Method and apparatus for processing image data

An image data processing apparatus wherein image data of a color image to be displayed on a screen are read out from an image data recording medium and are stored in memories, said color image being formed of a predetermined number of divided screen blocks each including a predetermined number of pixels, and the color image is displayed on a display means in accordance with the image data stored in said memories, said apparatus comprising:

• means for reading out from said data recording medium common image data common to first and second successive color images and remaining image data of the divided screen blocks and storing the common image data and remaining image data in said memories;
• and
• means connected to said memories for successively displaying the first and second color images on said display means in accordance with the common image data and the remaining image data of the divided screen blocks,
• wherein the data recorded on said data recording medium include pixel numbers for designating relevant pixels that form the image of the divided screen blocks, and also color numbers for setting the colors of the pixels designated by said pixel numbers, and the image data of the divided screen blocks are read out from said data recording medium in conformity with the pixel numbers and the color numbers and then are stored in said memories;
• and further comprising
• means for storing in said memories palette data to designate an amount of red, green and blue color components corresponding to the color numbers and data indicative of the correspondence between the palette data and the color numbers usable in palettes designated by the palette data;
• and means for storing, in said memories, data indicative of the correspondence between the images of the divided screen blocks and the palette data, wherein the data indicative of the correspondence between the palette data and the color numbers usable in the palettes designated by the palette data, and the data indicative of the correspondence between the images of the divided screen blocks and the palette data, are both read out from said data recording medium and are stored in said memories.