A method and system with which quality of an image derived from or addressed to a chain of appliances can be modified. Formatted information related to defects of the appliances is employed. The method and system: compile directories of sources of formatted information related to the appliances, search automatically for the formatted information related to the appliances, and modify the image automatically by image-processing software and/or image-processing components by taking into account the obtained formatted information. The formatted information can be modified as a function of variable characteristics of the image to be processed and/or the appliances. With the method and system it is possible to process images derived from appliances that have diverse origins and that have been commercialized gradually over time. Such a method and system are applicable to processing of photographic or video images and in optical instrumentation, industrial controls, robotics, metrology, etc.