diff --git a/src/ngio/core/__init__.py b/src/ngio/core/__init__.py
index 544eaab..6ba57ed 100644
--- a/src/ngio/core/__init__.py
+++ b/src/ngio/core/__init__.py
@@ -1 +1,6 @@
 """Core classes for the ngio library."""
+
+from ngio.core.image_handler import Image
+from ngio.core.label_handler import Label
+
+__all__ = ["Image", "Label"]
diff --git a/src/ngio/core/dimensions.py b/src/ngio/core/dimensions.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bfdf3b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ngio/core/dimensions.py
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+"""Dimension metadata.
+
+This is not related to the NGFF metadata,
+but it is based on the actual metadata of the image data.
+"""
+
+from zarr import Array
+
+
+class Dimensions:
+    """Dimension metadata."""
+
+    def __init__(
+        self, array: Array, axes_names: list[str], axes_order: list[int]
+    ) -> None:
+        """Create a Dimension object from a Zarr array.
+
+        Args:
+            array (Array): The Zarr array.
+            axes_names (list[str]): The names of the axes.
+            axes_order (list[int]): The order of the axes.
+        """
+        # We init with the shape only but in the ZarrV3
+        # we will have to validate the axes names too.
+        self._on_disk_shape = array.shape
+
+        if len(self._on_disk_shape) != len(axes_names):
+            raise ValueError(
+                "The number of axes names must match the number of dimensions."
+            )
+
+        self._axes_names = axes_names
+        self._axes_order = axes_order
+        self._shape = [self._on_disk_shape[i] for i in axes_order]
+        self._shape_dict = dict(zip(axes_names, self._shape, strict=True))
+
+    @property
+    def shape(self) -> tuple[int, ...]:
+        """Return the shape as a tuple."""
+        return tuple(self._shape)
+
+    @property
+    def on_disk_shape(self) -> tuple[int, ...]:
+        """Return the shape as a tuple."""
+        return tuple(self._on_disk_shape)
+
+    def ad_dict(self) -> dict[str, int]:
+        """Return the shape as a dictionary."""
+        return self._shape_dict
+
+    @property
+    def t(self) -> int:
+        """Return the time dimension."""
+        return self._shape_dict.get("t", None)
+
+    @property
+    def c(self) -> int:
+        """Return the channel dimension."""
+        return self._shape_dict.get("c", None)
+
+    @property
+    def z(self) -> int:
+        """Return the z dimension."""
+        return self._shape_dict.get("z", None)
+
+    @property
+    def y(self) -> int:
+        """Return the y dimension."""
+        return self._shape_dict.get("y", None)
+
+    @property
+    def x(self) -> int:
+        """Return the x dimension."""
+        return self._shape_dict.get("x", None)
+
+    @property
+    def on_disk_ndim(self) -> int:
+        """Return the number of dimensions on disk."""
+        return len(self._on_disk_shape)
+
+    @property
+    def ndim(self) -> int:
+        """Return the number of dimensions."""
+        return len(self._shape)
+
+    def is_3D(self) -> bool:
+        """Return whether the data is 3D."""
+        if (self.z is None) or (self.z == 1):
+            return False
+        return True
+
+    def is_time_series(self) -> bool:
+        """Return whether the data is a time series."""
+        if (self.t is None) or (self.t == 1):
+            return False
+        return True
+
+    def has_multiple_channels(self) -> bool:
+        """Return whether the data has multiple channels."""
+        if (self.c is None) or (self.c == 1):
+            return False
+        return True
diff --git a/src/ngio/core/image_like_handler.py b/src/ngio/core/image_like_handler.py
index f0c3fbb..7df3f29 100644
--- a/src/ngio/core/image_like_handler.py
+++ b/src/ngio/core/image_like_handler.py
@@ -2,9 +2,11 @@
 
 from typing import Literal
 
+import numpy as np
 import zarr
 
-from ngio.io import StoreOrGroup, open_group
+from ngio.core.dimensions import Dimensions
+from ngio.io import StoreOrGroup, open_group_wrapper
 from ngio.ngff_meta import (
     Dataset,
     ImageLabelMeta,
@@ -47,7 +49,9 @@ def __init__(
         cache (bool): Whether to cache the metadata.
         """
         if not isinstance(store, zarr.Group):
-            store = open_group(store=store, mode="r")
+            store = open_group_wrapper(store=store, mode="r+")
+
+        self._group = store
 
         self._metadata_handler = get_ngff_image_meta_handler(
             store=store, meta_mode=meta_mode, cache=cache
@@ -55,15 +59,47 @@ def __init__(
 
