Methods and apparatus for generating graphics patterns using pixel values from a high resolution pattern

Apparatus for generating a graphics pattern comprising digital data defining the color content of pixels of said pattern within a pattern area at a first, high resolution, said apparatus comprising a pattern area store for storing data defining the color content of first pixels at selected positions within said pattern area which are to influence a resultant pattern;

• means for indicating that all pixels in said pattern area at said first high resolution other than said first pixels are considered as having undefined color content;
• a pattern pyramid store;
• and processing means, said processing means being connected to said pattern area store and said pyramid store and being adapted to operate on said pattern area by generating and storing in pyramid store successively lower spatial resolution versions of the pattern area in accordance with a predetermined algorithm which, when a predetermined number of defined pixels exist in a next higher resolution version neighboring an undefined pixel, interpolates the color data for a corresponding lower resolution pixel, until all pixels of a lower resolution version contain defined data, and which, thereafter, generates a version of said pattern area at said first, high resolution wherein the content of at least said previously undefined first high resolution pixels is obtained from said lower resolution versions of said pattern area.