---
title: "PDF417 barcode generator in C# .NET | Nutrient .NET SDK"
canonical_url: "https://www.nutrient.io/guides/dotnet/barcodes/generation/pdf417/"
md_url: "https://www.nutrient.io/guides/dotnet/barcodes/generation/pdf417.md"
last_updated: "2026-05-20T19:49:34.787Z"
description: "Learn how to generate PDF417 barcodes in C# .NET using Nutrient .NET SDK (formerly GdPicture.NET) with detailed guides and examples."
---

# Generate PDF417 barcodes in C# .NET

Nutrient.NET SDK (formerly GdPicture.NET) enables you to generate one-dimensional (1D or linear) and two-dimensional (2D) barcodes.

Nutrient.NET SDK supports all 1D barcode formats and the following 2D barcode formats:

- Aztec Code

- Data Matrix

- MaxiCode

- Micro QR

- PDF417

- QR

To generate a PDF417 barcode, follow the steps below:

1. Create a `GdPictureImaging` object.

2. Set the encoding mode of the barcode with the `BarcodePDF417EncodingMode` enumeration, and store it in a variable. Use `BarcodePDF417EncodingModeUndefined` to let the engine determine the most appropriate encoding mode for the input data.

3. Set the error correction level with the `BarcodePDF417ErrorCorrectionLevel` enumeration, and store it in a variable. Use `BarcodePDF417ErrorCorrectionLevelAuto` to let the engine determine the error correction level.

4. Compute the size of the barcode with the `BarcodePDF417GetSize` method of the `GdPictureImaging` object. This method takes the following parameters:
   - The data encoded in the barcode.
   - The encoding mode.
   - The error correction level.
   - The number of rows in the barcode. Use `0` to let the engine determine the number of rows or a value from `3` to `90`.
   - The number of columns in the barcode. Use `0` to let the engine determine the number of columns or a value from `3` to `90`.
   - The number of modules considered quiet zone around the barcode. The recommended value is `4` or more.
   - The size of each module in pixels. The recommended value is `4` or more.
   - The height of rows in pixels. The recommended value is `10` or more.
   - An output parameter that defines the width of the barcode.
   - An output parameter that defines the height of the barcode.

5. Create an empty GdPicture image with the `CreateNewGdPictureImage` method of the `GdPictureImaging` object. This method takes the following parameters:
   - The width of the image in pixels.
   - The height of the image in pixels.
   - The bit depth of the image.
   - The background color of the image. Use the `ARGB` method of the `GdPictureImaging` object to specify the color with the ARGB standard. For example, for a white background, set `gdpictureImaging.ARGB(255, 255, 255)`.

6. Write the barcode to the empty image with the `BarcodePDF417Write` method of the `GdPictureImaging` object. This method takes the following parameters:
   - The image ID of the newly created image.
   - The data encoded in the barcode.
   - The encoding mode.
   - The error correction level.
   - The number of rows in the barcode. Use `0` to let the engine determine the number of rows or a value from `3` to `90`.
   - The number of columns in the barcode. Use `0` to let the engine determine the number of columns or a value from `3` to `90`.
   - The number of modules considered quiet zone around the barcode. The recommended value is `4` or more.
   - The size of each module in pixels. The recommended value is `4` or more.
   - The height of rows in pixels. The recommended value is `10` or more.
   - The distance between the left side of the image and the barcode in pixels.
   - The distance between the top side of the image and the barcode in pixels.
   - The angle of the barcode.
   - The color of the symbols on the barcode. Use the `ARGB` method of the `GdPictureImaging` object to specify the color with the ARGB standard. For example, for black, set `gdpictureImaging.ARGB(0, 0, 0)`.
   - The background color of the barcode. Use the `ARGB` method of the `GdPictureImaging` object to specify the color with the ARGB standard. For example, for white, set `gdpictureImaging.ARGB(255, 255, 255)`.

7. Save the image as a PNG file with the `SaveAsPNG` method of the `GdPictureImaging` object.

8. Release unnecessary resources.

The example below generates a PDF417 barcode:

