A method is described for scanning image pixels in a sequence which, in contrast to the traditional and ubiquitous raster scan, groups effectively adjacent and neighboring image pixels together in the scanned sequence, resulting in a much lower bandwidth signal and data stream, and leading directly to bandwidth and storage gains from compression and exploitation of image redundancy. M-Scan, for meandering scan, is synthesized by iterative application of a simple primitive pattern, and analyzed by iterative partitioning. M-Scans achieve unbroken continuity between pixels in the image, and in routine application never need to step between non image adjacent pixels. Whereas a conventional raster has a low vertical and a high horizontal deflection scan rate, M-Scan has intermediate and equal vertical and horizontal rates, and no large jumps related to flyback. An M-Scan signal power spectrum has no comb at the line rate. M-Scans can be used for 3 dimensional images, or time series 2D images, whilst still preserving adjacent pixel connectivity.