Base64 Encode Image and Save it later to a file - ruby-on-rails

Question

I have an application where an admin can upload an image. I save the image in a file and also base64 encode (using Base64.strict_encode method of ruby) & save in my DB. This is so that when later someone deleted the physical file from the HDD/Server, I can still generate it back by base64 decoding it (Base64.decode method) and save in a file.
But the encoding and decoding didn't go well as the image get damaged and I'm unable to view it after save.
I checked the output of the Base64.strict_encode against the result when I used http://www.base64-image.de/ to encode the file, they were different.
Can anyone help me with this? What am I doing wrong? What am I not doing?
ENCODING THE IMAGE DURING UPLOAD:
imageLoc = image.image.to_s
logger.info '>>>>>>' + (Base64.strict_encode64(open(imageLoc).read)).to_s
image_data = Base64.strict_encode64(File.open(imageLoc, 'rb').read)
CategoryImage.update_image_data(image.id,image_data)
DECODING WHEN IMAGE FILE IS LOST:
File.open(File.join(APP_CONFIG['image_storage_location'], image[:image]), 'wb') { |f|
content = image[:image_data]
content.gsub!('\\r', "\r")
content.gsub!('\\n', "\n")
f.write(Base64.decode64(content))
f.close
}
ENCODED IMAGE FROM THE SITE (base64-image.de): https://shrib.com/cYLKfEe1?v=nc
ENCODED IMAGE FROM MY CODE: https://shrib.com/CODE-encoded%20image?v=nc
EDIT
When I replaced the encoded image data in my DB with the one I generated from the above named website, my image was regenerated and viewable. So the real is with the encoding.

Answer 1

Had once a similar issue, solved it by replacing the File.read method with IO.binread(imageLoc). Hope it helps. :)