Method of fast bi-cubic interpolation of image information

An image processing method, for use with an electronic digital camera that forms a digital image using a digital color area sensor, for interpolating a first color value associated with a first color and a second color value associated with a second color for use in generating a current pixel that represents a portion of the digital image, based on a third color value that is associated with a third color, the method comprising the steps:

• creating and storing a first matrix of first coefficient values that are associated with other values of the first color for pixels that surround the current pixel;
• bitwise shifting each of the first coefficient values by 8 bits to result in a plurality of bit-shifted values and replacing each of the first coefficient values with one of the bit-shifted values;
• creating and storing the first color value by applying the first coefficient values to the other values of the first color using a bitwise shift operation;
• bitwise shifting the first color value by 8 bits;
• and
• displaying the digital image in a digital display device of the digital camera using at least the pixel comprising the third color value and the first color value.