The diagram in figure 1 gives a conceptual view of the important role played by DIBs in ImageGear. The center image represents a DIB that results when an image is obtained from disk, memory, or a scanned file. Image processing and clipboard functions can be used to alter or merge the actual DIB bitmap data. To the right of the DIB are various routes an image may take after being manipulated by ImageGear: it may be saved to disk or to memory, it may be displayed, or it may be printed.