1. Apparatus for generating an image on a display device from a two-dimensional image matrix, comprising: A. a display refresh memory for storing information correspondence to each picture element to be displayed on the display device; B. display refresh means for supplying to the display device the information stored in the refresh memory; and C. general image generator means for writing to the display refresh memory a pattern of picture elements to be displayed on the display device, the general image generator means including (1) first and second means for generating, respectively, outer and inner sequences of pattern modulated vectors, each pattern modulated vector, in turn, being a sequence of points having a predefined pattern and comprising a line segment having a specified length, starting position and angular orientation relative to the display device, (2) the first pattern modulated vector means generating outer vectors whose points define the starting positions for each of the inner vectors generated by the second pattern modulated vector means, and the pattern for each such inner vector, and (3) the second pattern modulated vector means generating, for each starting position defined by the outer vectors, a vector comprising an illumination pattern for a succession of picture elements lying along the inner vector and defining the picture elements to be displayed therein.