diff --git a/R/AllClasses.R b/R/AllClasses.R
index 4cfa7f5..7887db6 100644
--- a/R/AllClasses.R
+++ b/R/AllClasses.R
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ setClassUnion(
 .LabelArray <- setClass(
     Class="LabelArray",
     contains=c("Annotated"),
-    slots=list(data="array_OR_df", meta="Zattrs"))
+    slots=list(data="list", meta="Zattrs"))
 
 # these are 'R6ClassGenerator's;
 # this somehow does the trick...
@@ -43,6 +43,10 @@ setClassUnion(
     contains=c("Annotated"),
     slots=list(data="arrow_OR_df", meta="Zattrs"))
 
+setClassUnion(
+  "sdArray",
+  c("ImageArray", "LabelArray"))
+
 setClassUnion(
     "SpatialDataElement",
     c("ImageArray", "LabelArray", "PointFrame", "ShapeFrame"))
diff --git a/R/ImageArray.R b/R/ImageArray.R
index 88ee899..c54901e 100644
--- a/R/ImageArray.R
+++ b/R/ImageArray.R
@@ -88,25 +88,6 @@ setMethod("channels", "ANY", \(x, ...) stop("only 'images' have channels"))
     }
 }
 
-#' @rdname ImageArray
-#' @export
-setMethod("data", "ImageArray", \(x, k=1) {
-    if (is.null(k)) return(x@data)
-    stopifnot(length(k) == 1, is.numeric(k), k > 0)
-    n <- length(x@data) # get number of available scales
-    if (is.infinite(k)) k <- n # input of Inf uses lowest
-    if (k <= n) return(x@data[[k]]) # return specified scale
-    stop("'k=", k, "' but only ", n, " resolution(s) available")
-})
-
-#' @rdname ImageArray
-#' @export
-setMethod("dim", "ImageArray", \(x) dim(data(x)))
-
-#' @rdname ImageArray
-#' @export
-setMethod("length", "ImageArray", \(x) length(data(x, NULL)))
-
 .check_jk <- \(x, .) {
     if (isTRUE(x)) return()
     tryCatch(
diff --git a/R/LabelArray.R b/R/LabelArray.R
index bddbaad..64ed3f6 100644
--- a/R/LabelArray.R
+++ b/R/LabelArray.R
@@ -37,15 +37,22 @@ LabelArray <- function(data=array(), meta=Zattrs(), metadata=list(), ...) {
 }
 
 #' @rdname LabelArray
-#' @export
-setMethod("dim", "LabelArray", \(x) dim(data(x)))
-
-#' @rdname LabelArray
+#' @importFrom utils head tail
 #' @exportMethod [
 setMethod("[", "LabelArray", \(x, i, j, ..., drop=FALSE) {
-    # TODO: subsetting for multiscales
-    if (missing(i)) i <- TRUE
-    if (missing(j)) j <- TRUE
-    x@data <- data(x)[i, j, drop=FALSE]
-    return(x)
-})
+  if (missing(i)) i <- TRUE else if (isFALSE(i)) i <- 0 else .check_jk(i, "i")
+  if (missing(j)) j <- TRUE else if (isFALSE(j)) j <- 0 else .check_jk(j, "j")
+  n <- length(data(x, NULL))
+  d <- dim(data(x, 1))
+  x@data <- lapply(seq_len(n), \(.) {
+    i <- if (isTRUE(i)) seq_len(d[1]) else i
+    j <- if (isTRUE(j)) seq_len(d[2]) else j
+    ij <- lapply(list(i, j), \(ij) {
+      fac <- 2^(.-1)
+      seq(floor(head(ij, 1)/fac), 
+          ceiling(tail(ij, 1)/fac))
+    })
+    data(x, .)[ij[[1]], ij[[2]], drop=FALSE]
+  })
+  x
+})
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/R/misc.R b/R/misc.R
index f208609..3ca3000 100644
--- a/R/misc.R
+++ b/R/misc.R
@@ -73,24 +73,15 @@ NULL
 setMethod("show", "SpatialData", .showSpatialData)
 
 #' @importFrom S4Vectors coolcat
-.showImageArray <- function(object) {
+.showsdArray <- function(object) {
     n.object <- length(object@data)
-    cat("class: ImageArray", ifelse(n.object > 1, "(MultiScale)", ""),"\n")
+    cat("class: ", class(object), ifelse(n.object > 1, "(MultiScale)", ""),"\n")
     scales <- vapply(object@data, \(x) sprintf("(%s)", paste0(dim(x), collapse=",")), character(1))
     coolcat("Scales (%d): %s", scales)
 }
 
