Windows Imaging Component
The Windows Imaging Component (WIC) is a Component Object Model based imaging codec framework introduced in Windows Vista 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 necessary 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), International Press Telecommunications Council (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].