Color recovery: millions of colors from an 8-bit graphics device

Abstract

A method to produce true color images from a typical low cost 8-bit frame buffer is discussed. This method, called Color Recovery, is a two part process. The first part of the process is to sample true color data generated by an application in order to reduce 24-bit color to 8 bits for storage in the frame buffer. The second part of the process is to use specialized digital signal processing logic to reconstruct the true color image from the 8-bit frame buffer. This part of the process is preformed as the data is being scanned from the frame buffer to the display.