An apparatus for encoding image data, the image data being decomposed into a plurality of different subbands, each subband having a plurality of coefficients, wherein a precinct has different sets of coefficients from different subbands, wherein two sets of coefficients of a first precinct belong to a first spatial region of an image represented by the image data, the apparatus having: a processor for determining, for each group of coefficients within a set, a greatest coded line index (GCLI); an encoder for encoding the greatest coded line indices associated with a first set of the first precinct in accordance with a first encoding mode, and for encoding the greatest coded line indices associated with a second set of the first precinct in accordance with a second encoding mode, the second encoding mode being different from the first encoding mode; and an output interface for outputting an encoded image signal having data on the encoded greatest coded line indices and data on the coefficients.