1. An automated method of quantifying a set of processing resources used by an image transform operation, said method comprising: receiving a set of image processing instructions for performing the transform operation; for the set of image processing instructions, generating data that estimates an amount of processing resources required to perform the set of image processing instructions; and associating said data with the set of image processing instructions, said association allowing evaluation of the data at run-time to facilitate execution of the set of image processing instructions on a particular processing unit having a particular set of processing resources.