Memory management of compressed image data

A method is disclosed for recovering image memory capacity, in relation to an image which has been encoded using a linear transform according to a layer progressive mode into L layers, L being an integer value greater than unity, the L layers being stored in an image memory having a limited capacity. The method comprises defining a Quality Reduction Factor, being a positive integer value, identifying at least one of the L layers corresponding to the Quality Reduction Factor, and discarding said at least one of the L layers in progressive order in accordance with the Quality Reduction Factor, thereby recovering said memory capacity.