DirectX: Do I need this?

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  • johnb41
    #1

    DirectX: Do I need this?

    I am building a .net app that does some simple image tasks (Tiff
    files): viewing Tiff, viewing thumbnails from multipage tiff,
    rotation, page (frame) deletion, etc.

    The problem is that it is so frustratingly slow. Creating and viewing
    thumbnails for a 50-page tiff (scan of text document) takes about 40
    seconds. Commercial image viewers do the same thing in a split second.

    I read on bobpowell.net that for fast GDI+, you need DirectX 9.0. I
    don't know anything about DirectX. Before I spend days/months
    tinkering with it, i'd like to know if DirectX is the "ticket" to a
    speedy graphics application. By using DirectX, could my application
    potentially be lightening fast for doing the tasks i mentioned above?

    Also, is DirectX an alternative to GDI+? Or do they work together?

    Thanks for your help!

    John

    Tags: None
    • Ken Tucker [MVP]
      #2
      Re: DirectX: Do I need this?

      Hi,

      Directx is an low level api for creating games and multimedia
      applications. I dont think you will find much help from directx. Two
      suggestion for speeding up program. Create the tumbnail for the tiff page
      in the background so the program doesnt appear locked up. Second come up
      with a way to store the thumnails. Only create thumbnails for files you
      dont have any for or have changed.

      http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/is...g/default.aspx

      http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/is...asicInstincts/

      Ken
      -----------------------
      "johnb41" <orders@informa tik.com> wrote in message
      news:1121220796 .356449.46360@g 14g2000cwa.goog legroups.com...
      I am building a .net app that does some simple image tasks (Tiff
      files): viewing Tiff, viewing thumbnails from multipage tiff,
      rotation, page (frame) deletion, etc.

      The problem is that it is so frustratingly slow. Creating and viewing
      thumbnails for a 50-page tiff (scan of text document) takes about 40
      seconds. Commercial image viewers do the same thing in a split second.

      I read on bobpowell.net that for fast GDI+, you need DirectX 9.0. I
      don't know anything about DirectX. Before I spend days/months
      tinkering with it, i'd like to know if DirectX is the "ticket" to a
      speedy graphics application. By using DirectX, could my application
      potentially be lightening fast for doing the tasks i mentioned above?

      Also, is DirectX an alternative to GDI+? Or do they work together?

      Thanks for your help!

      John


        Comment

        • Oenone
          #3
          Re: DirectX: Do I need this?

          Ken Tucker [MVP] wrote:[color=blue]
          > Directx is an low level api for creating games and multimedia
          > applications. I dont think you will find much help from directx.[/color]

          Hmm... Not that I'm able to offer any help to the OP, but I do think DX
          could potentially be useful.

          It does have some restrictions and limitations, but it would mean that a
          thumbnail could be created by getting the graphics hardware to do the
          resizing. This could potentially be many times faster than a software
          solution.

          --

          (O)enone


            Comment

            • johnb41
              #4
              Re: DirectX: Do I need this?

              I see 2 replies to my message (thanks to DevelopersDex emailing me a
              notification). How come nothing is showing up in Google Groups?
              Hmmm...

              Anyway, thanks Ken Tucker and Oenone for your replies. I'll definitely
              look into "threading" to fool the user to thinking my app is faster!

              John

                Comment

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