Capture Image Photo from Web Camera Webcam in ASPNet using C and VBNet

In this article I will explain with an example, how to capture still image / photo / picture from Web Camera (Webcam) in ASP.Net using C# and VB.Net.

In order to capture images from Web Camera (Webcam), jQuery Webcam.js plugin will be used.

The images captured using Web Camera (Webcam) will be saved in Folder (Directory) and displayed in HTML Image control in ASP.Net.

jQuery Webcam Plugin

You will need to download the jQuery Webcam.js plugin from the following location, it is also available in the attached source code of this article.

Download jQuery Webcam Plugin

HTML Markup

The HTML Markup consist of an HTML DIV for displaying Live Web Camera, an HTML Image element for displaying the captured image, a Button for capturing the picture using the Web Camera and another Button for uploading the captured Image to the Server and saving it in the Folder (Directory).

<tr>

<th align="center"><u>Live Camera</u></th>

<th align="center"><u>Captured Picture</u></th>

</tr>

<tr>

</tr>

<tr>

</td>

</td>

</tr>

</table>

Namespaces

using System.IO;

using System.Web.Services;

VB.Net

Imports System.IO

Imports System.Web.Services

Server Side Implementation using Web Method

The following WebMethod is called using jQuery AJAX after the Image (Photo) is captured and uploaded.

The WebMethod accepts the captured Image file data in BASE64 string format.

The BASE64 string is converted into a Byte Array and the Byte Array is saved as Image file in the Folder (Directory).

[WebMethod()]

public static bool SaveCapturedImage(string data)

{

string fileName = DateTime.Now.ToString("dd-MM-yy hh-mm-ss");

//Convert Base64 Encoded string to Byte Array.

byte[] imageBytes = Convert.FromBase64String(data.Split(',')[1]);

//Save the Byte Array as Image File.

string filePath = HttpContext.Current.Server.MapPath(string.Format("~/Captures/{0}.jpg", fileName));

File.WriteAllBytes(filePath, imageBytes);

return true;

}

VB.Net

<WebMethod()>

Public Shared Function SaveCapturedImage(ByVal data As String) As Boolean

Dim fileName As String = DateTime.Now.ToString("dd-MM-yy hh-mm-ss")

'Convert Base64 Encoded string to Byte Array.

Dim imageBytes() As Byte = Convert.FromBase64String(data.Split(",")(1))

'Save the Byte Array as Image File.

Dim filePath As String = HttpContext.Current.Server.MapPath(String.Format("~/Captures/{0}.jpg", fileName))

File.WriteAllBytes(filePath, imageBytes)

Return True

EndF unction

The jQuery Webcam Plugin Client Side implementation

Applying the jQuery Webcam.js plugin

Inside the jQuery document ready event handler, the jQuery Webcam.js plugin is applied to the HTML DIV.

The following are the configuration properties of the jQuery Webcam.js plugin.

1. width – Width of the DIV that displays the live camera.

2. height – Height of the DIV that displays the live camera.

3. image_format – The file format of the Image i.e. JPEG, PNG, etc.

4. jpeg_quality – The quality of the captured Image.

Capturing the Image from Web Camera (Webcam)

When the Capture Button is clicked, the Image is captured from Web Camera (Webcam) using the snap function of the jQuery Webcam.js plugin.

Then the captured Image data in BASE64 string format is assigned to the HTML Image element.

Uploading the Image from Web Camera (Webcam)

When the Upload Button is clicked, the captured Image data in BASE64 string format is uploaded to Server using jQuery AJAX call and then inside the WebMethod, it is converted into Image file and saved in Folder (Directory).