A system and method for converting between a plurality of single-frame image data objects and a multi-frame image data object. Meta-data attributes common to each single-frame image data object from a source are considered to be shared meta-data attributes and associated with a multi-frame image data object. Perframe meta-data attributes and pixel data are not shared and are individually stored within the multi-frame image data object. In reverse, the number of perframe meta-data attributes within a multi-frame image data object from a source are examined and the corresponding number of single-frame image data objects are created. The shared meta-data attributes are copied into each single-frame image data object along with associated perframe meta-data attributes and pixel data. This conversion process can be applied as images are transmitted to the image manager/archive from the modality, as studies are retrieved from the image manager/archive, and as studies are requested.