Systems and methods for combining images into a file using multiple color palettes

1. A multiple-palette image data file generation system, comprising:

a memory operable to store a plurality of image data files;

an image input interface communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the image input interface is operable to receive at least an image data file corresponding to an image,

wherein a portion of the image data file corresponds to a portion of the image,

wherein the portion of the image may be rendered using a plurality of different selected colors, and

wherein the portion of the image data file is defined by a plurality of elements in a pixel array, wherein each element defines a pixel associated with one of the plurality of different selected colors;

a processor system communicatively coupled to the memory and the image input interface, wherein the processor system is operable to:

receive first pixel information for a first pixel of the portion of the image data,

wherein the first pixel information is associated with a first color of the plurality of different selected colors, and

wherein the first color is defined by first color information;

generate a first color palette,

wherein the first color information is stored in the first color palette at a color palette location value;

receive second pixel information for the first pixel of the portion of the image data,

wherein the second pixel information is associated with a second color of the plurality of different selected colors,

wherein the second color is different from the first color, and

wherein the second color is defined by second color information;

generate a second color palette,

wherein the second color information is stored in the second color palette at the color palette location value;

generate a multiple-palette image data file corresponding to the portion of the image data file, the multiple-palette image data file comprising:

an image data array,

wherein the image data array is an array of a plurality of elements,

wherein a first element of the image data array specifies the color palette location value,

wherein the first element is at a location in the image data array that corresponds to a location of the first pixel in the portion of the image data file,

wherein the color palette location value defines the location of the first color information in the first color palette, and

wherein the color palette location value defines the location of the second color information in the second color palette;

the first color palette; and

the second color palette.

2. The multiple-palette image data file generation system of claim 1 , wherein the processor system is further configured to:

receive a specification, wherein the specification identifies one of the first color palette and the second color palette;

generate the image using the first color palette in response to the specification identifying the first color palette; and

generate the image using the second color palette in response to the specification identifying the second color palette.

3. The multiple-palette image data file generation system of claim 2 , further comprising:

a graphics device interface communicatively coupled to the processor system and at least one external device,

wherein the generated image is communicated to the external device via the graphics device interface,

wherein the external device renders the image in accordance with the colors of the first color palette when the specification identified the first color palette, and

wherein the external device renders the image in accordance with the colors of the second color palette when the specification identified the second color palette.

4. The multiple-palette image data file generation system of claim 3 , wherein the external device is a printer that prints the rendered image.

5. The multiple-palette image data file generation system of claim 3 , wherein the external device displays the rendered image on a display.

6. The multiple-palette image data file generation system of claim 3 , wherein the external device is a computing system that further processes the portion of the image data file of the generated image.

7. The multiple-palette image data file generation system of claim 3 ,

wherein the memory is configured to separately store at least a third color palette and a fourth color palette received at the image input interface prior to generation of the multiple-palette image data file,

wherein the third color palette is associated with the image and includes the first color information,

wherein the fourth color palette is associated with the image and includes the second color information,

wherein during generation of the first color palette, the first color information is retrieved from the third color palette stored in the memory, and

wherein during generation of the second color palette, the second color information is retrieved from the fourth color palette stored in the memory.

8. The multiple-palette image data file generation system of claim 1 , wherein the processor system is further configured to:

include a header in the multiple-palette image data file,

wherein the header includes information pertaining to the image, and

wherein the information included in the header comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of a bitmap width in pixels that corresponds to a number of pixels in a row of pixels, a bitmap height in pixels that corresponds to a number of pixels in a column of pixels, and a number of bits that is used to define colors of a pixel.

9. The multiple-palette image data file generation system of claim 1 , wherein the color palette location value is a first color palette location value, and wherein the processor system is further configured to:

receive third pixel information for a second pixel of the portion of the image data,

wherein the third pixel information is associated with a third color of the plurality of different selected colors, and

wherein the third color is defined by third color information;

continue to generate the first color palette,

wherein the third color information is stored in the first color palette at a second color palette location value, and

wherein the third color is different from the first color and the second color;

receive fourth pixel information for the second pixel of the portion of the image data,

wherein the fourth pixel information is associated with a fourth color of the plurality of different selected colors,

wherein the fourth color is different from the first color, the second color, and the third color, and

wherein the fourth color is defined by fourth color information;

continue to generate the second color palette,

wherein the fourth color information is stored in the second color palette at the second color palette location value;

continue to generate the multiple-palette image data file corresponding to the portion of the image data file,

wherein a second element of the image data array specifies the second color palette location value, and

wherein the second element is at a location in the image data array that corresponds to a location of the second pixel in the portion of the image data file.

