How to Add, Extract, and Remove Images in Excel Using C#

How Do I Add Images to Excel Worksheets?

To insert an image into a spreadsheet, use the InsertImage method, which supports various image types including JPG/JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF, and TIFF. This capability is particularly useful when you need to create Excel charts in C# and supplement them with additional visual elements. Specify the top-left and bottom-right corners of the image to determine its dimensions, calculated by subtracting the column and row values.

The method signature requires five parameters: the image file path, and four integers representing the starting column, starting row, ending column, and ending row. The image will stretch or compress to fit within the defined cell range. For example:

• For a 1x1 image size:
  • worksheet.InsertImage("image.gif", 5, 1, 6, 2);
• For a 2x2 image size:
  • worksheet.InsertImage("image.gif", 5, 1, 7, 3);

When working with images in Excel, understand how IronXL manages them internally. Each inserted image receives a unique ID that follows a specific pattern.

:path=/static-assets/excel/content-code-examples/how-to/add-remove-extract-worksheet-images-insert.cs

using IronXL;

WorkBook workBook = WorkBook.Create();
WorkSheet workSheet = workBook.DefaultWorkSheet;

// Insert images
workSheet.InsertImage("ironpdf.jpg", 2, 2, 4, 4);
workSheet.InsertImage("ironpdfIcon.png", 2, 6, 4, 8);

workBook.SaveAs("insertImages.xlsx");

Imports IronXL

Private workBook As WorkBook = WorkBook.Create()
Private workSheet As WorkSheet = workBook.DefaultWorkSheet

' Insert images
workSheet.InsertImage("ironpdf.jpg", 2, 2, 4, 4)
workSheet.InsertImage("ironpdfIcon.png", 2, 6, 4, 8)

workBook.SaveAs("insertImages.xlsx")

The InsertImage method provides flexibility in positioning and sizing images within your worksheet. Unlike manual image insertion in Excel, programmatic insertion ensures consistent placement across multiple files, making it ideal for generating reports or documents that require standardized formatting. This approach is particularly beneficial when working with Excel in C# without Interop, as it eliminates dependencies on Microsoft Office installations.

What Does the Inserted Image Look Like in Excel?

How Can I Extract Images From Excel Files?

To extract images from the selected worksheet, access the Images property, which provides a list of all images contained within the sheet. This feature is essential when you need to load Excel files without Interop and process their embedded visual content. From this list, you can perform various operations such as exporting, resizing, retrieving positions, and obtaining the byte data of each image. The image IDs follow an odd-numbered pattern, incrementing in the sequence of 1, 3, 5, 7, and so on.

The extraction process provides comprehensive access to image properties and data, enabling developers to:

• Export images to various formats (PNG, JPEG, BMP, etc.)
• Retrieve image positioning information for layout preservation
• Access raw byte data for custom processing or storage
• Resize images programmatically without external image processing libraries

This functionality proves invaluable when migrating content between different document formats or when building systems that need to catalog and manage visual assets from Excel files. The ability to extract images programmatically also supports automated quality control processes where images need validation or processing according to specific business rules.

:path=/static-assets/excel/content-code-examples/how-to/add-remove-extract-worksheet-images-extract.cs

using IronSoftware.Drawing;
using IronXL;
using IronXL.Drawing;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

WorkBook workBook = WorkBook.Load("insertImages.xlsx");
WorkSheet workSheet = workBook.DefaultWorkSheet;

// Retreive images
List<IronXL.Drawing.Images.IImage> images = workSheet.Images;

// Select each image
foreach (IronXL.Drawing.Images.IImage image in images)
{
    // Save the image
    AnyBitmap anyBitmap = image.ToAnyBitmap();
    anyBitmap.SaveAs($"{image.Id}.png");

    // Resize the image
    image.Resize(1,3);

    // Retrieve image position
    Position position = image.Position;
    Console.WriteLine("top row index: " + position.TopRowIndex);
    Console.WriteLine("bottom row index: " + position.BottomRowIndex);

    // Retrieve byte data
    byte[] imageByte = image.Data;
}

workBook.SaveAs("resizeImage.xlsx");

Imports IronSoftware.Drawing
Imports IronXL
Imports IronXL.Drawing
Imports System
Imports System.Collections.Generic

Private workBook As WorkBook = WorkBook.Load("insertImages.xlsx")
Private workSheet As WorkSheet = workBook.DefaultWorkSheet

' Retreive images
Private images As List(Of IronXL.Drawing.Images.IImage) = workSheet.Images

' Select each image
For Each image As IronXL.Drawing.Images.IImage In images
	' Save the image
	Dim anyBitmap As AnyBitmap = image.ToAnyBitmap()
	anyBitmap.SaveAs($"{image.Id}.png")

	' Resize the image
	image.Resize(1,3)

	' Retrieve image position
	Dim position As Position = image.Position
	Console.WriteLine("top row index: " & position.TopRowIndex)
	Console.WriteLine("bottom row index: " & position.BottomRowIndex)

	' Retrieve byte data
	Dim imageByte() As Byte = image.Data
Next image

workBook.SaveAs("resizeImage.xlsx")

Extracted Images

Image Size

How Do I Remove Images From Excel Worksheets?

Following the extract images example, you can easily remove any inserted image using its corresponding index number. Pass the image's ID number to the RemoveImage method to remove it from the worksheet. This operation is particularly useful when you need to edit Excel files in C# to clean up unwanted visual elements or prepare documents for different audiences.

The removal process is straightforward but requires understanding the image ID system. Since IronXL assigns IDs in an odd-number sequence (1, 3, 5, 7...), track these IDs when managing multiple images. Consider implementing a mapping system in your application to associate meaningful names with image IDs for easier management.

:path=/static-assets/excel/content-code-examples/how-to/add-remove-extract-worksheet-images-remove.cs

using IronXL;

WorkBook workBook = WorkBook.Load("insertImages.xlsx");
WorkSheet workSheet = workBook.DefaultWorkSheet;

// Remove image
workSheet.RemoveImage(3);

workBook.SaveAs("removeImage.xlsx");

Imports IronXL

Private workBook As WorkBook = WorkBook.Load("insertImages.xlsx")
Private workSheet As WorkSheet = workBook.DefaultWorkSheet

' Remove image
workSheet.RemoveImage(3)

workBook.SaveAs("removeImage.xlsx")

For more complex scenarios involving multiple worksheets and images, explore managing worksheets to understand how image operations interact with worksheet-level operations. Additionally, when working with protected Excel files, refer to our guide on protecting Excel files to understand how image operations work with password-protected workbooks.