1. A method for storing an image in a relational database table, comprising: (a) receiving an image composed of a plurality of blocks arranged in a plurality of rows/columns, wherein each block is composed of a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; (b) loading the image into a buffer; (c) retrieving a set of data from the image header including data related to a plurality of image components; (d) retrieving image pixel values relating to a component from a block of pixels on a pixel-by-pixel basis; (e) storing the image pixel values in a buffer on a row-by-row basis by appending the image pixel values to previously stored image pixel values in the buffer; (f) repeating steps (d) and (e) until the image pixel values for all blocks in the row have been retrieved and stored; (g) storing each row of image pixel values in the buffer as a row in the relational database table; and (h) repeating steps (d) and (g) until image pixel values for all pixel rows of the image have been retrieved and stored.