   How to store BMPs in external resource files (DLLs?)
  How would I store bitmaps securely so nobody can access them?  I don't want to store them inside the EXE because then the size of the EXE becomes HUGE!  Is there a way to do this in a DLL?   
  You don't need a DLL for that.  If you have the data, and a function to write that data into a bmp file, just create a function to write that data into a different file.  Just make up a file specification.  This will prevent casual users from messing with them.  Someone who is determined will necessitate an encryption scheme of some sort.. but that might a bit excessive.   ;  Well I really wouldn't know where to start on for that one but how do big companies like Blizzard and Maxis store their 2D Bitmaps?   ;  I think alot of them store many bitmaps into one file of their own specification.  Make a program that loads a few bitmaps as they are, then resave them together close to how they were loaded, but how you want them.  I'd say just save if you want a title, height, width, and the actual pixel data, then repeat into the same file.  It only requires simple file input/output, and is pretty easy if you already know how to load BMP files into your own arrays.   ;  You can use a dll as a way of storing only resources, check out this  link from MSDN for details on how to create and use them.   ;  You could use a the zip format to compress and collect your art into one or several large files.  Change the extension (and maybe even the format and encrypt it if you want to go all out).  This will save some disk space and make it easy for you and others on your team to play with the data during development.  Before you ship it, do a pass to encrypt it for security.  There is code out there for handling the zip format.   ;Quote:Original post by falkoneYou don't need a DLL for that.  If you have the data, and a function to write that data into a bmp file, just create a function to write that data into a different file.  Just make up a file specification.  This will prevent casual users from messing with them.  Someone who is determined will necessitate an encryption scheme of some sort.. but that might a bit excessive.A fairly simple XOR mask run on all the pixel data may be enuf to scramble it sufficiently.  A simple rotating pattern of the mask applied probably would 'encrypt' it enough to disuade most people trying to decode it.