Method and system for weighted encoding

A method and system for weighted encoding of image data includes a transformation device configured to determine a non-linear transformation function for use in weighting an encoding of image data such that selected areas of the image data where increased detail is desired are encoded using a disproportionately greater number of bits of a total number of bits available for characterizing the image data. The system of the present invention can further include an encoding device configure to encode the weighted image data. In one embodiment of the present invention, the transformation device includes an analysis device configured to arrange pixel information into groups according to bit depths of the pixels of the image data, a post processing device configured to receive the organized pixel information and determine respective gains for the groups, and a transformation generation device configured to determine the transformation function based upon the respective gains.