Methods and devices for performing color imaging processing on the fly for barcode readers are disclosed herein. An example method includes color image processing in a barcode reader to identify one of raw image data or processed image data and further decoding indicia in the identified raw or processed image data. The method includes receiving a raw image data of an image of an object, performing image processing on the raw image data, analyzing the raw image data and the processed image data, and identifying which of the raw image data or processed image data to communicate to a decoder for further decoding. The decoder then identifies, in the identified raw image data or processed image data, indicia corresponding to an object, and decodes the identified indicia.