         # Find the level / resolution index
         metadata = self._metadata_handler.load_meta()
-        self._dataset = metadata.get_dataset(
+        dataset = metadata.get_dataset(
             path=path,
             idx=idx,
             pixel_size=pixel_size,
             highest_resolution=highest_resolution,
             strict=strict,
         )
-        self._group = store
+        self._init_dataset(dataset)
+
+    def _init_dataset(self, dataset: Dataset):
+        """Set the dataset of the image.
+
+        This method is for internal use only.
+        """
+        self._dataset = dataset
+
+        if self._dataset.path not in self._group.array_keys():
+            raise ValueError(f"Dataset {self._dataset.path} not found in the group.")
+
+        self._array = self._group[self.dataset.path]
+        self._diminesions = Dimensions(
+            array=self._array,
+            axes_names=self._dataset.axes_names,
+            axes_order=self._dataset.axes_order,
+        )
+
+    def _debug_set_new_dataset(
+        self,
+        new_dataset: Dataset,
+    ):
+        """Debug method to change the the dataset metadata.
+
+        This methods allow to change dataset after initialization.
+        This allow to skip the OME-NGFF metadata validation.
+        This method is for testing/debug purposes only.
 
+        DO NOT USE THIS METHOD IN PRODUCTION CODE.
+        """
+        self._init_dataset(new_dataset)
+
+    # Method to get the metadata of the image
     @property
     def group(self) -> zarr.Group:
         """Return the Zarr group containing the image data."""
@@ -108,3 +144,28 @@ def space_axes_unit(self) -> SpaceUnits:
     def pixel_size(self) -> PixelSize:
         """Return the pixel resolution of the image."""
         return self.dataset.pixel_size
+
+    # Method to get the data of the image
+    @property
+    def array(self) -> zarr.Array:
+        """Return the image data as a Zarr array."""
+        return self._array
+
+    @property
+    def dimensions(self) -> Dimensions:
+        """Return the dimensions of the image."""
+        return self._diminesions
+
+    @property
+    def shape(self) -> tuple[int, ...]:
+        """Return the shape of the image."""
+        return self.dimensions.shape
+
+    @property
+    def on_disk_shape(self) -> tuple[int, ...]:
+        """Return the shape of the image."""
+        return self.dimensions.on_disk_shape
+
+    def get_data(self) -> np.ndarray:
+        """Return the image data as a Zarr array."""
+        return self.array[...]
diff --git a/src/ngio/core/ngff_image.py b/src/ngio/core/ngff_image.py
index 96e60df..c4e8ac2 100644
--- a/src/ngio/core/ngff_image.py
+++ b/src/ngio/core/ngff_image.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 from zarr.store.common import StoreLike
 
 from ngio.core.image_handler import Image
-from ngio.io import open_group
+from ngio.io import open_group_wrapper
 from ngio.ngff_meta import FractalImageLabelMeta, get_ngff_image_meta_handler
 
 T = TypeVar("T")
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ class NgffImage:
     def __init__(self, store: StoreLike) -> None:
         """Initialize the NGFFImage in read mode."""
         self.store = store
-        self.group = open_group(store=store, mode="r+")
+        self.group = open_group_wrapper(store=store, mode="r+")
         self._image_meta = get_ngff_image_meta_handler(
             self.group, meta_mode="image", cache=False
         )
diff --git a/src/ngio/core/roi.py b/src/ngio/core/roi.py
index be24ae1..f91e452 100644
--- a/src/ngio/core/roi.py
+++ b/src/ngio/core/roi.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from pydantic import BaseModel
 
 from ngio.ngff_meta.fractal_image_meta import SpaceUnits, PixelSize
+import numpy as np
 
 
 class Point(BaseModel):
@@ -15,13 +16,31 @@ class WorldCooROI(BaseModel):
     """Region of interest (ROI) metadata."""
 
     field_index: str
-    p1: Point
-    p2: Point
+    x: float
+    y: float
+    z: float
+    x_length: float
+    y_length: float
+    z_length: float
     unit: SpaceUnits
 
