Pixel Block Encoder Capable of Jointly Encoding Pixel Channels

In an embodiment, a system includes a buffer configured to store a plurality of pixel blocks of an image, a first processor unit configured to receive a pixel block of the of the plurality of pixel blocks and select whether to separately encode or jointly encode pixel components of the pixel block by computing eigenvalues for the pixel components, a second processor unit configured to compute, responsive to the first processing unit selecting to jointly encode the pixel block, (i) an eigenvector for the pixel components of the pixel block based on the eigenvalues and (ii) endpoints on the eigenvector for encoding the pixel components, an encoder unit configured to encode, responsive to the first processing unit selecting to jointly encode the pixel block, the pixel components of the pixel block jointly based on the eigenvector and the endpoints.