The invention is generally directed to a method and apparatus for efficient rotation of an image. The image is preferably defined by an image matrix in which each datum of the image corresponds to a particular image row and a particular image column of the image matrix. A preferred method includes mapping each of the datum into a memory matrix organized into a plurality of memory rows and a plurality of memory columns. The mapping preferably includes mapping into one of the memory rows: (a) at least two data, both of which correspond to one of the image rows, and (b) at least two image vector portions, a first one of the image vector portions including at least two data each corresponding to one of the image columns, and a second one of the image vector portions including at least two other data each corresponding to another of the image columns. In addition, preferably the at least two data of the first image vector portion and the at least two other data of the second image vector portion each respectively correspond to the same image rows.