Generic filehandler method

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I am trying to build a generic static method that will return a specified type from a method. My problem is that I need to return say an image from the method...and I'm having trouble understanding how to do this.

This is what I have so far...(The new Image is hardcoded right now...I would like to abstract that out)

private T GetFileFromFileSystem<T>(string filePath, string fileNameWithoutExtension)
{
string tempExtension = "";

if (Directory.Exists(filePath))
{
if (Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(filePath + "\\" + imageNameWithoutExtension).ToString().Trim().Length > 0)
{
tempExtension = Path.GetExtension(filePath + "\\" + imageNameWithoutExtension);
return (T)(Object)new Bitmap(filePath + "\\" + imageNameWithoutExtension + "." + tempExtension);
}
else
{
return default(T);
}
}
}

Thanks for any help you might be able to provide,
Ron

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