image be converted to a specific component layout:

using var stream = File.OpenRead("photo.jpg");
using var image = ImageResult.FromStream(stream, ColorComponents.RedGreenBlueAlpha);

Available ColorComponents values:

• Grey (1)
• GreyAlpha (2)
• RedGreenBlue (3)
• RedGreenBlueAlpha (4)

If requiredComponents is omitted or null, the image is decoded in its native format.

Get image info without decoding the full pixel data

If you only need dimensions and format (e.g. to validate an upload), use ImageInfo:

using var stream = File.OpenRead("photo.jpg");
var info = ImageInfo.FromStream(stream);

Console.WriteLine($"{info.Width}x{info.Height}, {info.ColorComponents}");

Image Manipulation

Vertical flip

Flip the decoded image vertically (top-to-bottom) in place:

image.VerticalFlip();

Convert LDR (8-bit) to HDR (float)

Convert a standard 8-bit-per-channel image to floating-point HDR:

using var stream = File.OpenRead("photo.png");
using var ldr = ImageResult.FromStream(stream);

var hdr = ldr.ToHdr(gamma: 2.2f, scale: 1.0f);
// hdr.Data contains float pixel values

Convert HDR (float) to LDR (8-bit)

Convert a high-dynamic-range floating-point image back to 8-bit:

using var stream = File.OpenRead("image.hdr");
using var hdr = ImageResultFloat.FromStream(stream);

var ldr = hdr.ToLdr(gamma_i: 1.0f / 2.2f, scale_i: 1.0f);
// ldr.Data contains 8-bit pixel values

Animated GIFs

Enumerate the frames of an animated GIF:

using var stream = File.OpenRead("animation.gif");
foreach (var frame in ImageResult.AnimatedGifFramesFromStream(stream))
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Frame: {frame.Width}x{frame.Height}, delay: {frame.DelayInMs}ms");
    // frame.Data contains the decoded pixels for this frame
}

You can also request a specific component format for animated frames:

foreach (var frame in ImageResult.AnimatedGifFramesFromStream(stream, ColorComponents.RedGreenBlue))
{
    // ...
}

HDR Images

Decode an HDR (Radiance .hdr) image directly as floating-point data:

using var stream = File.OpenRead("scene.hdr");
using var hdr = ImageResultFloat.FromStream(stream);

Using with MonoGame

You can load an image with StbImageNext and upload it into a MonoGame Texture2D for use in a game.

Simple approach (recommended): Request RGBA and upload directly

When you request ColorComponents.RedGreenBlueAlpha, the decoded pixel data is guaranteed to be 4 bytes per pixel (RGBA), matching MonoGame's Color struct exactly. You can upload the byte array directly without any conversion:

using Microsoft.Xna.Framework;
using Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Graphics;
using StbImageNext;
using System.IO;

// Load the image as RGBA (4 bytes per pixel)
using var stream = File.OpenRead("photo.png");
using var image = ImageResult.FromStream(stream, ColorComponents.RedGreenBlueAlpha);

// Create the MonoGame texture
var texture = new Texture2D(GraphicsDevice, image.Width, image.Height);

// Upload directly - image.Data is byte[] with RGBA layout matching Color
texture.SetData(image.Data);

// Use the texture in your game
// _spriteBatch.Draw(texture, destinationRectangle, sourceRectangle, Color.White);

License

Public Domain or MIT

Support

Discord

Building From Source Code

1. Clone this repo.
2. Open StbImageNext.sln.

Sponsor

If this project is useful for you, you can support the development:

• Boosty: https://boosty.to/rds1983
• Telegram Wallet: https://t.me/rds1983

Crypto

Blockchain	Supported Tokens	Wallet Address
TON Network	GRAM (native), USDT (TON)	UQCQy6tFInPvqinE44zHY4R0rYS3niaBikkqiSyGmyoAMwyO
BSC	BNB (native), USDT (BEP20)	0x4205d5B12e4edc2D30E97A398A627c83872084E9
Solana	SOL (native), USDT (SPL)	GjHtV9mP4eJNmi8p5bwsHtb5WV2zFu3v5VhiZ1bvddGV
TRON	TRX (native), USDT (TRC-20)	TM2SbB9eRQ99MP6d85a3yJSCWhqeV46crh
Bitcoin	BTC (native)	bc1qygcxzyhz0m34m9anj27rdydjekkv5ymxa9f927

Credits

• stb