Embedded codec circuitry for block based gamma correction of a raw image block

A method, comprising:

• in an embedded codec (EBC) circuitry:
• determining a value of a selection parameter, which is indicative of image characteristics, for each image block of a plurality of image blocks, based on a plurality of input pixel values in each image block of the plurality of image blocks, wherein the plurality of image blocks corresponds to an input image;
• selecting a first image block from the plurality of image blocks, based on the value of the selection parameter of the first image block, wherein the value of the selection parameter of the first image block greater than a threshold value indicates that the first image block is a candidate for gamma correction;
• generating a gamma corrected image block by the application of a gamma correction scheme on the selected first image block, wherein the application of the gamma correction scheme increases a number of bits required to encode the plurality of input pixel values in the selected first image block as compared to a non-selected first image block;
• and
• generating a first bit-stream of the gamma corrected image block by application of an encoding scheme on the gamma corrected image block.