Is it possible to save RenderTextures into png files for later use?

Question

Hi,

Answer 1

Best Answer

Answer by Eric5h5 · Dec 07, 2010 at 06:34 PM

Use ReadPixels to read the RenderTexture into a Texture2D and save that using EncodeToPNG.

Add comment · Show 4 · Share

AliAzin · Dec 08, 2010 at 12:05 PM 0

Share

Thanks for your help. I managed to capture a render texture, but it seems that it is only possible in OnRenderImage(). Is it possible to do it in other methods?

Eric5h5 · Dec 08, 2010 at 07:00 PM 1

Share

@AliAzin: you should be able to do it with Camera.Render.

Fattie · Apr 15, 2014 at 02:28 PM 2

Share

here's some random example code, that may be of help to someone.

Starting at "RenderTexture tempRT = ..."

 public void $$anonymous$$akeSquarePngFromOurVirtualThingy()
     {
     // capture the virtuCam and save it as a square PNG.
     
     int sqr = 512;
     
     virtuCamera.camera.aspect = 1.0f;
     // recall that the height is now the "actual" size from now on
     
     RenderTexture tempRT = new RenderTexture(sqr,sqr, 24 );
     // the 24 can be 0,16,24, formats like
     // RenderTextureFormat.Default, ARGB32 etc.
     
     virtuCamera.camera.targetTexture = tempRT;
     virtuCamera.camera.Render();
     
     RenderTexture.active = tempRT;
     Texture2D virtualPhoto =
         new Texture2D(sqr,sqr, TextureFormat.RGB24, false);
     // false, meaning no need for mipmaps
     virtualPhoto.ReadPixels( new Rect(0, 0, sqr,sqr), 0, 0);
     
     RenderTexture.active = null; //can help avoid errors 
     virtuCamera.camera.targetTexture = null;
     // consider ... Destroy(tempRT);
     
     byte[] bytes;
     bytes = virtualPhoto.EncodeToPNG();
     
     System.IO.File.WriteAllBytes(
         OurTempSquareImageLocation(), bytes );
     // virtualCam.SetActive(false); ... no great need for this.
     
     // now use the image, 
     UseFileImageAt( OurTempSquareImageLocation() );
     }
 
 private string OurTempSquareImageLocation()
     {
     string r = Application.persistentDataPath + "/p.png";
     return r;
     }

ardiawanbagusharisa Fattie · Dec 07, 2017 at 03:38 PM 0

Share

  UseFileImageAt( OurTempSquareImageLocation() ); //what is this? to what I supposed to change?

Answer 2

Answer by Statement · Dec 07, 2010 at 02:53 PM

Interesting question.

You can grab contents of the current render target with Texture2D.ReadPixels

Texture2Ds can generate png data with Texture2D.EncodeToPNG.

Add comment · Share

Answer 3

Answer by unity_P_rZF6EevSyxyg · Dec 14, 2018 at 01:12 PM

 public RenderTexture rt;    
 // Use this for initialization
 public void SaveTexture () {
     byte[] bytes = toTexture2D(rt).EncodeToPNG();
     System.IO.File.WriteAllBytes("C:/Users/egsha/SavedScreen.png", bytes);
 }
 Texture2D toTexture2D(RenderTexture rTex)
 {
     Texture2D tex = new Texture2D(1920, 1080, TextureFormat.RGB24, false);
     RenderTexture.active = rTex;
     tex.ReadPixels(new Rect(0, 0, rTex.width, rTex.height), 0, 0);
     tex.Apply();
     return tex;
 }

Add comment · Show 1 · Share

Kristijonas · Feb 10 at 12:41 PM 0

Share

don't to forget dispose Texture2D

  public RenderTexture rt;    
  // Use this for initialization
  public void SaveTexture () {
      byte[] bytes = toTexture2D(rt).EncodeToPNG();
      System.IO.File.WriteAllBytes("C:/Users/egsha/SavedScreen.png", bytes);
  }
  Texture2D toTexture2D(RenderTexture rTex)
  {
      Texture2D tex = new Texture2D(1920, 1080, TextureFormat.RGB24, false);
      RenderTexture.active = rTex;
      tex.ReadPixels(new Rect(0, 0, rTex.width, rTex.height), 0, 0);
      tex.Apply();
     Destroy(tex);//prevents memory leak
      return tex;
  }

Is it possible to save RenderTextures into png files for later use?

3 Replies

Your answer

Welcome to Unity Answers

Follow this Question

Related Questions