1. A method for processing ultrasonic image signals, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of input sample values representing reflected sound waves in a ultrasonic system; exponentiating each input sample to produce a plurality of respective exponentiated sample values; conditioning said exponentiated sample values to produce conditioned exponentiated sample values for receipt by an imageformer; and causing said imageformer to produce an image representing said ultrasonic sound waves in response to said conditioned exponentiated sample values.