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Overview

ImageGlass provides comprehensive clipboard operations with support for multiple formats, including full alpha channel transparency. Copy images, file paths, or entire image data to integrate seamlessly with other applications.

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Clipboard Features

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Supported Operations

  • Copy image data - Copies the rendered image with transparency
  • Copy file path - Copies the full file path as text
  • Copy multiple files - Copies file references for pasting in Explorer
  • Paste images - Opens images from clipboard
  • Paste file paths - Opens files from clipboard text

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Format Support

ImageGlass copies images in three formats simultaneously:
  1. PNG format - Preserves full transparency and quality
  2. DIB format - Compatible with professional image editors
  3. Standard Bitmap - Universal compatibility
Applications automatically select the best format they support, with PNG preferred by most modern software.

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Copying Images

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Copy Image Data

Copy the current image as rendered on screen: Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+C Menu: Right-click → Copy image data This operation:
  • Captures the image as displayed
  • Preserves alpha transparency
  • Copies the selected region if a selection is active
  • Applies current zoom and transformations
Use Copy image data to capture exactly what you see, including any applied transformations or zoomed views.

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Copy Selected Region

To copy only part of an image:
1

Enable Selection Tool

Activate selection mode in ImageGlass
2

Select Area

Click and drag to select the desired region
3

Copy Selection

Press Ctrl+C or right-click → Copy image data
Only the selected area is copied to the clipboard.

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Copy File Path

Copy the full file path as text: Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+L Menu: Right-click → Copy path Output example: 
C:\Users\Username\Pictures\IMG_1234.jpg
Use cases:
  • Sharing file locations
  • Command-line operations
  • Documentation and notes
  • File management scripts

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Copy File Reference

Copy the file itself (not just the path) for pasting in Explorer: Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+C Menu: Right-click → Copy file This allows you to:
  • Paste the file into other folders
  • Attach to emails
  • Drag into other applications
  • Copy to network locations
This copies a file reference, not the actual image data. Use Copy image data to paste into image editors.

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Copy Multiple Files

ImageGlass can copy multiple files to the clipboard sequentially:
1

Enable Multiple File Copy

Go to Settings > EditEnable Allow copying multiple files
2

Copy First File

Navigate to an image and press Ctrl+Shift+C
3

Copy Additional Files

Navigate to other images and press Ctrl+Shift+C againEach file is added to the clipboard collection
4

Paste All Files

Open Explorer or another applicationPress Ctrl+V to paste all copied files
Status indicator: ImageGlass shows a message indicating how many files are in the clipboard: 
File copied (3 items in clipboard)
Use this feature to quickly collect images from different folders without navigating away from ImageGlass.

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Pasting Images

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Paste from Clipboard

Open images directly from clipboard: Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+V Menu: File → Paste image ImageGlass supports pasting:
  • Image data - Screenshots, copied images, etc.
  • File paths - Text containing file paths
  • File references - Files copied from Explorer

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Paste Image Data

When you paste image data:
1

ImageGlass Receives Data

Detects clipboard contains image data
2

Creates Temporary File

Saves clipboard content to a temporary file
3

Opens Image

Displays the pasted image immediately
Supported sources:
  • Screenshots (Windows Snipping Tool, Print Screen)
  • Copied images from web browsers
  • Image data from Photoshop, GIMP, etc.
  • Drawing applications

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Paste File Paths

Paste text containing image file paths: Example clipboard content: 
C:\Pictures\photo1.jpg
ImageGlass automatically:
  1. Detects the text contains a file path
  2. Validates the file exists
  3. Opens the image file

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Paste Multiple Files

Paste multiple files from Explorer:
1

Copy Files in Explorer

Select multiple images in File ExplorerPress Ctrl+C
2

Switch to ImageGlass

Activate the ImageGlass window
3

Paste Files

Press Ctrl+VImageGlass opens the first file and loads the folder

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Transparency Support

ImageGlass preserves full alpha channel transparency when copying images.

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How Transparency Works

public static void SetClipboardImage(
    WicBitmapSource img,              // Source image with alpha
    WicBitmapSource nonAlphaImg = null  // Optional non-alpha version
)
Format priority:
  1. PNG - Full 8-bit alpha channel
  2. DIB - Professional format with transparency
  3. Bitmap - No transparency (fallback)

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Application Compatibility

ApplicationTransparency Support
PhotoshopFull (prefers PNG/DIB)
GIMPFull (prefers PNG)
Paint.NETFull (PNG)
MS PaintNone (uses Bitmap)
Word/PowerPointFull (PNG)
Chrome/FirefoxFull (PNG)
Slack/DiscordFull (PNG)
When pasting into applications without transparency support, ImageGlass automatically provides a non-transparent version.