-    def to_raster_coo(self, pixel_size: float) -> "RasterCooROI":
+    def _to_raster(self, value: float, pixel_size: PixelSize, max_shape: int) -> int:
         """Convert to raster coordinates."""
-        raise NotImplementedError
+        round_value = int(np.round(value / pixel_size))
+        return min(round_value, max_shape)
+
+    def to_raster_coo(self, pixel_size: PixelSize, max_shape) -> "RasterCooROI":
+        """Convert to raster coordinates."""
+        RasterCooROI(
+            field_index=self.field_index,
+            x=self._to_raster(value=self.x, pixel_size=pixel_size.x, max_shape=2**32),
+            y=int(self.y / pixel_size.y),
+            z=int(self.z / pixel_size.z),
+            x_length=int(self.x_length / pixel_size.x),
+            y_length=int(self.y_length / pixel_size.y),
+            z_length=int(self.z_length / pixel_size.z),
+            original_roi=self,
+        )
 
 
 class RasterCooROI(BaseModel):
@@ -34,7 +53,20 @@ class RasterCooROI(BaseModel):
     x_length: int
     y_length: int
     z_length: int
+    original_roi: WorldCooROI
 
     def to_world_coo(self, pixel_size: float) -> "WorldCooROI":
         """Convert to world coordinates."""
         raise NotImplementedError
+
+    def x_slice(self) -> slice:
+        """Return the slice for the x-axis."""
+        return slice(self.x, self.x + self.x_length)
+
+    def y_slice(self) -> slice:
+        """Return the slice for the y-axis."""
+        return slice(self.y, self.y + self.y_length)
+
+    def z_slice(self) -> slice:
+        """Return the slice for the z-axis."""
+        return slice(self.z, self.z + self.z_length)
diff --git a/src/ngio/ngff_meta/utils.py b/src/ngio/ngff_meta/utils.py
index 8af7199..68aa52a 100644
--- a/src/ngio/ngff_meta/utils.py
+++ b/src/ngio/ngff_meta/utils.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 )
 
 
-def _create_image_metadata(
+def _create_multiscale_meta(
     on_disk_axis: list[str] = ("t", "c", "z", "y", "x"),
     pixel_sizes: PixelSize | None = None,
     xy_scaling_factor: float = 2.0,
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ def create_image_metadata(
         version: The version of NGFF metadata.
 
