Encoding Datasets Into PNGs

def encode(x, factor, offset):
    z = int(round(factor * (x - offset)))

    R = 0
    G = 0
    B = 0

    # 16 squared
    if (z >= 256):
        # Using a bit shift since the computation is more efficient; this essentially divides by 256
        R = z >> 8
        z = z - R * 256
    if (z >= 16):
        # Using a bit shift since the computation is more efficient; this essentially divides by 16
        G = z >> 4
        z = z - G * 16
    if (z >= 1):
        B = z
        z = z - B

    # This bit shift essentially multiplies by 16, which creates a desired separation of 16
    # Also make sure that anything greater than 255 gets capped at 255
    R = min(R << 4, 0xff)
    G = min(G << 4, 0xff)
    B = min(B << 4, 0xff)

    return (R, G, B)


example = encode(3.14, 100, 0)
print(example)

def decode(RGB, factor, offset):
    R = RGB[0] >> 4
    G = RGB[1] >> 4
    B = RGB[2] >> 4

    z = offset + ((256 * R + 16 * G + B) / factor)

    return z


exampleDecoded = decode(example, 100, 0)
print(exampleDecoded)