### C#

```csharp

using GdPictureImaging gdpictureImaging = new GdPictureImaging();
// Set the encoding mode of the barcode.
BarcodePDF417EncodingMode encodingMode = BarcodePDF417EncodingMode.BarcodePDF417EncodingModeUndefined;
// Set the error correction level.
BarcodePDF417ErrorCorrectionLevel errorCorrectionLevel = BarcodePDF417ErrorCorrectionLevel.BarcodePDF417ErrorCorrectionLevelAuto;
// Set the number of rows and columns in the barcode.
int rows = 0;
int columns = 0;
// Compute the size of the barcode.
gdpictureImaging.BarcodePDF417GetSize("0123456789", encodingMode, ref errorCorrectionLevel, ref rows, ref columns, 4, 8, 20, out int width, out int height);
// Create an empty GdPicture image.
int imageID = gdpictureImaging.CreateNewGdPictureImage(width, height, 32, gdpictureImaging.ARGB(255, 255, 255));
// Write the barcode to the empty image.
gdpictureImaging.BarcodePDF417Write(imageID, "0123456789", encodingMode, errorCorrectionLevel, rows, columns, 4, 8, 20, 0, 0, 0, gdpictureImaging.ARGB(0, 0, 0), gdpictureImaging.ARGB(255, 255, 255));
// Save the image as a PNG file.
gdpictureImaging.SaveAsPNG(imageID, @"C:\temp\output.png");
// Release unnecessary resources.
gdpictureImaging.ReleaseGdPictureImage(imageID);

```

### VB.NET

```vb

Using gdpictureImaging As GdPictureImaging = New GdPictureImaging()
    ' Set the encoding mode of the barcode.
    Dim encodingMode As BarcodePDF417EncodingMode = BarcodePDF417EncodingMode.BarcodePDF417EncodingModeUndefined
    ' Set the error correction level.
    Dim errorCorrectionLevel As BarcodePDF417ErrorCorrectionLevel = BarcodePDF417ErrorCorrectionLevel.BarcodePDF417ErrorCorrectionLevelAuto
    ' Set the number of rows and columns in the barcode.
    Dim rows = 0
    Dim columns = 0
    ' Compute the size of the barcode.
    Dim width As Integer = Nothing, height As Integer = Nothing
    gdpictureImaging.BarcodePDF417GetSize("0123456789", encodingMode, errorCorrectionLevel, rows, columns, 4, 8, 20, width, height)
    ' Create an empty GdPicture image.
    Dim imageID As Integer = gdpictureImaging.CreateNewGdPictureImage(width, height, 32, gdpictureImaging.ARGB(255, 255, 255))
    ' Write the barcode to the empty image.
    gdpictureImaging.BarcodePDF417Write(imageID, "0123456789", encodingMode, errorCorrectionLevel, rows, columns, 4, 8, 20, 0, 0, 0, gdpictureImaging.ARGB(0, 0, 0), gdpictureImaging.ARGB(255, 255, 255))
    ' Save the image as a PNG file.
    gdpictureImaging.SaveAsPNG(imageID, "C:\temp\output.png")
    ' Release unnecessary resources.
    gdpictureImaging.ReleaseGdPictureImage(imageID)
End Using

```

#### Used methods and properties

- [`ARGB`](/api/gdpicture/GdPicture.NET.14.API~GdPicture14.GdPictureImaging~ARGB.html)

- [`BarcodePDF417EncodingMode`](/api/gdpicture/GdPicture.NET.14.API~GdPicture14.BarcodePDF417EncodingMode.html)

- [`BarcodePDF417ErrorCorrectionLevel`](/api/gdpicture/GdPicture.NET.14.API~GdPicture14.BarcodePDF417ErrorCorrectionLevel.html)

- [`BarcodePDF417Write`](/api/gdpicture/GdPicture.NET.14.API~GdPicture14.GdPictureImaging~BarcodePDF417Write.html)

- [`CreateNewGdPictureImage`](/api/gdpicture/GdPicture.NET.14.API~GdPicture14.GdPictureImaging~CreateNewGdPictureImage.html)

- [`SaveAsPNG`](/api/gdpicture/GdPicture.NET.14.API~GdPicture14.GdPictureImaging~SaveAsPNG.html)

- [`ReleaseGdPictureImage`](/api/gdpicture/GdPicture.NET.14.API~GdPicture14.GdPictureImaging~ReleaseGdPictureImage.html)

#### Related topics

- [Load a file](/guides/dotnet/load-a-file.md)

- [Save a file](/guides/dotnet/save-a-file.md)

---

## Related pages

- [Generate barcodes in C#](/guides/dotnet/barcodes/generation.md)
- [Generate Aztec barcodes in C# .NET](/guides/dotnet/barcodes/generation/aztec-code.md)
- [Generate MaxiCode barcodes in C# .NET](/guides/dotnet/barcodes/generation/maxicode.md)
- [Generate Micro QR codes in C# .NET](/guides/dotnet/barcodes/generation/microqr.md)
- [Generate Data Matrix barcodes in C# .NET](/guides/dotnet/barcodes/generation/datamatrix.md)
- [Generate 1D barcodes in C#](/guides/dotnet/barcodes/generation/1d-linear.md)
- [Write a 1D barcode to an image](/guides/dotnet/barcodes/generation/write-1d-barcode-to-image.md)
- [Write a QR code to an image](/guides/dotnet/barcodes/generation/write-qr-code-to-image.md)
- [Generate QR codes with C# .NET](/guides/dotnet/barcodes/generation/qr.md)