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The Windows Imaging Component (WIC) is a Component Object Model based imaging codec framework introduced in Windows Vista and Windows XP Service Pack 3 for working with and processing digital images and image metadata. It allows applications supporting the framework to automatically get support of installed codecs for graphics file formats. It is similar to DirectShow, or ACM/VCM, in that it can be extended using image codecs and can support third-party graphics formats on a system-wide basis. Additionally, Windows Presentation Foundation applications also automatically support the installed image codecs. Codecs for RAW image formats used by high-end professional digital cameras are also supported in this manner. WIC enables application developers to perform image processing operations on any image format through a single set of common APIs, without requiring prior knowledge of specific image formats. By writing a codec once for WIC, developers can get system-wide support for that graphics file format in all applications that use WIC or WPF. Windows Imaging Component also supports Windows Color System, the ICC V4-compliant color management technology in Windows Vista.

In Windows Vista: Windows Explorer, Windows Photo Gallery and Windows Photo Gallery Viewer are based on Windows Imaging Component and can thus view/organize images in any format for which the WIC codecs are installed.

Features

Windows Imaging Component provides an extensible architecture for image codecs, pixel formats, and metadata, with automatic run-time discovery of new formats. It supports reading and writing of arbitrary metadata in image files, with the ability to preserve unrecognized metadata during editing. While working with images, it preserves high bit depth image data, up to 32 bits per channel, throughout the revamped high dynamic range image processing pipeline built into Windows Vista.

Codecs

By default, Windows Vista ships with the JPEG, TIFF, GIF, PNG, BMP and HD Photo encoder and decoder codecs, and an .ICO decoder. Additionally, as of 2007, some high-end camera manufacturers have released WIC codecs for proprietary RAW image formats.

Metadata

WIC supports Exchangeable Image File (Exif), PNG textual metadata, image file directory (IFD), IPTC Information Interchange Model (IPTC), and Extensible Metadata Platform (XMP) formats. In addition, WIC includes an extensible framework to support third-party metadata implementations.^[1]

Applications using WIC

WIC is also available for Windows XP as a standalone download or as part of .NET Framework 3.0.^[2] As of 2007, few third-party imaging applications (image editors, image organizers and image viewers) utilize WIC. Windows Photo Gallery on Windows Vista and Windows Live Photo Gallery on Windows XP and Windows Vista use WIC. A PowerToy for Windows XP from Microsoft, known as Photo Info, which allows viewing and editing image metadata from Windows Explorer, also uses WIC.^[3] Microsoft Expression Design's import and export capabilities are entirely based on WIC^[4] Expression Media Service Pack 1 and later also supports additional RAW camera formats and HD Photo using WIC.^[5][6] FastPictureViewer, a simple standalone third-party image viewer, supports standard image formats along with HD Photo and RAW camera formats (NRW, NEF, CR2, DNG) using WIC. An experimental WIC import plug-in for Adobe Photoshop can also be found on FastPictureViewer's website.

References

1. ^ WIC Metadata
2. ^ Download WIC for Windows XP
3. ^ Photo Info shell extension for Windows Explorer
4. ^ Will Expression Designer use WIC
5. ^ DAM for Creatives from Microsoft blog
6. ^ Expression Media Service Pack 1

External links

• How to write a WIC-enabled codec
• WIC documentation on MSDN

Available WIC Codecs

• Ardfry Imaging WIC codec for Adobe DNG format
• Adobe's WIC codec for DNG
• Canon RAW codec for WIC
• Nikon RAW codec for WIC
• Sony RAW codec for WIC
• Olympus RAW codec for WIC
• Pentax RAW codec
• WIC codec for DjVu

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