Decoding image from a byteArray

Question

I don't know if this is possible (haven't seen it done
anywhere). Is there a way to decode a Base64 string back into a
ByteArray and subsequently into a Bitmap so that it can be
displayed within Flash?
I have successfully been able to encode the BitmapData into
PNG via a PNGEncoder class. This results in a ByteArray which I
have encoded using a Base64 class.
Any help much appreciated.

Answer 1

this seems to do what you were asking.
http://nightlycoding.com/index.php/2012/05/as3-send-bitmapdata-to-backend-efficiently/
source incase the link goes down in the future:
public static function deconstructBitmap(bmp:BitmapData):Object
            // converting the bitmapdata into a byteArray
            var byteArray:ByteArray = bmp.getPixels(bmp.rect);
            // compressing using the default algorithm 'zlib'
            byteArray.compress();
            var enc:Base64Encoder = new Base64Encoder(); 
            var b64;
            enc.encodeBytes(byteArray);
            // joining all in one line
            b64 = enc.drain().split("\n").join("");
            // the rectangle is needed for re-contstruction
            return {'bmpData':b64,'rect':bmp.rect};
public static function constructBitmap(obj:Object):BitmapData
            // to avoid errors
            if(obj!==''&&obj!==undefined&&obj!==null&&obj.bmpData!=='ByteArray'){
                var dec:Base64Decoder = new Base64Decoder();
                dec.decode(obj.bmpData); // decoding using the same algorithm
                var newByteArr:ByteArray=dec.toByteArray();
                newByteArr.uncompress();
                // end of decoding //
                var bitmapData:BitmapData = new BitmapData(obj.rect.width, obj.rect.height);
                bitmapData.setPixels(bitmapData.rect, newByteArr);
                return bitmapData;
            else
                return null;