10. The multiple-palette image data file generation system of claim 1 , wherein the color palette location value is a first color palette location value, and wherein the processor system is further configured to:

receive third pixel information for a second pixel of the portion of the image data,

wherein the third pixel information is associated with a third color of the plurality of different selected colors, and

wherein the third color is defined by third color information;

continue to generate the first color palette,

wherein the third color information is stored in the first color palette at a second color palette location value;

receive fourth pixel information for the second pixel of the portion of the image data,

wherein the fourth pixel information is associated with the second color of the plurality of different selected colors;

continue to generate the second color palette,

wherein the second color information for the second pixel is stored in the second color palette at the second color palette location value;

continue to generate the multiple-palette image data file corresponding to the portion of the image data file,

wherein a second element of the image data array specifies the second color palette location value, and

wherein the second element is at a location in the image data array that corresponds to a location of the second pixel in the portion of the image data file.

11. The multiple-palette image data file generation system of claim 1 , wherein the processor system is further configured to:

receive third pixel information for a second pixel of the portion of the image data,

wherein the third pixel information is associated with the first color of the plurality of different selected colors, and

wherein the first color information has already been stored in the first color palette at the color palette location value;

receive fourth pixel information for the second pixel of the portion of the image data,

wherein the fourth pixel information is associated with the second color of the plurality of different selected colors, and

wherein the second color information has already been stored in the second color palette at the color palette location value;

continue to generate the multiple-palette image data file corresponding to the portion of the image data file,

wherein a second element of the image data array specifies the color palette location value, and

wherein the second element is at a location in the image data array that corresponds to a location of the second pixel in the portion of the image data file.

12. A multiple-palette image data file generation system, comprising:

an image input interface operable to receive a multiple-palette image data file from an external device, wherein the multiple-palette image data file comprises:

an image data array,

wherein the image data array is an array of a plurality of elements that define an image;

wherein a first element is at a location in the image data array that corresponds to a location of a first pixel in the image, and

wherein the first element specifies a color palette location value that identifies a location of color information in a plurality of color palettes;

a first color palette that is a member of the plurality of color palettes,

wherein the color palette location value defines a location of first color information in the first color palette, and

wherein the first color information defines a first color; and

a second color palette that is a member of the plurality of color palettes,

wherein the color palette location value defines a location of second color information in the second color palette,

wherein the second color information defines a second color;

a memory coupled to the image input interface and operable to store the received multiple-palette image data file.

13. The multiple-palette image data file generation system of claim 12 , wherein the second color defined by the second color information is different from the first color defined by the first color information.

14. The multiple-palette image data file generation system of claim 12 , wherein the second color defined by the second color information is that same as the first color defined by the first color information.

15. The multiple-palette image data file generation system of claim 12 , further comprising:

a processor system communicatively coupled to the memory and the image input interface,

wherein the processor system is operable to:

receive a specification, wherein the specification identifies one of the first color palette and the second color palette;

generate the image using the first color palette in response to the specification identifying the first color palette; and

generate the image using the second color palette in response to the specification identifying the second color palette.

16. The multiple-palette image data file generation system of claim 15 , further comprising:

a graphics device interface communicatively coupled to the processor system and at least one external device,

wherein the generated image is communicated to the external device via the graphics device interface,

wherein the external device renders the image in accordance with the colors of the first color palette when the specification identified the first color palette, and

wherein the external device renders the image in accordance with the colors of the second color palette when the specification identified the second color palette.

17. The multiple-palette image data file generation system of claim 16 , wherein the external device is a printer that prints the rendered image.

18. The multiple-palette image data file generation system of claim 16 , wherein the external device displays the rendered image on a display.

19. The multiple-palette image data file generation system of claim 16 , wherein the external device is a computing system that further processes a portion of the image data file of the generated image.

20. A method, comprising:

storing a plurality of image data files in a memory of a multiple-palette image data file generation system,

receiving at least an image data file corresponding to an image at an image input interface communicatively coupled to the memory,

wherein a portion of the image data file corresponds to a portion of the image,

wherein the portion of the image may be rendered using a plurality of different selected colors, and

wherein the portion of the image data file is defined by a plurality of elements in a pixel array, wherein each element defines a pixel associated with one of the plurality of different selected colors,

receiving, at a processor system communicatively coupled to the memory and the image input interface, first pixel information for a first pixel of the portion of the image data,

wherein the first pixel information is associated with a first color of the plurality of different selected colors, and

wherein the first color is defined by first color information;

generating, at the processor system, a first color palette,

wherein the first color information is stored in the first color palette at a color palette location value;

receiving, at the processor system, second pixel information for the first pixel of the portion of the image data,

wherein the second pixel information is associated with a second color of the plurality of different selected colors,

wherein the second color is different from the first color, and

wherein the second color is defined by second color information;

generating, at the processor system, a second color palette,

wherein the second color information is stored in the second color palette at the color palette location value;

generating, at the processor system, a multiple-palette image data file corresponding to the portion of the image data file, the multiple-palette image data file comprising:

an image data array,

wherein the image data array is an array of a plurality of elements;

wherein a first element of the image data array specifies the color palette location value,

wherein the first element is at a location in the image data array that corresponds to a location of the first pixel in the portion of the image data file,

wherein the color palette location value defines the location of the first color information in the first color palette, and

wherein the color palette location value defines the location of the second color information in the second color palette;

the first color palette; and

the second color palette.