diff --git a/src/aspire/image/image.py b/src/aspire/image/image.py
index e0d4430991..941c2304b0 100644
--- a/src/aspire/image/image.py
+++ b/src/aspire/image/image.py
@@ -156,6 +156,9 @@ def __mul__(self, other):
 
         return Image(self.data * other)
 
+    def __neg__(self):
+        return Image(-self.data)
+
     def sqrt(self):
         return np.sqrt(self.data)
 
diff --git a/src/aspire/operators/filters.py b/src/aspire/operators/filters.py
index 1eb012957a..5f5a6148bf 100644
--- a/src/aspire/operators/filters.py
+++ b/src/aspire/operators/filters.py
@@ -274,9 +274,6 @@ def __repr__(self):
     def _evaluate(self, omega):
         return self.value * np.ones_like(omega)
 
-    def scale(self, c):
-        pass
-
 
 class ZeroFilter(ScalarFilter):
     def __init__(self, dim=None):
diff --git a/tests/test_preprocess_pipeline.py b/tests/test_preprocess_pipeline.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6d06358d38
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_preprocess_pipeline.py
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+import os.path
+from unittest import TestCase
+
+import numpy as np
+
+from aspire.noise import AnisotropicNoiseEstimator
+from aspire.operators.filters import FunctionFilter, RadialCTFFilter, ScalarFilter
+from aspire.source import ArrayImageSource
+from aspire.source.simulation import Simulation
+from aspire.utils import utest_tolerance
+from aspire.utils.coor_trans import grid_2d, grid_3d
+from aspire.utils.matrix import anorm
+from aspire.volume import Volume
+
+DATA_DIR = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "saved_test_data")
+
+
+class PreprocessPLTestCase(TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+
+        self.L = 64
+        self.n = 128
+        self.dtype = np.float32
+        self.noise_filter = FunctionFilter(lambda x, y: np.exp(-(x ** 2 + y ** 2) / 2))
+
+        self.sim = Simulation(
+            L=self.L,
+            n=self.n,
+            unique_filters=[
+                RadialCTFFilter(defocus=d) for d in np.linspace(1.5e4, 2.5e4, 7)
+            ],
+            noise_filter=self.noise_filter,
+            dtype=self.dtype,
+        )
+        self.imgs_org = self.sim.images(start=0, num=self.n)
+
+    def testPhaseFlip(self):
+        self.sim.phase_flip()
+        imgs_pf = self.sim.images(start=0, num=self.n)
+
+        # check energy conservation
+        self.assertTrue(
+            np.allclose(
+                anorm(self.imgs_org.asnumpy(), axes=(1, 2)),
+                anorm(imgs_pf.asnumpy(), axes=(1, 2)),
+            )
+        )
+
+    def testDownsample(self):
+        # generate a 3D map with density decays as Gaussian function
+        g3d = grid_3d(self.L, dtype=self.dtype)
+        coords = np.array([g3d["x"].flatten(), g3d["y"].flatten(), g3d["z"].flatten()])
+        sigma = 0.2
+        vol = np.exp(-0.5 * np.sum(np.abs(coords / sigma) ** 2, axis=0)).astype(
+            self.dtype
+        )
+        vol = np.reshape(vol, g3d["x"].shape)
+        vols = Volume(vol)
+
+        # set noise to zero and CFT filters to unity for simulation object
+        noise_var = 0
+        noise_filter = ScalarFilter(dim=2, value=noise_var)
+        sim = Simulation(
+            L=self.L,
+            n=self.n,
+            vols=vols,
+            offsets=0.0,
+            amplitudes=1.0,
+            unique_filters=[
+                ScalarFilter(dim=2, value=1) for d in np.linspace(1.5e4, 2.5e4, 7)
+            ],
+            noise_filter=noise_filter,
+            dtype=self.dtype,
+        )
+        # get images before downsample
+        imgs_org = sim.images(start=0, num=self.n)
+        # get images after downsample
+        max_resolution = 32
+        sim.downsample(max_resolution)
+        imgs_ds = sim.images(start=0, num=self.n)
+
+        # Check individual grid points
+        self.assertTrue(
+            np.allclose(
+                imgs_org[:, 32, 32],
+                imgs_ds[:, 16, 16],
+                atol=utest_tolerance(self.dtype),
+            )
+        )
+        # check resolution
+        self.assertTrue(np.allclose(max_resolution, imgs_ds.shape[1]))
+        # check energy conservation after downsample
+        self.assertTrue(
+            np.allclose(
+                anorm(imgs_org.asnumpy(), axes=(1, 2)) / self.L,
+                anorm(imgs_ds.asnumpy(), axes=(1, 2)) / max_resolution,
+                atol=utest_tolerance(self.dtype),
+            )
+        )
+
+    def testNormBackground(self):
+        bg_radius = 1.0
+        grid = grid_2d(self.L)
+        mask = grid["r"] > bg_radius
+        self.sim.normalize_background()
+        imgs_nb = self.sim.images(start=0, num=self.n).asnumpy()
+        new_mean = np.mean(imgs_nb[:, mask])
+        new_variance = np.var(imgs_nb[:, mask])
+
+        # new mean of noise should be close to zero and variance should be close to 1
+        self.assertTrue(new_mean < 1e-7 and abs(new_variance - 1) < 1e-7)
+
+    def testWhiten(self):
+        noise_estimator = AnisotropicNoiseEstimator(self.sim)
+        self.sim.whiten(noise_estimator.filter)
+        imgs_wt = self.sim.images(start=0, num=self.n).asnumpy()
+
+        # calculate correlation between two neighboring pixels from background
+        corr_coef = np.corrcoef(
+            imgs_wt[:, self.L - 1, self.L - 1], imgs_wt[:, self.L - 2, self.L - 1]
+        )
+
+        # correlation matrix should be close to identity
+        self.assertTrue(np.allclose(np.eye(2), corr_coef, atol=1e-1))
+
+    def testInvertContrast(self):
+        sim1 = self.sim
+        imgs1 = sim1.images(start=0, num=128)
+        sim1.invert_contrast()
+        imgs1_rc = sim1.images(start=0, num=128)
+        # need to set the negative images to the second simulation object
+        sim2 = ArrayImageSource(-imgs1)
+        sim2.invert_contrast()
+        imgs2_rc = sim2.images(start=0, num=128)
+
+        # all images should be the same after inverting contrast
+        self.assertTrue(np.allclose(imgs1_rc.asnumpy(), imgs2_rc.asnumpy()))