# Enhance Image Processing with the Modern API

> Modernize slide image processing by replacing deprecated imaging APIs with the .NET Modern API for seamless PowerPoint and OpenDocument automation.

Source: https://docs.aspose.com/slides/net/modern-api/
Updated: 2026-08-05


## **Introduction**

Historically, Aspose Slides has a dependency on System.Drawing and has in the public API the following classes from there:
- [Graphics](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.drawing.graphics)
- [Image](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.drawing.image)
- [Bitmap](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.drawing.bitmap)
- [PrinterSettings](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.drawing.printing.printersettings)

As of version 24.4, this public API is declared deprecated.

Since System.Drawing support in versions .NET6 and above is removed for non-Windows versions ([breaking change](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/core/compatibility/core-libraries/6.0/system-drawing-common-windows-only)), Slides has implemented a two-package approach:
- [Aspose.Slides.NET](https://www.nuget.org/packages/Aspose.Slides.NET) - support for .NET6+ for Windows, .NETStandard for Windows/Linux/MacOS, .NETFramework 2+ (Windows).
  - has a dependence on [System.Drawing.Common](https://www.nuget.org/packages/System.Drawing.Common/).
- [Aspose.Slides.NET6.CrossPlatform](https://www.nuget.org/packages/Aspose.Slides.NET6.CrossPlatform) - Windows/Linux/MacOS version without dependencies.

The inconvenience of [Aspose.Slides.NET6.CrossPlatform](https://www.nuget.org/packages/Aspose.Slides.NET6.CrossPlatform) is that it implements its own version of System.Drawing in the same namespace (to support backward compatibility with the public API). Thus, when Aspose.Slides.NET6.CrossPlatform and System.Drawing from .NET Framework or System.Drawing.Common package are used at the same time, a name conflict occurs unless alias is used.

In order to get rid of dependencies on System.Drawing in the main Aspose.Slides.NET package, we added the so-called "Modern API" - i.e. the API that should be used instead of the deprecated one, whose signatures contain dependencies on the following types from System.Drawing: [Image](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.drawing.image) and [Bitmap](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.drawing.bitmap). [PrinterSettings](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.drawing.printing.printersettings) and [Graphics](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.drawing.graphics) are declared deprecated and their support is removed from the public Slides API.

In current versions, treat the public API that depends on System.Drawing as legacy/deprecated. Use the Modern API for new code and when migrating existing image-processing workflows.

## **Modern API**

Added the following classes and enums to the public API:

- [Aspose.Slides.IImage](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/iimage/) - represents the raster or vector image.
- [Aspose.Slides.ImageFormat](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/imageformat/) - represents the file format of the image.
- [Aspose.Slides.Images](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/images/) - methods to instantiate and work with the [IImage](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/iimage/) interface.

Please note that [IImage](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/iimage/) is disposable (it implements the [IDisposable](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.idisposable) interface and its use should be wrapped in using or disposed in another convenient way).

Use `GetImage` to render a single slide or shape. Use `GetImages` to render several presentation slides. Use [Images](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/images/) methods to load images, `AddImage` with [IImage](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/iimage/) to add them to a presentation, and `ReplaceImage` with [IImage](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/iimage/) to update an existing presentation image.

A typical scenario of using the new API may look as follows:

``` csharp
using System.Drawing;
using Aspose.Slides;

using (Presentation pres = new Presentation())
{
    IPPImage ppImage;
    // instantiate a disposable instance of IImage from the file on the disk.  
    using (IImage image = Images.FromFile("image.png"))
    {
        // create a PowerPoint image by adding an instance of IImage to the presentation's images.
        ppImage = pres.Images.AddImage(image);
    }

    // add a picture shape on the slide #1
    pres.Slides[0].Shapes.AddPictureFrame(ShapeType.Rectangle, 10, 10, 100, 100, ppImage);

    // get an instance of the IImage representing slide #1.
    using (var slideImage = pres.Slides[0].GetImage(new Size(1920, 1080)))
    {
        // save the image on the disk.
        slideImage.Save("slide1.jpeg", ImageFormat.Jpeg);
    }
}
```

## **Replacing Old Code with Modern API**

For ease of transition, the interface of the new [IImage](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/iimage/) repeats the separate signatures of the [Image](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.drawing.image) and [Bitmap](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.drawing.bitmap) classes. In general, you will just need to replace the call to the old method using System.Drawing with the new one.

