I would like to be able to use vector graphics, preferably defined in XAML, as the Source of an Image control, just like I can currently use a raster image like a PNG. That way I could easily mix and match between bitmap and vector images, like this:
<StackPanel>
<Image Source="Images/Namespace.png"/>
<Image Source="Images/Module.xaml"/>
</StackPanel>
Module.xaml would most likely have <DrawingImage>
as its root element instead of <UserControl>
.
Actually, what I'm really going for is this, so my ViewModel could select either a raster or vector image at its discretion:
<Image Source="{Binding ImageUri}"/>
Is this possible? Can Image.Source load XAML classes from a given URI? Or is it only able to load bitmap resources?
You can simply reference your vector graphics as StaticResources:
<Image Source="{StaticResource MyImage}" />
Store the images in a ResourceDictionary as DrawImage's. Expression Blend can help you generate this stuff:
<ResourceDictionary
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">
<DrawingImage x:Key="MyImage">
<DrawingImage.Drawing>
<DrawingGroup>
<DrawingGroup.Children>
<GeometryDrawing Brush="Black" Geometry="M 333.393,... 100.327 Z "/>
<GeometryDrawing Brush="Black" Geometry="F1 M 202.309,... Z "/>
:
</DrawingGroup.Children>
</DrawingGroup>
</DrawingImage.Drawing>
</DrawingImage>
</ResourceDictionary>
1) Add the DrawingImage.xaml to the project and set its properties to 'BuildAction=Content' and 'Copy Always'. Or else you can dynamically load the XAML from outside since the logic I am going to explain will work for loose-xaml also.
2) Write a Converter to convert the XAML uri to UIELement, in your case it will be always DrawingImage
public class FileToUIElementConverter :IValueConverter
{
public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture)
{
FileStream fileStream = new FileStream((string)parameter, FileMode.Open);
return XamlReader.Load(fileStream) as DrawingImage;
}
public object ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture)
{
throw new NotImplementedException();
}
}
3) Write the XAML as below
<Window.Resources>
<local:FileToUIElementConverter x:Key="uriToUIElementConverter"/>
</Window.Resources>
<Grid>
<Image Stretch="Fill" Source="{Binding Converter={StaticResource uriToUIElementConverter},ConverterParameter=ImageDrawing.xaml}"/>
</Grid>
Embed the XAML resource (DrawingImage) with type 'Resource'. It is then not a separate file and can be directly referenced via a URI, as in your original example -- BUT the URI is non-trivial. You have to figure out Microsoft's "pack" URI syntax and use that.