1. A method of processing data to obtain a Fourier transform of data presented in a two dimensional format, the method comprising the steps of: (a) defining an N by N matrix of data; (b) rasterizing the data from one of all columns or all rows of the defined matrix into a serial string of N.sup.2 data elements; (c) performing a computational Fourier transform operation on the serial string of rasterized data to generate a first transformed data set; and (d) performing a computational Fourier transform operation directly on the first transformed data set to generate a second transformed data set in a one-dimensional serial string of data representing a form of the data presented in a two dimensional format.