Compressed image system for texture patterns

A compressed image system for texture patterns, having:

• image generator means including means for storing digital data representative of a first base color, a second base color, and a third base color;
• said image generator means also having texture memory means for storing texel data in bytes of a predetermined number of bits;
• said image generator means also having data processor means for storing blend factor data in each byte of said texel data;
• and
• the improvement comprising:
• texel decoder circuit means for restoring compressed color components of a texture pattern, comprising:
• circuit means to receive said digital data representative of said base colors;
• means to store digital data in a predetermined compressed format with at least two base colors and two blend factors consisting of a primary blend factor and a secondary blend factor;
• separator circuit means for recovering transparency factor data including primary blend factor data and secondary blend factor data;
• translator circuit means connected to receive said blend factor data for recovering texel color;
• primary interpolator circuit means to combine data representative of said first base color and said second base color to produce data indicative of an intermediate color from the relationship ##EQU3## where d1 and d2 are defined in FIG. 3;
• and secondary interpolator circuit means to combine data representative of said third base color and said intermediate color from the relationship ##EQU4## where d3 and d4 are defined in FIG. 3;
• whereby the color component is restored.