An Image Processing Control/Component by Pegasus Imaging Corporation

Technical Notes
- Programming environment: C/C++
- Sample code is included
- Thread-safe to allow simultaneous operations
- Buffer to buffer image processing for maximum flexibility
- Static and shared dispatcher libraries combined with compressed opcode DLLs enable creation of single file executables
- The low-level API (Application Programmers Interface) offers total control of image processing functions
- Provides exceptional stability and high speed in limited-resource environments
- Complete trial version includes documentation, operation samples, a source sample application and technical support

PICTools Architecture
The PICTools software architecture consists of a shared library (the "dispatcher") that loads operation specific shared libraries ("opcodes") for modular, discrete functionality. One major advantage to the use of this architecture is the ability of Pegasus to rapidly port opcodes to different processors. Each opcode begins as an ANSI "C" coded library. This library is then optimized for the target chip using assembler and processor-specific optimizations. The dispatcher is ported to "new" operating systems by implementing the code-loading functionality of each OS. PICTools’ dispatcher / opcode architecture facilitates a la carte opcode usage in a consistent interface across opcodes and operating systems.

PICTools Fingerprint includes a combination of opcodes containing individual feature sets. Each opcode allows the user to perform specific functions. PICTools is licensed per opcode used. See the detailed list of available features (PICTools Fingerprint Opcodes).

Compression and File Format Support
- WSQ - Wavelet Scalar Quantization
- The benefit of WSQ fingerprint-specific compression is reduced file size. A sample fingerprint with a resolution of 589 pixels by 605 pixels, 8-bit grayscale results in a file size of 325 KB when compressed with the standard lossless compression technology LZW. When compressed with lossy JPEG the file size is 108 KB. When compressed with PICTools, the file size is 28 KB. This is a space savings of greater than 11X over lossless compression, and almost 4X over JPEG when targeting consistent quality settings.
- JPEG (Sequential) – 24-bit RGB, 2 to 8-bit grayscale
- Patented technology for enhanced JPEG decompression will remove block artifacts from over-compressed JPEG images without blurring
- JPEG-LS – 24-bit RGB, 2 to 16-bit grayscale
- Provide excellent lossless or near-lossless compression performance over a broad range of images
- Programmatically set compression for lossless or near lossless, and point transform
- Compress and decompress single component 2 to 16-bit grayscale images
- Compress and decompress multiple component 24-bit (RGB) images
- Compress and decompress 24-bit (RGB) images in any of three modes: Non-interleaved, line-interleaved, or sample-interleaved
- Encode/decode application (APP), Comment (COM), and Restart (DRI, RST) Markers
- Supports image cropping
- Strictly adheres to the JPEG-LS specification
- Lossless JPEG – 24-bit RGB, 2 to 8-bit grayscale
- PCX
- TGA
- TIFF
- BMP
- DCX
- GIF / LZW