How are images used in the programs you are making?
How is the pixel data managed? is it RGB? is each color value represented by a INT? or a BYTE? or is the color a single INT?
i would like to help but i would need toknow more about how you want to access the image once its loaded. will it be loaded into the program, as some sort of canvas that the program can use. or just as a collection of variables?
Here is some basic (C++) ways of loading ".bmp" files. I know ur not using C++ but you should be able to get a basic understanding of used image format.
bmp file informationexample code of loading a BMPWorst case senario if this is to dificult for you, outline the format of your current image script, hows is it saved in your text file? and i can try program a converter for you to use external from the program. So that you can save it as any type.