1. A method of processing acquired image data, said method comprising: (a) performing a comparison operation on a current digital image data set and a next spatially adjacent digital image data set across a plurality of spatially contiguous digital image data sets associated with a designated keystone digital image data set to form a plurality of comparative image data sets; (b) performing a first image compression operation on the designated keystone digital image data set of said plurality of spatially contiguous digital image data sets to form a compressed keystone data set; (c) performing a second image compression operation on each of said plurality of comparative image data sets to form a plurality of compressed comparative data sets; and (d) storing said compressed keystone data set and said plurality of compressed comparative data sets.