> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/d2phap/ImageGlass/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Clipboard Operations

> Copy, cut, and paste images and file paths with full transparency support

## 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.

## Clipboard Features

### 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

### 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

<Note>
  Applications automatically select the best format they support, with PNG preferred by most modern software.
</Note>

## Copying Images

### 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

<Tip>
  Use **Copy image data** to capture exactly what you see, including any applied transformations or zoomed views.
</Tip>

### Copy Selected Region

To copy only part of an image:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Enable Selection Tool">
    Activate selection mode in ImageGlass
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Area">
    Click and drag to select the desired region
  </Step>

  <Step title="Copy Selection">
    Press `Ctrl+C` or right-click → **Copy image data**
  </Step>
</Steps>

Only the selected area is copied to the clipboard.

### 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

### 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

<Note>
  This copies a file reference, not the actual image data. Use **Copy image data** to paste into image editors.
</Note>

## Copy Multiple Files

ImageGlass can copy multiple files to the clipboard sequentially:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Enable Multiple File Copy">
    Go to **Settings > Edit**

    Enable **Allow copying multiple files**
  </Step>

  <Step title="Copy First File">
    Navigate to an image and press `Ctrl+Shift+C`
  </Step>

  <Step title="Copy Additional Files">
    Navigate to other images and press `Ctrl+Shift+C` again

    Each file is added to the clipboard collection
  </Step>

  <Step title="Paste All Files">
    Open Explorer or another application

    Press `Ctrl+V` to paste all copied files
  </Step>
</Steps>

**Status indicator:**

ImageGlass shows a message indicating how many files are in the clipboard:

```
File copied (3 items in clipboard)
```

<Tip>
  Use this feature to quickly collect images from different folders without navigating away from ImageGlass.
</Tip>

## Pasting Images

### 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

### Paste Image Data

When you paste image data:

<Steps>
  <Step title="ImageGlass Receives Data">
    Detects clipboard contains image data
  </Step>

  <Step title="Creates Temporary File">
    Saves clipboard content to a temporary file
  </Step>

  <Step title="Opens Image">
    Displays the pasted image immediately
  </Step>
</Steps>

**Supported sources:**

* Screenshots (Windows Snipping Tool, Print Screen)
* Copied images from web browsers
* Image data from Photoshop, GIMP, etc.
* Drawing applications

### 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

### Paste Multiple Files

Paste multiple files from Explorer:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Copy Files in Explorer">
    Select multiple images in File Explorer

    Press `Ctrl+C`
  </Step>

  <Step title="Switch to ImageGlass">
    Activate the ImageGlass window
  </Step>

  <Step title="Paste Files">
    Press `Ctrl+V`

    ImageGlass opens the first file and loads the folder
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Transparency Support

ImageGlass preserves full alpha channel transparency when copying images.

### How Transparency Works

```csharp theme={null}
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)

### Application Compatibility

| Application         | Transparency Support   |
| ------------------- | ---------------------- |
| **Photoshop**       | Full (prefers PNG/DIB) |
| **GIMP**            | Full (prefers PNG)     |
| **Paint.NET**       | Full (PNG)             |
| **MS Paint**        | None (uses Bitmap)     |
| **Word/PowerPoint** | Full (PNG)             |
| **Chrome/Firefox**  | Full (PNG)             |
| **Slack/Discord**   | Full (PNG)             |

<Tip>
  When pasting into applications without transparency support, ImageGlass automatically provides a non-transparent version.
</Tip>

## Advanced Features

### 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

### Clipboard Clearing

ImageGlass safely clears the clipboard before copying to prevent errors:

```csharp theme={null}
try
{
    Clipboard.Clear();
}
catch (ExternalException) { }
```

<Note>
  Some applications may lock the clipboard temporarily. ImageGlass handles these situations gracefully.
</Note>

### Thread Safety

Clipboard operations run on an STA (Single-Threaded Apartment) thread for compatibility:

```csharp theme={null}
BHelper.RunAsThread(() =>
{
    Clipboard.SetDataObject(data, true);
}, ApartmentState.STA).Join();
```

This ensures:

* Compatibility with all applications
* Reliable clipboard operations
* No threading conflicts

## Clipboard Detection

ImageGlass can detect clipboard contents:

```csharp theme={null}
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

## Practical Examples

### Screenshot Workflow

<Steps>
  <Step title="Capture Screenshot">
    Press `Win+Shift+S` (Windows Snipping Tool)

    Select area to capture
  </Step>

  <Step title="Paste into ImageGlass">
    Switch to ImageGlass

    Press `Ctrl+V`
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review and Edit">
    View the screenshot in full quality

    Optionally launch external editor (`E`)
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Image Comparison

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open First Image">
    Browse to first image in ImageGlass
  </Step>

  <Step title="Copy Image Data">
    Press `Ctrl+C` to copy to clipboard
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open in Editor">
    Launch Photoshop or GIMP

    Create new document from clipboard
  </Step>

  <Step title="Compare">
    Use layers or side-by-side windows to compare
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Collect Images from Multiple Folders

<Steps>
  <Step title="Enable Multiple Copy">
    Settings → Enable **Allow copying multiple files**
  </Step>

  <Step title="Browse and Copy">
    Navigate through folders

    Press `Ctrl+Shift+C` for each desired image
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create Destination">
    Open Explorer and create target folder
  </Step>

  <Step title="Paste All">
    Press `Ctrl+V` in the target folder

    All selected images are copied at once
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Share Image on Social Media

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Image">
    Display desired image in ImageGlass
  </Step>

  <Step title="Copy Image">
    Press `Ctrl+C` to copy image data
  </Step>

  <Step title="Paste to Web">
    Open social media site

    Paste (`Ctrl+V`) directly into post
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Most modern web applications support direct image pasting, preserving transparency.
</Tip>

## Troubleshooting

### 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

### 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

### 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

### 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

### Clipboard Conflicts

**Symptoms:**

* Clipboard managers interfere
* Copy/paste unreliable

**Solutions:**

* Temporarily disable clipboard managers
* Check clipboard manager settings
* Configure exclusions for ImageGlass

## Best Practices

<Tip>
  **Use PNG format**: Most applications prefer PNG, which preserves quality and transparency.
</Tip>

<Tip>
  **Copy before editing**: Copy original before launching external editors for easy comparison.
</Tip>

<Tip>
  **Clear clipboard**: If experiencing issues, manually clear clipboard before copying.
</Tip>

<Tip>
  **Verify paste destination**: Ensure target application supports the format you need (especially transparency).
</Tip>

## Related Features

* [External Editor Integration](/advanced/editing-integration) - Open images in editors after copying
* [Keyboard Shortcuts](/user-guide/keyboard-shortcuts) - Complete list of clipboard shortcuts
* [Selection Tools](/user-guide/interface#selection) - Copy selected regions