### **Getting a Slide Thumbnail**

Legacy/deprecated API:

``` csharp
using Aspose.Slides;

using (Presentation pres = new Presentation("pres.pptx"))
{
    pres.Slides[0].GetThumbnail().Save("slide1.png");
}
```

Modern API:

``` csharp
using Aspose.Slides;

using (Presentation pres = new Presentation("pres.pptx"))
{
    pres.Slides[0].GetImage().Save("slide1.png");
}
```

### **Getting a Shape Thumbnail**

Legacy/deprecated API:

``` csharp
using Aspose.Slides;

using (Presentation pres = new Presentation("pres.pptx"))
{
    pres.Slides[0].Shapes[0].GetThumbnail().Save("shape.png");
}
```

Modern API:

``` csharp
using Aspose.Slides;

using (Presentation pres = new Presentation("pres.pptx"))
{
    pres.Slides[0].Shapes[0].GetImage().Save("shape.png");
}
```

### **Getting a Presentation Thumbnail**

Legacy/deprecated API:

``` csharp
using System.Drawing;
using Aspose.Slides;
using Aspose.Slides.Export;

using (Presentation pres = new Presentation("pres.pptx"))
{
    var bitmaps = pres.GetThumbnails(new RenderingOptions(), new Size(1980, 1028));
    try
    {
        for (var index = 0; index < bitmaps.Length; index++)
        {
            Bitmap thumbnail = bitmaps[index];
            thumbnail.Save($"slide{index}.png", ImageFormat.Png);
        }
    }
    finally
    {
        foreach (Bitmap bitmap in bitmaps)
        {
            bitmap.Dispose();
        }
    }
}
```

Modern API:

``` csharp
using System.Drawing;
using Aspose.Slides;
using Aspose.Slides.Export;

using (Presentation pres = new Presentation("pres.pptx"))
{
    var images = pres.GetImages(new RenderingOptions(), new Size(1980, 1028));
    try
    {
        for (var index = 0; index < images.Length; index++)
        {
            IImage thumbnail = images[index];
            thumbnail.Save($"slide{index}.png", ImageFormat.Png);
        }
    }
    finally
    {
        foreach (IImage image in images)
        {
            image.Dispose();
        }
    }
}
```

### **Adding a Picture to a Presentation**

Legacy/deprecated API:

``` csharp
using System.Drawing;
using Aspose.Slides;

using (Presentation pres = new Presentation())
{
    IPPImage ppImage;
    using (Image image = Image.FromFile("image.png"))
    {
        ppImage = pres.Images.AddImage(image);
    }

    pres.Slides[0].Shapes.AddPictureFrame(ShapeType.Rectangle, 10, 10, 100, 100, ppImage);
}
```

Modern API:

``` csharp
using Aspose.Slides;

using (Presentation pres = new Presentation())
{
    IPPImage ppImage;
    using (IImage image = Aspose.Slides.Images.FromFile("image.png"))
    {
        ppImage = pres.Images.AddImage(image);
    }

    pres.Slides[0].Shapes.AddPictureFrame(ShapeType.Rectangle, 10, 10, 100, 100, ppImage);
}
```
## **Deprecated Methods/Properties and Their Replacement in Modern API**

