.NET Window Capture Samples
NOTE: This is an experimental project. Please use it at your own risk.
Captures a window or desktop screen and renders it in WPF or DirectX.
- Windows 10 (64-bit, April 2018 Update)
- DirectX 11
- .NET Framework 4.7.2
- Visual Studio 2019
| Project Name |
Minimal Windows Version |
Render To |
Platform |
Win32.BitBlt |
Windows 95 |
DirectX |
Win32 |
Win32.DesktopDuplication |
Windows 8 |
DirectX |
Win32 |
Win32.DwmSharedSurface |
Windows 7 |
DirectX |
Win32 |
Win32.DwmThumbnail |
Windows 7 |
WPF |
Win32 |
WinRT.GraphicsCapture |
Windows 10 1803 |
DirectX |
WinRT |
Compare with capture target
| Capture Method |
Window Capture |
Desktop Capture |
Outside of Desktop |
HW Acceleration |
DirectX Games |
Win32.BitBlt |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Win32.DesktopDuplication |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Win32.DwmSharedSurface |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Win32.DwmThumbnail |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
WinRT.GraphicsCapture |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Compare with capture source
| Capture Method |
Window Handle |
Monitor Handle |
Another |
Win32.BitBlt |
Yes |
No |
- |
Win32.DesktopDuplication |
No |
No |
Device (Monitor) |
Win32.DwmSharedSurface |
Yes |
No |
- |
Win32.DwmThumbnail |
Yes |
No |
- |
WinRT.GraphicsCapture |
Yes * |
Yes * |
Embedded Picker |
- *: Require Windows 10 1903 or greater.
| Capture Method |
Delay (ms) |
Win32.BitBlt |
~ 20ms |
Win32.DesktopDuplication |
N/A |
Win32.DwmSharedSurface |
~ 20ms |
Win32.DwmThumbnail |
0ms |
WinRT.GraphicsCapture |
~ 40ms |
- I used this video to investigate the delay.
- It is just a reference value, but it is certain that the delay of
Win32.DwmThumbnail is 0 ms.
- This is because it uses a drawing method that is entirely common to other windows.
This project is licensed under the MIT license.