Windows Imaging Component

The Windows Imaging Component (WIC) is available in Windows Vista and later operating systems (OSes). WIC provides an extensible framework for working with images and image metadata. WIC makes it possible for independent software vendors (ISVs) and independent hardware vendors (IHVs) to develop their own image codecs and get the same platform support as standard image formats (for example, TIFF, JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, and HDPhoto). A single, consistent set of interfaces is used for all image processing, regardless of image format, so any application using the WIC gets automatic support for new image formats as soon as the codec is installed. The extensible metadata framework makes it possible for applications to read and write their own proprietary metadata directly to image files, so the metadata never gets lost or separated from the image. Enables application developers to perform image processing operations on any image format through a single, consistent set of common interfaces, without requiring prior knowledge of specific image formats. Provides an extensible "plug and play" architecture for image codecs, pixel formats, and metadata, with automatic run-time discovery of new formats. Supports reading and writing of arbitrary metadata in image files, with the ability to preserve unrecognized metadata during editing. Preserves high bit depth image data, up to 32 bits per channel, throughout the image processing pipeline. Provides built-in support for most popular image formats, pixel formats, and metadata schemas. WIC includes several built-in codecs. The following standard codecs are provided with the platform. BMP (Windows Bitmap Format), BMP Specification v5. image/bmp Yes Yes GIF (Graphics Interchange Format 89a), GIF Specification 89a/89m image/gif Yes Yes ICO (Icon Format) image/ico Yes No JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group), JFIF Specification 1.02 image/jpeg, image/jpe, image/jpg Yes Yes JPEG XR (JPEG Extended Range) image/jxr Yes Yes PNG (Portable Network Graphics), PNG Specification 1.2 image/png Yes Yes TIFF (Tagged Image File Format), TIFF Specification 6.0 image/tiff, image/tif Yes Yes Windows Media Photo, HD Photo format overview image/vnd.ms-photo Yes Yes DDS (DirectDraw Surface) image/vnd.ms-dds Yes Yes Want to try using Ask Learn to clarify or guide you through this topic? Ask Learn is an AI assistant that can answer questions, clarify concepts, and define terms using trusted Microsoft documentation.