Embed Images with DataURIs in C# & VB PDF Rendering

Updated:July 28, 2025

When working with HTML strings and documents, it is often useful not to depend on a directory of assets. To work around this issue, we use the data URI scheme.

The data URI scheme is a method used in web development to embed data directly into HTML or CSS code, eliminating the need for separate files. Data URIs allow images, files, and even typefaces to be injected directly into an HTML document as a string.

Get started making PDFs with NuGet now:

Install IronPDF with NuGet
PM > Install-Package IronPdf

Copy the code

new IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer().RenderHtmlAsPdf($"<img src='data:image/png;base64,{Convert.ToBase64String(System.IO.File.ReadAllBytes(\"path/to/image.png\"))}'>").SaveAs("dataUriImage.pdf");

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First Step:

How to Embed Images with Data URI Scheme

Download IronPDF from NuGet
Read the image bytes using the ReadAllBytes method
Use the ToBase64String method to convert bytes to base64
Include the base64 information in the img tag
Render the HTML to PDF

Basic Image Embedding Example

The following example shows the rendering of an image into an HTML document without an asset file:

:path=/static-assets/pdf/content-code-examples/how-to/datauris-image.cs

using IronPdf;
using System;

// Read byte from image file
var pngBinaryData = System.IO.File.ReadAllBytes("My_image.png");

// Convert bytes to base64
var ImgDataURI = @"data:image/png;base64," + Convert.ToBase64String(pngBinaryData);

// Import base64 to img tag
var ImgHtml = $"<img src='{ImgDataURI}'>";

ChromePdfRenderer Renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

// Render the HTML string
var pdf = Renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(ImgHtml);

pdf.SaveAs("datauri_example.pdf");

Imports IronPdf
Imports System

' Read byte from image file
Private pngBinaryData = System.IO.File.ReadAllBytes("My_image.png")

' Convert bytes to base64
Private ImgDataURI = "data:image/png;base64," & Convert.ToBase64String(pngBinaryData)

' Import base64 to img tag
Private ImgHtml = $"<img src='{ImgDataURI}'>"

Private Renderer As New ChromePdfRenderer()

' Render the HTML string
Private pdf = Renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(ImgHtml)

pdf.SaveAs("datauri_example.pdf")

$vbLabelText $csharpLabel

We can also serve an entire HTML String or PDF document as a Byte Array using IronPDF's ASP.NET MVC Integration.

Chaknith Bin

Chat with engineering team now

Software Engineer

Chaknith works on IronXL and IronBarcode. He has deep expertise in C# and .NET, helping improve the software and support customers. His insights from user interactions contribute to better products, documentation, and overall experience.