Method and apparatus for the creation of compound digital image effects

A user captures a digital image, which is then selected for post-processing within the image capture device. The image capture device decompresses the full size image, and buffers any metadata associated with the image. As a user applies each post-processing effect to the image, effect parameters are added to the metadata for the image. Upon completion of post-processing the effect parameters from the metadata are stored in a separate custom effect file. The image capture device then is able to perform the series of effects upon subsequent images after reading the effect parameters from the custom effect file.