Abstract: In order to improve the quality and speed of color quantization algorithm, we took the rapidity of splitting algorithm and the accuracy of clustering algorithm into account during the design process of color palette, and tried to improve the process of pixel matching,and then proposed a new real-time color quantization algorithm. In this algorithm,all colors in an image were connected together via a data structure link according to its appearance frequency. The whole process of color quantization could be viewed as a series of operations about that data structure link. Experimental resups show that the proposed algorithm is able to achieve the expected results.

Key words: Color image quantization, Pairwise clustering, Data structure, Linked list