A method of splitting of elliptical images performed by a processor is provided. The method includes: receiving an image whose pixels span a range along each of two orthogonal axes; segmenting the image into indexed sub-images; storing the sub-images as texture maps; responding to a request for a value of a texture element having S1, T1 and H coordinates by returning the value of the texture element of the sub-image indexed by H whose X and Y coordinates are S1 and T1.