     """
-    datasets = _create_image_metadata(
+    datasets = _create_multiscale_meta(
         on_disk_axis=on_disk_axis,
         pixel_sizes=pixel_sizes,
         xy_scaling_factor=xy_scaling_factor,
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ def create_label_metadata(
         name: The name of the metadata.
         version: The version of NGFF metadata.
     """
-    datasets, _ = _create_image_metadata(
+    datasets = _create_multiscale_meta(
         on_disk_axis=on_disk_axis,
         pixel_sizes=pixel_sizes,
         xy_scaling_factor=xy_scaling_factor,
diff --git a/src/ngio/pipes/__init__.py b/src/ngio/pipes/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e12b955
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ngio/pipes/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+"""A module to handle data transforms for image data."""
+
+from ngio.pipes.common import ArrayLike
+from ngio.pipes._slicer_transforms import NaiveSlicer
+from ngio.pipes.data_transform_pipe import DataTransformPipe
+
+__all__ = ["ArrayLike", "DataTransformPipe", "NaiveSlicer"]
diff --git a/src/ngio/pipes/_slicer_transforms.py b/src/ngio/pipes/_slicer_transforms.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8aa18d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ngio/pipes/_slicer_transforms.py
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+from typing import Protocol
+
+import numpy as np
+from dask import array as da
+
+from ngio.core.roi import RasterCooROI
+from ngio.pipes import ArrayLike
+
+
+class SlicerTransform(Protocol):
+    """A special class of transform that load a specific slice of the data."""
+
+    def get(self, data: ArrayLike) -> ArrayLike:
+        """Select a slice of the data and return the result."""
+        ...
+
+    def push(
+        self,
+        data: ArrayLike,
+        patch: ArrayLike,
+    ) -> ArrayLike:
+        """Replace the slice of the data with the patch and return the result."""
+        ...
+
+
+class NaiveSlicer:
+    """A simple slicer that requires all axes to be specified."""
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        on_disk_axes_name: list[str],
+        axes_order: list[int],
+        t: int | slice | None = None,
+        c: int | slice | None = None,
+        z: int | slice | None = None,
+        y: int | slice | None = None,
+        x: int | slice | None = None,
+    ):
+        """Initialize the NaiveSlicer object."""
+        self.on_disk_axes_name = on_disk_axes_name
+
+        # Check if axes_order is trivial
+        if axes_order != list(range(len(axes_order))):
+            self.axes_order = axes_order
+        else:
+            self.axes_order = None
+
+        self.slices = {
+            "t": t if t is not None else slice(None),
+            "c": c if c is not None else slice(None),
+            "z": z if z is not None else slice(None),
+            "y": y if y is not None else slice(None),
+            "x": x if x is not None else slice(None),
+        }
+
+    def get(self, data: ArrayLike) -> ArrayLike:
+        """Select a slice of the data and return the result."""
+        slice_on_disk_order = [self.slices[axis] for axis in self.on_disk_axes_name]
+        patch = data[tuple(slice_on_disk_order)]
+
+        # If sel.axis_order is trivial, skip the transpose
+        if self.axes_order is None:
+            return patch
+
+        if isinstance(patch, np.ndarray):
+            patch = np.transpose(patch, self.axes_order)
+        elif isinstance(patch, da.core.Array):
+            patch = da.transpose(patch, self.axes_order)
+        return patch
+
+    def push(self, data: ArrayLike, patch: ArrayLike) -> ArrayLike:
+        """Replace the slice of the data with the patch and return the result."""
+        slice_on_disk_order = [self.slices[axis] for axis in self.on_disk_axes_name]
+        # If sel.axis_order is trivial, skip the transpose
+        if self.axes_order is not None:
+            if isinstance(patch, np.ndarray):
+                patch = np.transpose(patch, self.axes_order)
+            elif isinstance(patch, da.core.Array):
+                patch = da.transpose(patch, self.axes_order)
+
+        data[tuple(slice_on_disk_order)] = patch
+        return data
+
+
+class RoiSlicer(NaiveSlicer):
+    """A slicer that requires all axes to be specified."""
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        on_disk_axes_name: list[str],
+        axes_order: list[int],
+        roi: RasterCooROI,
+        t: int | slice | None = None,
+        c: int | slice | None = None,
+    ):
+        """Initialize the RoiSlicer object."""
+        super().__init__(
+            on_disk_axes_name=on_disk_axes_name,
+            axes_order=axes_order,
+            t=t,
+            c=c,
+            z=roi.z_slice(),
+            y=roi.y_slice(),
+            x=roi.x_slice(),
+        )
diff --git a/src/ngio/pipes/_transforms.py b/src/ngio/pipes/_transforms.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d7964c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ngio/pipes/_transforms.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+from ngio.pipes import ArrayLike
+from typing import Protocol
+
+
+class Transform(Protocol):
+    """A protocol for data transforms to be performed on image data."""
+
+    def get(self, data: ArrayLike) -> ArrayLike:
+        """Apply the transform to the data and return the result."""
+        ...
+
+    def push(self, data: ArrayLike) -> ArrayLike:
+        """Apply the reverse transform to the data and return the result."""
+        ...
diff --git a/src/ngio/pipes/common.py b/src/ngio/pipes/common.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..87b6c58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ngio/pipes/common.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+import numpy as np
+import zarr
+from dask import array as da
+
+ArrayLike = np.ndarray | da.core.Array | zarr.Array
diff --git a/src/ngio/pipes/data_transform_pipe.py b/src/ngio/pipes/data_transform_pipe.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..73b920e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ngio/pipes/data_transform_pipe.py
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+"""A module to handle data transforms for image data."""
+
+import numpy as np
+import zarr
+from dask import array as da
+
+from ngio.pipes._slicer_transforms import SlicerTransform
+from ngio.pipes._transforms import Transform
+from ngio.pipes import ArrayLike
+
+
+class DataTransformPipe:
+    """A class to handle a pipeline of data transforms.
+
+    For example, a pipeline of transforms can be:
+        - Selecte a subset of the data
+        - Shuffle the axes of the data
+        - Normalize the data
+
+    All these in reverse order will be applied to the data when pushing a patch.
+
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, slicer: SlicerTransform, *data_transforms: Transform):
+        """Initialize the DataLoadPipe object.
+
+        Args:
+            slicer (SlicerTransform): The first transform to be applied to the
+                data MUST be a slicer.
+            *data_transforms (Transform): A list of transforms to be
+                applied to the data in order.
+        """
+        self.slicer = slicer
+        self.list_of_transforms = data_transforms
+
+    def get(self, data: ArrayLike) -> ArrayLike:
+        """Apply all the transforms to the data and return the result."""
+        data = self.slicer.get(data)
+        for transform in self.list_of_transforms:
+            data = transform.get(data)
+        return data
+
+    def push(self, data: ArrayLike, patch: ArrayLike) -> ArrayLike:
+        """Apply all the reverse transforms to the data and return the result."""
+        for transform in reversed(self.list_of_transforms):
+            patch = transform.push(patch)
+        return self.slicer.push(data, patch)
diff --git a/tests/core/conftest.py b/tests/core/conftest.py
index 0233e9c..2de68dc 100644
--- a/tests/core/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/core/conftest.py
@@ -17,4 +17,10 @@ def ome_zarr_image_v04_path(tmpdir):
 
