query about binary encoding images

[sjoel]

I understand that when I move images between files, I need to binary encode them or refer to them as binfiles. However when I want to send an image to a remote machine using ftp or write there seems to be no option to binary encode or refer to the image as a binfile.  If this is not the case, please correct me and / or if there is a solution, any help would be appreciated.   Regards, Sian