Output data as an image

[simonjk]

Hi,

 

I have an image (a weather map) which is created using php which pulls data from a mysql database.

 

I would like to be able to output the result image as a gif or jpg file.

 

Can anyone suggest how this could be done?

 

Many thanks,

Simon

[Gibbs]

You have two main options off the top of my head.

 

You can base64 encode the image an put it directly into the HTML document. This is perfectly acceptable for small images.

 

<?php
// Not tested
$image = base64_encode($row['image']);
$output = 'data:image/jpg;base64,' . $image;
?>

<img src="<?php echo $output ?>" />

 

Or you will have to create a separate script and set the content type in a header. Then you would link to the script in the src attribute.

 

<?php
// Not tested
$image = $row['image']; 
header("Content-type: image/jpg");
echo $image; 

 

Or you could write the image to the filesystem, which I doubt you want to do.

[simonjk]

Thanks Gibbs...I'll give that a try and see how I get on.

 

Is it possible to capture the output of a browser window, say as a screen shot?

 

Simon

[Gibbs]

Thanks Gibbs...I'll give that a try and see how I get on.

 

Is it possible to capture the output of a browser window, say as a screen shot?

 

Simon

 

I have done this before but not in PHP. I don't think it would be possible in PHP unless you are allowed to use some dangerous functions such as exec. That would still rely on external software though.

[Psycho]

Wait a sec, you say you are already creating the image. How are you creating it now and how are you using it? If you already have an image resource you can create a Jpeg or Gif using imagejpeg() or imagegif(), respectively.

 

Not sure why you are wanting to get a screenshot of the users browser. That's not possible without some client-side code that would require installation by the user and, most likely for the user to lower their security settings.

[simonjk]

Thanks for your reply.

 

What I have is a base map over which I then place weather icons using PHP.

 

It is this resulting 'image' (which of course is not an image at all really) that I want to output as a gif or jpg.

 

Hope that makes more sense?

 

Thanks again,

Simon

[litebearer]

using gd you can overlay images and save or display the result

[Psycho]

using gd you can overlay images and save or display the result

 

Yeah, what he said. You can create a "real" image using the same type of logic you are using now - one image as the based and then placing other images on top. You'll have to do some research though. I've not worked with images a lot so I can't give a lot of pointers. But, if the icons are not rectangular then you will want the source image to have transparency as needed.

[simonjk]

Thanks so much for this, looking into it further and will report back.

[Psycho]

I think this is the main function you will need: http://php.net/manual/en/function.imagecopymerge.php

 

Using the map image use that function repeatedly for each icon you need to add.