### **Presentation**
| Method Signature                               | Replacement Method Signature                             |
|-----------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|
| public Bitmap[] GetThumbnails(IRenderingOptions options) | [GetImages(IRenderingOptions options)](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/presentation/getimages#getimages)                   |
| public Bitmap[] GetThumbnails(IRenderingOptions options, int[] slides) | [GetImages(IRenderingOptions options, int[] slides)](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/presentation/getimages#getimages_1)   |
| public Bitmap[] GetThumbnails(IRenderingOptions options, float scaleX, float scaleY) | [GetImages(IRenderingOptions options, float scaleX, float scaleY)](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/presentation/getimages#getimages_4) |
| public Bitmap[] GetThumbnails(IRenderingOptions options, int[] slides, float scaleX, float scaleY) | [GetImages(IRenderingOptions options, int[] slides, float scaleX, float scaleY)](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/presentation/getimages#getimages_2) |
| public Bitmap[] GetThumbnails(IRenderingOptions options, Size imageSize) | [GetImages(IRenderingOptions options, Size imageSize)](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/presentation/getimages) |
| public Bitmap[] GetThumbnails(IRenderingOptions options, int[] slides, Size imageSize) | [GetImages(IRenderingOptions options, int[] slides, Size imageSize)](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/presentation/getimages#getimages_3) |
| public void Save(string fname, SaveFormat format, HttpResponse response, bool showInline) | No Modern API replacement |
| public void Save(string fname, SaveFormat format, ISaveOptions options, HttpResponse response, bool showInline) | No Modern API replacement |
| public void Print()                           | No Modern API replacement                               |
| public void Print(PrinterSettings printerSettings) | No Modern API replacement                            |
| public void Print(string printerName)         | No Modern API replacement                               |
| public void Print(PrinterSettings printerSettings, string presName) | No Modern API replacement                          |

### **Shape**
| Method Signature                                                      | Replacement Method Signature                                       |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
| public Bitmap GetThumbnail()                                          | [GetImage](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/shape/getimage#getimage)                                                           |
| public Bitmap GetThumbnail(ShapeThumbnailBounds bounds, float scaleX, float scaleY) | [GetImage(ShapeThumbnailBounds bounds, float scaleX, float scaleY)](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/shape/getimage#getimage_1) |

### **Slide**
| Method Signature                                                      | Replacement Method Signature                                           |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| public Bitmap GetThumbnail(float scaleX, float scaleY)                | [GetImage(float scaleX, float scaleY)](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/slide/getimage#getimage_5)                                 |
| public Bitmap GetThumbnail()                                         | [GetImage](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/slide/getimage#getimage)                                                              |
| public Bitmap GetThumbnail(IRenderingOptions options)                | [GetImage(IRenderingOptions options)](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/slide/getimage#getimage_1)                                  |
| public Bitmap GetThumbnail(Size imageSize)                           | [GetImage(Size imageSize)](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/slide/getimage#getimage_6)                                             |
| public Bitmap GetThumbnail(ITiffOptions options)                    | [GetImage(ITiffOptions options)](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/slide/getimage#getimage_4)                                      |
| public Bitmap GetThumbnail(IRenderingOptions options, float scaleX, float scaleY) | [GetImage(IRenderingOptions options, float scaleX, float scaleY)](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/slide/getimage#getimage_2) |
| public Bitmap GetThumbnail(IRenderingOptions options, Size imageSize) | [GetImage(IRenderingOptions options, Size imageSize)](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/slide/getimage#getimage_3)               |
| public void RenderToGraphics(IRenderingOptions options, Graphics graphics) | No Modern API replacement                                       |
| public void RenderToGraphics(IRenderingOptions options, Graphics graphics, float scaleX, float scaleY) | No Modern API replacement                             |
| public void RenderToGraphics(IRenderingOptions options, Graphics graphics, Size renderingSize) | No Modern API replacement                                    |

### **Output**
| Method Signature                                                | Replacement Method Signature                                |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|
| public IOutputFile Add(string path, Image image)               | [Add(string path, IImage image)](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides.export.web/output/add#add_1)                               |