     base_ome_zarr_meta = base_ome_zarr_meta
     group.attrs.update(base_ome_zarr_meta)
+
+    # shape = (3, 10, 256, 256)
+    for i, path in enumerate(["0", "1", "2", "3"]):
+        shape = (3, 10, 256 // (2**i), 256 // (2**i))
+        group.create_array(name=path, fill_value=0, shape=shape)
+
     return zarr_path
diff --git a/tests/core/test_image_like_handler.py b/tests/core/test_image_like_handler.py
index 084b5db..584b9cc 100644
--- a/tests/core/test_image_like_handler.py
+++ b/tests/core/test_image_like_handler.py
@@ -7,6 +7,13 @@ def test_ngff_image(self, ome_zarr_image_v04_path):
         assert image_handler.path == "0"
         assert image_handler.pixel_size.zyx == (1.0, 0.1625, 0.1625)
         assert image_handler.axes_names == ["c", "z", "y", "x"]
+        assert image_handler.space_axes_names == ["z", "y", "x"]
+        assert image_handler.dimensions.shape == (3, 10, 256, 256)
+        assert image_handler.shape == (3, 10, 256, 256)
+        assert image_handler.dimensions.z == 10
+        assert image_handler.dimensions.is_3D()
+        assert not image_handler.dimensions.is_time_series()
+        assert image_handler.dimensions.has_multiple_channels()
 
     def test_ngff_image_from_pixel_size(self, ome_zarr_image_v04_path):
         from ngio.core.image_like_handler import ImageLike
diff --git a/tests/io/test_zarr_group_utils.py b/tests/io/test_zarr_group_utils.py
index ce09e86..433a564 100644
--- a/tests/io/test_zarr_group_utils.py
+++ b/tests/io/test_zarr_group_utils.py
@@ -7,81 +7,19 @@ class TestGroupUtils:
     def test_attrs(self) -> dict:
         return {"a": 1, "b": 2, "c": 3}
 
-    def test_update_group_attrs(self, store_fixture):
-        from ngio.io._zarr_group_utils import (
-            read_group_attrs,
-            update_group_attrs,
-        )
+    def test_open_group_wrapper(self, store_fixture):
+        from ngio.io import open_group_wrapper
 
