In a picture archiving and communication system (PACS), a method for application of operator preferences to partially preprocessed image data is presented. The method includes the steps of determining an operator identification of an operator at a display workstation, searching, based on the operator identification, for operator preferences including at least one partially preprocessed raw image data preprocessing function preference, and, retrieving the operator preferences. Once the operator preferences are retrieved, the method applies the operator preferences including the preprocessing function preference to partially preprocessed raw image data. An image display workstation for a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) and for application of operator preferences to partially preprocessed image data is also presented. The image 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 determining an operator identification of an operator at a display workstation, searching for operator preferences including at least one partially preprocessed raw image data preprocessing function preference based on the operator identification, retrieving the operator preferences, and applying the operator preferences including the preprocessing function preference to partially preprocessed raw image data.