title: How to read bytes of a local image file in Dart/Flutter?
body: <p>I would like to use a placeholder image file that I've added to my code as <code>"assets/placeholder.png"</code>, but I'm getting a File not found error.  This is how I'm doing it from the dartlang documentation...</p>
  
  <pre><code>var bytes = await new File('assets/placeholder.png').readAsBytes();
  String base64 = CryptoUtils.bytesToBase64(bytes);
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The <code>bytes</code> variable errors every time. How can I save the bytes of a locally saved image file?</p>