If you want to work with an image directly and avoid using pixel access functions on a per-raster basis, you can decompress the image to your own buffer using IG_DIB_area_get(). Here's an example scenario:

1. Call IG_DIB_area_size_get to get the size of the buffer.
2. Allocate the buffer (i.e., with new or malloc).
3. Call IG_DIB_area_get. ImageGear decompresses the image into your buffer.
4. Read/write uncompressed pixel data directly in your buffer.
5. Call IG_DIB_area_set if updating ImageGear's internal copy of the image is desired. ImageGear compresses the image from your buffer.