1. A method of variably rescaling a total image composed of a plurality of image points disposed within boundaries of the total image for display within a display area of fixed dimensions, without altering the boundaries of the total image displayed, said method comprising the steps of: dividing the total image into image area segments, assigning a selected scaling function to each image area segment, each said selected scaling function being assigned such that the selected scaling function in at least one image area segment has a value greater than one and the selected scaling function in at least another image area segment has a value smaller than one, but with the selected scaling functions over the total image having a mean value equal to one in all directions, generating an associated transformation function for each image area segment as a function of the selected scaling function, generating transformed image points for each image area segment in accordance with the associated transformation function, and generating in said display area of fixed dimensions a rescaled image utilizing the transformed image points such that the total image remains displayed although at least one image area segment of the total image is magnified.