Format and method for representing a dynamic digital image

A computer implemented image rendering method for rendering a digital image using computer data organized in an image format where the image format includes image data and computer executable instructions, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving the digital image organized in the image format wherein the digital image includes original image data and computer executable instructions, and wherein the image format further includes program variable data that is accessed by the computer executable instructions during execution;
• establishing a virtual execution environment to execute the computer executable instructions wherein the virtual execution environment provides an application program interface used by the computer executable instructions to receive information and request services and wherein the virtual execution environment provides the computer executable instructions access to the image data, and wherein establishing the virtual execution environment further includes providing the computer executable instructions access to the program variable data and wherein the information received by the computer executable instructions using the application program interface includes local environment information including the source of the digital image and information that uniquely identifies the computer executing the method;
• executing the computer executable instructions within the virtual execution environment wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, use the application program interface to receive information and request services from the virtual execution environment and wherein the computer executable instructions use the received information to generate new image data;
• and
• receiving the new image data as output from the computer executable instructions.