Encoded Images

Does anyone know how to retrieve an image from HeidiSQL once it has been encoded?

Do you know what method or algorithm was used to encode the image?

I know the database field is a longblob I converted an image using base64 and then I put that data into the longblob field, and now the data doesn't look the same. I don't know if HeidiSQL or MySQL changes the data, but it isn't exactly what I entered

You should run something like this:

SELECT FROM_BASE64(your_column_name)

... and then enable the Image preview feature in Grid view options. You need MySQL/5.6 or greater.