A method, in a picture archiving and communication system (PACS), for processing raw image data at a PACS display workstation includes the step of retrieving from a PACS database raw image data delivered from an imaging modality. The method also includes selecting from a PACS database a first preprocessing function for the raw image data delivered from the imaging modality. The method then processes the raw image data at the PACS display workstation by applying the first preprocessing function to the raw image data to create resultant image data, which may then be stored in the PACS database for future retrieval. A PACS display workstation includes a processing circuit, a PACS network interface coupled to the processing circuit, and a software memory coupled to the processing circuit. The software memory stores instructions for retrieving from a PACS database raw image data delivered from an imaging modality, selecting from a PACS database a first preprocessing function for the raw image data delivered from the imaging modality, and processing said raw image data at the PACS display workstation by applying the first preprocessing function to the raw image data.