 #' @rdname misc
-setMethod("show", "ImageArray", .showImageArray)
-
-#' @importFrom S4Vectors coolcat
-.showLabelArray <- function(object) {
-    cat("class: LabelArray\n")
-    cat("dim:", dim(object@data))
-}
-
-#' @rdname misc
-setMethod("show", "LabelArray", .showLabelArray)
+setMethod("show", "sdArray", .showsdArray)
 
 #' @importFrom S4Vectors coolcat
 .showPointFrame <- function(object) {
diff --git a/R/read.R b/R/read.R
index cd140e8..929fd14 100644
--- a/R/read.R
+++ b/R/read.R
@@ -67,15 +67,20 @@ allp = c("session_info==1.0.0", "spatialdata==0.3.0", "spatialdata_io==0.1.7",
 #' (x <- readSpatialData(base))
 NULL
 
+readsdlayer <- function(x, ...) {
+  md <- fromJSON(file.path(x, ".zattrs"))
+  ps <- .get_multiscales_dataset_paths(md)
+  list(array = lapply(ps, \(.) ZarrArray(file.path(x, as.character(.)))), 
+       md = md)
+}
+
 #' @rdname readSpatialData
 #' @importFrom Rarr ZarrArray
 #' @importFrom jsonlite fromJSON
 #' @export
 readImage <- function(x, ...) {
-    md <- fromJSON(file.path(x, ".zattrs"))
-    ps <- .get_multiscales_dataset_paths(md)
-    za_lys <- lapply(ps, \(.) ZarrArray(file.path(x, as.character(.))))
-    ImageArray(data=za_lys, meta=Zattrs(md), ...)
+    lyrs <- readsdlayer(x, ...)
+    ImageArray(data=lyrs$array, meta=Zattrs(lyrs$md), ...)
 }
 
 #' @rdname readSpatialData
@@ -83,9 +88,8 @@ readImage <- function(x, ...) {
 #' @importFrom jsonlite fromJSON
 #' @export
 readLabel <- function(x, ...) {
-    md <- fromJSON(file.path(x, ".zattrs"))
-    za <- ZarrArray(file.path(x, "0"))
-    LabelArray(data=za, meta=Zattrs(md))
+  lyrs <- readsdlayer(x, ...)
+  LabelArray(data=lyrs$array, meta=Zattrs(lyrs$md), ...)
 }
 
 #' @rdname readSpatialData
diff --git a/R/sdArray.R b/R/sdArray.R
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4d83793
--- /dev/null
+++ b/R/sdArray.R
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+#' @name Array-methods
+#' @title Methods for `ImageArray` and `LabelArray` class
+#' 
+#' @aliases 
+#' data,ImageArray-method
+#' data,LabelArray-method
+#' dim,ImageArray-method
+#' dim,LabelArray-method
+#' length,ImageArray-method
+#' length,LabelArray-method
+#' 
+#' @param x \code{ImageArray} or  \code{LabelArray}
+#' @param k scalar index specifying which scale to extract.
+#' 
+#' @return \code{ImageArray}
+#'
+#' @examples
+#' # TODO
+#' 
+#' @importFrom S4Vectors metadata<-
+#' @importFrom methods new
+NULL
+
+#' @rdname Array-methods
+#' @export
+setMethod("data", "sdArray", \(x, k=1) {
+  if (is.null(k)) return(x@data)
+  stopifnot(length(k) == 1, is.numeric(k), k > 0)
+  n <- length(x@data) # get number of available scales
+  if (is.infinite(k)) k <- n # input of Inf uses lowest
+  if (k <= n) return(x@data[[k]]) # return specified scale
+  stop("'k=", k, "' but only ", n, " resolution(s) available")
+})
+
+#' @rdname Array-methods
+#' @export
+setMethod("dim", "sdArray", \(x) dim(data(x)))
+
+#' @rdname Array-methods
+#' @export
+setMethod("length", "sdArray", \(x) length(data(x, NULL)))
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/man/Array-methods.Rd b/man/Array-methods.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..083e08d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/Array-methods.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/sdArray.R
+\name{Array-methods}
+\alias{Array-methods}
+\alias{data,ImageArray-method}
+\alias{data,LabelArray-method}
+\alias{dim,ImageArray-method}
+\alias{dim,LabelArray-method}
+\alias{length,ImageArray-method}
+\alias{length,LabelArray-method}
+\alias{data,sdArray-method}
+\alias{dim,sdArray-method}
+\alias{length,sdArray-method}
+\title{Methods for `ImageArray` and `LabelArray` class}
+\usage{
+\S4method{data}{sdArray}(x, k = 1)
+
+\S4method{dim}{sdArray}(x)
+
+\S4method{length}{sdArray}(x)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{x}{\code{ImageArray} or  \code{LabelArray}}
+
+\item{k}{scalar index specifying which scale to extract.}
+}
+\value{
+\code{ImageArray}
+}
+\description{
+Methods for `ImageArray` and `LabelArray` class
+}
+\examples{
+# TODO
+
+}
diff --git a/man/ImageArray.Rd b/man/ImageArray.Rd
index 28c9141..85160a3 100644
--- a/man/ImageArray.Rd
+++ b/man/ImageArray.Rd
@@ -5,9 +5,6 @@
 \alias{channels,ImageArray-method}
 \alias{channels}
 \alias{channels,ANY-method}
-\alias{data,ImageArray-method}
-\alias{dim,ImageArray-method}
-\alias{length,ImageArray-method}
 \alias{[,ImageArray,ANY,ANY,ANY-method}
 \title{The `ImageArray` class}
 \usage{
@@ -17,12 +14,6 @@ ImageArray(data = list(), meta = Zattrs(), metadata = list(), ...)
 
