Systems and methods for combining images into a file using multiple color palettes

A multiple-palette image data file generation system, comprising:

• a memory operable to store a first pixel-based image, a second pixel-based image, and a multiple-palette image data file, the multiple-palette image data file comprising:
• a header;
• a first color palette associated with the first image,
• a second color palette associated with the second image, and
• an image data array;
• and
• a processor system communicatively coupled to the memory, and operable to:
• receive first pixel information for a first pixel of the pixel-based first image, the first pixel having a first color;
• receive second pixel information for a like-located second pixel of the second pixel-based image, the second pixel having a second color;
• store a color palette location value in a first image array element of the image data array, wherein the color palette location value identifies a first array element in a first color palette associated with the first image, and wherein the color palette location value identifies a second array element in a second color palette associated with the second image;
• store first color information in a first array element of the first color palette, wherein the first color information defines the first color for the first pixel;
• and
• store second color information in a like-located second array element of the second color palette, wherein the second color information defines the second color for the second pixel.

A method for generating an image selected from a multiple-palette image data file, wherein the multiple-palette image data file defines a plurality of images and comprises a header, a plurality of color palettes for each one of the corresponding plurality of images, and an image data array, wherein the image data array is a pre-defined, ordered array of elements that commonly defines each of the plurality of images on a pixel-by-pixel basis, the method comprising:

• retrieving, by a processor system, a first color palette location value from a first one of a plurality of image data array elements of the image data array, wherein a location of the first image data array element corresponds to a location of a first pixel of the selected image, and wherein the first color palette location value defines a location of a first color palette array element in a color palette that is associated with the selected image;
• retrieving, by the processor system, first color information from the first color palette array element;
• and
• generating the first pixel of the selected image based upon the location of the first image data array element and the retrieved first color information.