'Split this image into individual bands. This method returns a
tuple of individual image bands from an image. For example,
splitting an "RGB" image creates three new images each
containing a copy of one of the original bands (red, green,
blue).
:returns: A tuple containing bands.'

def split(self):

    self.load()
    if (self.im.bands == 1):
        ims = [self.copy()]
    else:
        ims = []
        for i in range(self.im.bands):
            ims.append(self._new(self.im.getband(i)))
    return tuple(ims)
