Resizing or downloading Images when only the URL is provided

[jwrog]

I have created a site where people can either upload images to the web server or provide a URL to their image. When they upload the image, I am able to get the image properties so that it can be resized while maintaining the peoper aspect ratio. However, if they provide a URL to their image I am at a loss with how to get the properties so that I can rezise the image properly.

I did a little research and found that Amazon is somehow able to download an image to their server when only the URL to the image is provided. I confirmed this by adding a product to my Amazon store, specifying the URL to the picture, and then after the product was added I went to the server that was hosting the image file and changed its name. The main picture became a broken link. However, the thumbnail image was still there. This is a clear indication that they actually downloaded the image to their server when all I provided was a URL to the image. This would work fine for me but I have no idea how to do this. Any clues?

Finally, if there is a way of determing the image height and width when just the URL is provided, that would be even better.

Any provided help would be greatly appreciated.

[f00sion]

I have downloaded files from specific url's in visual basic projects by using this nifty free control:
[vbaccelerator.com...]

Im not sure if it would work an asp or not though, but its worth a shot... and im sure there are other com objects out there that would do something similar.

[davegerard]

AspJpeg from Persits.com. It'll do everything you need and more.