Abstract: An automatic gain control (AGC) and digitizing circuit, particularly suitable for use in digital video image processing and/or display systems, is disclosed. This circuit advantageously defines an active window within an image area and operates the AGC only on the active window in order to ensure that the active window is always displayed, on a remote monitor, with proper brightness and contrast. The active window can be located anywhere within the image area and can be set to encompass an area extending from only a single picture element to the entire image area.