A method for forming a digital color image of a desired resolution, includes providing a panchromatic image of a scene having a first resolution at least equal to the desired resolution and a first color image having at least two different color photoresponses, the first color image having a lower resolution than the desired resolution; and using the color pixel values from the first color image and the panchromatic pixel values to provide additional color pixels and combining the additional color pixels with the first color image to produce the digital color image having the desired resolution.