sprites, types, and loading?

BlitzMax Modules Forums/MiniB3D/sprites, types, and loading?

hi. i'm making particles w/mini b3d. i have a "type" called particle, and the particle has a sprite field. it is loaded like this:

Field sprite=LoadSprite("fire.png")

The problem with this is that everytime I generate a new particle (Local p:particle=new particle), I believe that the type re-loads fire.png from the harddrive. Thus with around 50 particles, I am experiencing significant slowdown.

Anyone have tips or know a way around loading this way?
Thanks!