### **ImageCollection**
| Method Signature                          | Replacement Method Signature               |
|-------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| IPPImage AddImage(Image image)           | [AddImage(IImage image)](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/imagecollection/addimage#addimage)                      |

### **ImageWrapperFactory**
| Method Signature                                         | Replacement Method Signature                            |
|----------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|
| IImageWrapper CreateImageWrapper(Image image)           | [CreateImageWrapper(IImage image)](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/imagewrapperfactory/createimagewrapper#createimagewrapper)                        |

### **PPImage**
| Method/Property Signature                     | Replacement Method Signature   |
|--------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| void ReplaceImage(Image newImage)   | [ReplaceImage(IImage newImage)](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/ppimage/replaceimage#replaceimage)            |
| Image SystemImage { get; }          | [IImage Image { get; }](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/ppimage/image)                    |

### **PatternFormat**
| Method Signature                                          | Replacement Method Signature                        |
|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
| Bitmap GetTileImage(Color background, Color foreground)   | [GetTile(Color background, Color foreground)](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/patternformat/gettile#gettile_1)         |
| Bitmap GetTileImage(Color styleColor)                     | [GetTile(Color styleColor)](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/patternformat/gettile#gettile)                           |

### **IPatternFormatEffectiveData**
| Method Signature                                          | Replacement Method Signature                        |
|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
| Bitmap GetTileImage(Color background, Color foreground)   | [GetTileIImage(SlidesImage image)](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/ipatternformateffectivedata/gettileiimage)                    |

## **API Support for Graphics and PrinterSettings**

The [Graphics](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.drawing.graphics) class is not supported for cross-platform versions of .NET6 and higher. In Aspose Slides, use the Modern API image-rendering methods instead of the API that renders to [Graphics](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.drawing.graphics):
[ISlide](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/islide/)
- [public void RenderToGraphics(IRenderingOptions options, Graphics graphics)](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/slide/rendertographics/#rendertographics_3)
- [public void RenderToGraphics(IRenderingOptions options, Graphics graphics, float scaleX, float scaleY)](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/slide/rendertographics/#rendertographics_3)
- [public void RenderToGraphics(IRenderingOptions options, Graphics graphics, Size renderingSize)](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/slide/rendertographics/#rendertographics_5)

Also, the API that is related to printing through [PrinterSettings](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.drawing.printing.printersettings) has no direct Modern API replacement:

[IPresentation](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/ipresentation/):
- [public void Presentation.Print](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/presentation/print/#print)
- [public void Print(PrinterSettings printerSettings)](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/presentation/print/#print_1)
- [public void Print(string printerName)](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/presentation/print/#print_3)
- [public void Print(PrinterSettings printerSettings, string presName)](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/presentation/print/#print_2)

## **FAQ**

### Why was [Graphics](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.drawing.graphics) dropped?

Support for [Graphics](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.drawing.graphics) is deprecated in the public API to unify work with rendering and images, eliminate ties to platform-specific dependencies, and switch to a cross-platform approach with [IImage](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/iimage/). Use `GetImage` or `GetImages` instead of rendering to [Graphics](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.drawing.graphics).

### What is the practical benefit of [IImage](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/iimage/) compared to [Image](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.drawing.image)/[Bitmap](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.drawing.bitmap)?

[IImage](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/iimage/) unifies working with both raster and vector images, simplifies saving to various formats via [ImageFormat](https://reference.aspose.com/slides/net/aspose.slides/imageformat/), reduces dependence on `System.Drawing`, and makes code more portable across environments.

### Will the Modern API affect the performance of generating thumbnails?

Switching from `GetThumbnail` to `GetImage` does not worsen scenarios: the new methods provide the same capabilities for producing images with options and sizes, while retaining support for rendering options. The specific gain or drop depends on the scenario, but functionally the replacements are equivalent.