1. A method for the efficient generation of a first requested image and a second requested image from an existing image through a plurality of images states, wherein each image comprises a plurality of variable parameters and wherein each image state comprises an image having specified values for each of said variable parameters, said method comprising the machine executed steps of: adding a representation of said first requested image to an image table; adding a representation of said second requested image to an image table; adding a representation of said existing image to said image table; adding representations of a plurality of intermediate images to said image table, each of said representations of a plurality of intermediate images corresponding to a change of an image state between said existing image and said first or second requested images; building a plurality of first image paths between said existing image and said first requested image,each image path comprising a computational step required for conversion of a selected image state to an alternate image state; building a plurality of second image paths between said existing image and said second requested image; combining image paths in said plurality of first image paths with image paths in said plurality of second image paths, resulting in a plurality of combined image paths; calculating a computational complexity for each of said combined image paths; choosing a first optimal image path between said existing image and said first requested image, and a second optimal image path between a second intermediate image and said second requested image, responsive to said calculating step, said first optimal image path including a first subset of intermediate images, said second optimal image path including a second subset of intermediate images; generating said first requested image as determined by said first optimal image path; and generating said second requested image as determined by said second optimal image path.