The format of the image data to be set is specified by the ulPelFormat and usBitCount fields of the MCI_IMAGE_PARMS data structure. If MCI_CONVERT is specified, the data must be in OS/2 bit-map format and will be converted to the device-specific format. The driver expects a BITMAPINFOHEADER2 data structure at the beginning of the buffer, followed by any palette data, and then the pel data. If MCI_CONVERT is not specified, the data will be placed directly into the device element buffer. If the current bits-per-pel, pixel-format or MCI_CONVERT values conflict, the message will fail.

On dual-plane image capture hardware devices, the image layer content is assumed. Output is clipped as needed to the visible regions of the display window.

Conversion from OS/2 bit-map format to YUVB format is accomplished with an I/O procedure which can use disk space for temporary storage. Therefore, it is possible that errors such as MCIERR_TARGET_DEVICE_FULL can occur.