A method and an apparatus are for the loading and postprocessing of three-dimensional digital volume data, in particular from the medical field. Layer images are usually acquired by CT or MR devices and combined to form a volume data record. These combined data are fed to one or more postprocessing methods, such as e.g. the VRT, MIP and/or MPR technique. These postprocessing methods can already be used for a portion of the loaded data directly after the beginning of the loading operation.