I'm trying to increase my JApplet performance by optimizing the loading of images on my 25 JButtons. Id like to try 2 approaches....

1) Collect the images into a giant images file then place the sub-images on the JButtons as needed.

2) Store the images as ByteArrays statically on the class and load the images on to the JButtons at runtime.

Can someone give me a complete example of both along with a recomendation as to which aproach would perform the best.

Thanks