A digital representation of an image produced on an electronic image plane by light scattered from one or more substantially spherical microparticles at each of a predetermined number (Q) of illuminating wavelengths is created. For each of the N pixels in each image an associated Image Intensity Data Array containing Q values is created. In one embodiment the resulting data structure is an inclusive collection of Pixel Records from each pixel in the image. In a second embodiment a select set of S number of Image Intensity Data Arrays is chosen. Each Image Intensity Data Array in the select set has at least one intensity value that exceeds a predetermined analog threshold. A Pointer Array containing N values is also created. The Pointer Array correlates the position on the electronic image plane of the pixel associated with each Image Intensity Data Array in the select set with the order of selection of that data array into the select set.