         store, zarr_format = store_fixture
-
-        update_group_attrs(store=store, attrs=self.test_attrs, zarr_format=zarr_format)
-        attrs = read_group_attrs(store=store, zarr_format=zarr_format)
-        assert attrs == self.test_attrs, "Attributes were not written correctly."
-
-        update_group_attrs(store=store, attrs={"new": 1}, zarr_format=zarr_format)
-        attrs = read_group_attrs(store=store, zarr_format=zarr_format)
-        expected = {**self.test_attrs, "new": 1}
-        assert attrs == expected, "Attributes were not written correctly."
-
-    def test_overwrite_group_attrs(self, store_fixture):
-        from ngio.io._zarr_group_utils import (
-            overwrite_group_attrs,
-            read_group_attrs,
-        )
-
-        store, zarr_format = store_fixture
-
-        overwrite_group_attrs(
-            store=store, attrs=self.test_attrs, zarr_format=zarr_format
-        )
-        attrs = read_group_attrs(store=store, zarr_format=zarr_format)
-        assert attrs == self.test_attrs, "Attributes were not written correctly."
-
-    def test_list_group_arrays(self, store_fixture):
-        from ngio.io._zarr_group_utils import list_group_arrays
-
-        store, zarr_format = store_fixture
-
-        arrays = list_group_arrays(store=store, zarr_format=zarr_format)
-        assert len(arrays) == 3, "Arrays were not listed correctly."
-
-    def test_list_group_groups(self, store_fixture):
-        from ngio.io._zarr_group_utils import list_group_groups
-
-        store, zarr_format = store_fixture
-
-        groups = list_group_groups(store=store, zarr_format=zarr_format)
-        assert len(groups) == 3, "Groups were not listed correctly."
-
-    def test_raise_file_not_found_error(self):
-        from ngio.io._zarr_group_utils import open_group
-
-        with pytest.raises(FileNotFoundError):
-            open_group(store="nonexistent.zarr", mode="r", zarr_format=2)
-
-        with pytest.raises(FileNotFoundError):
-            open_group(
-                store=zarr.store.LocalStore("nonexistent.zarr"), mode="r", zarr_format=2
-            )
-
-    def test_raise_permission_error(self, local_zarr_path_v2):
-        from ngio.io._zarr_group_utils import open_group
-
-        local_zarr_path, _ = local_zarr_path_v2
-
-        with pytest.raises(PermissionError):
-            open_group(
-                store=zarr.store.LocalStore(local_zarr_path, mode="r"),
-                mode="r+",
-                zarr_format=2,
-            )
+        group = open_group_wrapper(store=store, mode="r+", zarr_format=zarr_format)
+        group.attrs.update(self.test_attrs)
+        assert dict(group.attrs) == self.test_attrs
 
     def test_raise_not_implemented_error(self):
-        from ngio.io._zarr_group_utils import open_group
+        from ngio.io._zarr_group_utils import open_group_wrapper
 
         with pytest.raises(NotImplementedError):
-            open_group(
+            open_group_wrapper(
                 store=zarr.store.RemoteStore(url="https://test.com/test.zarr"),
                 mode="r",
                 zarr_format=3,
diff --git a/tests/ngff_meta/test_v04.py b/tests/ngff_meta/test_v04.py
index 44181b2..5bd57d2 100644
--- a/tests/ngff_meta/test_v04.py
+++ b/tests/ngff_meta/test_v04.py
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@
 
 class TestOMEZarrHandlerV04:
     def test_basic_workflow(self, ome_zarr_image_v04_path):
-        from ngio.io import read_group_attrs
         from ngio.ngff_meta import get_ngff_image_meta_handler
+        from ngio.ngff_meta.v04.zarr_utils import NgffImageMeta04
 
         handler = get_ngff_image_meta_handler(
             store=ome_zarr_image_v04_path, meta_mode="image"
@@ -18,12 +18,14 @@ def test_basic_workflow(self, ome_zarr_image_v04_path):
         with open("tests/data/meta_v04/base_ome_zarr_image_meta.json") as f:
             base_ome_zarr_meta = json.load(f)
 
-        saved_meta = read_group_attrs(store=ome_zarr_image_v04_path, zarr_format=2)
+        saved_meta = NgffImageMeta04(**handler.group.attrs).model_dump(
+            exclude_none=True
+        )
         assert saved_meta == base_ome_zarr_meta
 
     def test_basic_workflow_with_cache(self, ome_zarr_image_v04_path):
-        from ngio.io import read_group_attrs
         from ngio.ngff_meta import get_ngff_image_meta_handler
+        from ngio.ngff_meta.v04.zarr_utils import NgffImageMeta04
 
         handler = get_ngff_image_meta_handler(
             store=ome_zarr_image_v04_path, meta_mode="image", cache=True
@@ -35,7 +37,9 @@ def test_basic_workflow_with_cache(self, ome_zarr_image_v04_path):
         with open("tests/data/meta_v04/base_ome_zarr_image_meta.json") as f:
             base_ome_zarr_meta = json.load(f)
 
-        saved_meta = read_group_attrs(store=ome_zarr_image_v04_path, zarr_format=2)
+        saved_meta = NgffImageMeta04(**handler.group.attrs).model_dump(
+            exclude_none=True
+        )
         assert saved_meta == base_ome_zarr_meta
 
     def test_wrong_axis_order(self):