FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.4.2_10"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.4.2_10-b03)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.4.2_10-b03, mixed mode)

also in: 1.3.1_17, 1.5.0_06 and 6beta

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
A call to java.awt.image.LookupOp.filter(Raster src, WritableRaster dest) when dest is null results in a NullPointerException in the second line("int dstLength = dst.getNumBands();"). According to Javadocs passing in null is allowed and the source code of the method seems to indicate that it is supposed to be allowed. dst.getNumBands() should be called only after "dst" has been verified to be non-null.

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
The description above should suffice to reproduce.

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
The filter() method should create a compatible destination raster before getNumBands() is called on the "dst" variable, i.e. no NPE should occur.
ACTUAL -
A NullPointerException on the second line in the LookupOp.filter(Raster, WritableRaster) method.

ERROR MESSAGES/STACK TRACES THAT OCCUR :
java.lang.NullPointerException
at java.awt.image.LookupOp.filter(LookupOp.java:238)
(under JDK 1.4.2_10)

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

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Do I really need to provide that for such a simple problem? The problem can be seen by pure static code analysis.
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CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
Creat the "dst" WritableRaster yourself and pass it in as the "dst" parameter.