Abstract: A method for compressing the data required to represent an image using a set of save-maps, with each save-map being identified by an index and each save-map identifying a subset of transform coefficients. The method begins by spatially partitioning the image into a plurality of blocks, includes the generation of transform coefficients representative of the data spatially located in each block; the generation of an index for each block as a function of the transform coefficients for that block; and selecting one of the save-maps as a function of the index. By employing the index and the value of the magnitude components of the subset of transform coefficients identified by the selected save-map for each block, compressed data may be obtained representative of that portion of the image spatially contained in each of the corresponding blocks.