Abstract: A method and structure for approximating pixel display characteristics for complex displays having overlapping images is provided. Each image in the complex display corresponds to a specification of pixel color values and transparency values. Based on a format defining the number of data bits utilized to define the pixel color and pixel transparency values, each pixel's color value is approximated by mapping to a selective color palette. Depending on the format for the transparency values, each pixel's original transparency value or a mapping to a selective transparency palette is appended to the color value data. The color value and transparency values are used to recreate the complex display without requiring the original image to be reproduced.