Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing background and foreground display images. Graphics memory for images which are rendered in software is referenced by a processor using an MMU (memory mapping unit) having MMU tables. The graphics memory includes a portion for on-screen display, and a portion which can be written into but which is not displayed. When a background image is overlaid by a foreground image, the portion of the background image overlaid is copied to a save-away area, and the MMU tables are altered so that software rendering of the background image automatically occurs in the save-away area. However, the foreground image is written directly into the on-screen display area by rendering hardware. This allows the software-rendered image to be kept up to date, and allows data for the software-rendered image not to be lost during the time the background image is covered up.