AbstractApply is a machine‐independent, low‐level image processing language for expressing local window operations. It has two main advantages: (1) it significantly reduces the programming effort, and (2) it can be mapped onto a wide range of parallel computers. In this paper we report our recent experience on implementing Apply on a Meiko Computing Surface (transputer array machine) using a farmer/gather model. The performance of the Meiko implementation on a number of edge detection algorithms including the popular Canny operator is analysed. Results suggest that the performance of Apply generated code represents peak performance and it is likely to be as efficient as hand‐written