Include images in php file

Hi, I want to display images with my php script but i want it to be just ONE file. I can't have separate image files or folders etc. I suppose I could get this result by writing a function that generates the right image by drawing it from scratch. But that way I can't have any photos. My question: Is there any way to include an entire jpg/gif/png into a php file? So that when i call ?pic=myphoto it can present the right photo without a database or additional files. Like a serialized form of an image or something that can be copied, saved in a text editor and later reassembled as a proper photo. Thanks for your help. Marek