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Advanced Features

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Copy with Transformations

Copied images include current transformations:
  • Rotation - Image copied in rotated state
  • Flip - Horizontal/vertical flips preserved
  • Zoom - Copies visible region at current zoom
  • Color adjustments - Applied filters included

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Clipboard Clearing

ImageGlass safely clears the clipboard before copying to prevent errors: 
try
{
    Clipboard.Clear();
}
catch (ExternalException) { }
Some applications may lock the clipboard temporarily. ImageGlass handles these situations gracefully.

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Thread Safety

Clipboard operations run on an STA (Single-Threaded Apartment) thread for compatibility: 
BHelper.RunAsThread(() =>
{
    Clipboard.SetDataObject(data, true);
}, ApartmentState.STA).Join();
This ensures:
  • Compatibility with all applications
  • Reliable clipboard operations
  • No threading conflicts

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Clipboard Detection

ImageGlass can detect clipboard contents: 
public static bool ContainsImage()
{
    var dataObj = Clipboard.GetDataObject();
    
    // Check for PNG format
    var hasPng = dataObj.GetDataPresent("PNG", false);
    
    // Check for standard bitmap
    var hasBitmap = Clipboard.ContainsImage();
    
    // Check for Image object
    var hasImage = dataObj.GetDataPresent(typeof(Image));
    
    return hasPng || hasBitmap || hasImage;
}
Detection order:
  1. PNG format (highest quality)
  2. Standard Bitmap
  3. Generic Image object

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Practical Examples

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Screenshot Workflow

1

Capture Screenshot

Press Win+Shift+S (Windows Snipping Tool)Select area to capture
2

Paste into ImageGlass

Switch to ImageGlassPress Ctrl+V
3

Review and Edit

View the screenshot in full qualityOptionally launch external editor (E)

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Image Comparison

1

Open First Image

Browse to first image in ImageGlass
2

Copy Image Data

Press Ctrl+C to copy to clipboard
3

Open in Editor

Launch Photoshop or GIMPCreate new document from clipboard
4

Compare

Use layers or side-by-side windows to compare

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Collect Images from Multiple Folders

1

Enable Multiple Copy

Settings → Enable Allow copying multiple files
2

Browse and Copy

Navigate through foldersPress Ctrl+Shift+C for each desired image
3

Create Destination

Open Explorer and create target folder
4

Paste All

Press Ctrl+V in the target folderAll selected images are copied at once

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Share Image on Social Media

1

Open Image

Display desired image in ImageGlass
2

Copy Image

Press Ctrl+C to copy image data
3

Paste to Web

Open social media sitePaste (Ctrl+V) directly into post
Most modern web applications support direct image pasting, preserving transparency.

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Troubleshooting

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Copy Operation Fails

Symptoms:
  • Nothing copied to clipboard
  • Error message appears
Solutions:
  • Close other applications using clipboard
  • Restart ImageGlass
  • Check image file isn’t corrupted
  • Verify sufficient memory available

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Paste Doesn’t Work

Symptoms:
  • Paste command does nothing
  • Clipboard appears empty
Solutions:
  • Verify clipboard actually contains data
  • Try copying again
  • Check file path is valid (if pasting path)
  • Restart ImageGlass

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Transparency Lost

Symptoms:
  • Transparent areas become white/black
  • Alpha channel missing in target application
Causes:
  • Target application doesn’t support transparency
  • Fallback to Bitmap format
Solutions:
  • Use PNG-compatible applications
  • Save file instead of using clipboard
  • Check target application documentation

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Multiple Files Not Pasting

Symptoms:
  • Only one file pastes instead of all
  • Files not collected properly
Solutions:
  • Verify Allow copying multiple files is enabled
  • Check message shows increasing count
  • Don’t copy anything else between ImageGlass copies
  • Paste immediately after collecting all files

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Clipboard Conflicts

Symptoms:
  • Clipboard managers interfere
  • Copy/paste unreliable
Solutions:
  • Temporarily disable clipboard managers
  • Check clipboard manager settings
  • Configure exclusions for ImageGlass

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Best Practices

Use PNG format: Most applications prefer PNG, which preserves quality and transparency.
Copy before editing: Copy original before launching external editors for easy comparison.
Clear clipboard: If experiencing issues, manually clear clipboard before copying.
Verify paste destination: Ensure target application supports the format you need (especially transparency).

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