ImageGear 14.5 introduced support for native storage and processing of images with high bit depths, a variety of color spaces, and flexible channel configuration (flexible channel depths, flexible number of channels). To provide this support, it was necessary to abandon the relatively limited Windows DIB format for internal storage of images. Its header could not describe all of the necessary properties of an image and was not extensible enough. Since the Windows DIB format is no longer used for internal storage, the function IG_image_DIB_ptr_get had been removed. Instead, a new DIB storage system is used and the API has been revised to accommodate it.

The function IG_image_DIB_bitmap_pntr_get was removed to intentionally break code that relied on the old storage system. It has been replaced by IG_image_DIB_raster_pntr_get, which can be used in the same way as IG_image_DIB_bitmap_pntr_get by asking for the first raster in the image.

This section provides information about the following:

• Summary of Changes
• Getting a Pointer to the DIB (the old way)
• The DIB Info Object - HIGDIBINFO
• Retrieving DIB Information
• biBitCount - Retrieving Bit Depths
• biCompression - Retrieving Compression Type / Color Space
• Method 1: Exporting and Importing DIBs
• Method 2: Pixel Access Functions
• Method 3: Accessing Pixel Data Directly
• Working with Alpha/Extra Channels
• • Option 1: Make your pixel access code aware of alpha/extra channels.
  • Option 2: Remove alpha/extra channels before doing pixel access.
• Working with Variable Channel Depths
• Pixel Access Examples
• • Image Creation Helper Function (used by the functions that follow)
  • Using Pixel Access Functions in Legacy Mode
  • Using Pixel Access Functions in New Mode
  • Using Direct Access via IG_image_DIB_raster_pntr_get (called for each raster)
  • Using Direct Access via IG_image_DIB_raster_pntr_get (called only once)