The　idea　of　applying　integer　Reversible　Colour　Transform　to　increase　compression　ratios　in　lossless　image　compression　is　a　well-established　and　widely　used　practice.　Although　various　colour　transformations　have　been　introduced　and　investigated　in　the　past　two　decades,　the　process　of　determining　the　best　colour　scheme　in　a　reasonable　time　remains　an　open　challenge.　For　instance,　the　overhead　time　(i.e.　to　determine　a　suitable　colour　transformation)　of　the　traditional　colour　selector　mechanism　can　take　up　to　50%　of　the　actual　compression　time.　To　avoid　such　high　overhead,　usually,　one　pre-specified　transformation　is　applied　regardless　of　the　nature　of　the　image　and/or　correlation　of　the　colour　components.　We　propose　a　robust　selection　mechanism　capable　of　reducing　the　overhead　time　to　20%　of　the　actual　compression　time.　It　is　postulated　that　implementing　the　proposed　selection　mechanism　within　the　actual　compression　scheme　such　as　JPEG-LS　can　further　reduce　the　overhead　time　to　10%.　In　addition,　the　proposed　scheme　can　also　be　extended　to　facilitate　network-based　compression–decompression　mechanism　over　distributed　systems.　©　The　Author(s)　2022.