 \S4method{channels}{ANY}(x, ...)
 
-\S4method{data}{ImageArray}(x, k = 1)
-
-\S4method{dim}{ImageArray}(x)
-
-\S4method{length}{ImageArray}(x)
-
 \S4method{[}{ImageArray,ANY,ANY,ANY}(x, i, j, k, ..., drop = FALSE)
 }
 \arguments{
@@ -37,10 +28,10 @@ content describing the overall object.}
 
 \item{x}{\code{ImageArray}}
 
-\item{k}{scalar index specifying which scale to extract.}
-
 \item{i, j}{indices specifying elements to extract.}
 
+\item{k}{scalar index specifying which scale to extract.}
+
 \item{drop}{ignored.}
 }
 \value{
diff --git a/man/LabelArray.Rd b/man/LabelArray.Rd
index 8465e35..44f557f 100644
--- a/man/LabelArray.Rd
+++ b/man/LabelArray.Rd
@@ -2,14 +2,11 @@
 % Please edit documentation in R/LabelArray.R
 \name{LabelArray}
 \alias{LabelArray}
-\alias{dim,LabelArray-method}
 \alias{[,LabelArray,ANY,ANY,ANY-method}
 \title{The \code{LabelArray} class}
 \usage{
 LabelArray(data = array(), meta = Zattrs(), metadata = list(), ...)
 
-\S4method{dim}{LabelArray}(x)
-
 \S4method{[}{LabelArray,ANY,ANY,ANY}(x, i, j, ..., drop = FALSE)
 }
 \arguments{
diff --git a/man/SpatialData.Rd b/man/SpatialData.Rd
index e760cfd..9521d85 100644
--- a/man/SpatialData.Rd
+++ b/man/SpatialData.Rd
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@
 \alias{element,SpatialData,ANY,numeric-method}
 \alias{element,SpatialData,ANY,missing-method}
 \alias{element,SpatialData,ANY,ANY-method}
-\alias{[[<-,SpatialData,numeric,ANY-method}
-\alias{[[<-,SpatialData,character,ANY-method}
+\alias{[[<-,SpatialData,numeric,ANY,ANY-method}
+\alias{[[<-,SpatialData,character,ANY,ANY-method}
 \title{The `SpatialData` class}
 \usage{
 SpatialData(images, labels, points, shapes, tables)
@@ -88,9 +88,9 @@ SpatialData(images, labels, points, shapes, tables)
 
 \S4method{element}{SpatialData,ANY,ANY}(x, i, j)
 
-\S4method{[[}{SpatialData,numeric,ANY}(x, i) <- value
+\S4method{[[}{SpatialData,numeric,ANY,ANY}(x, i) <- value
 
-\S4method{[[}{SpatialData,character,ANY}(x, i) <- value
+\S4method{[[}{SpatialData,character,ANY,ANY}(x, i) <- value
 }
 \arguments{
 \item{images}{list of \code{\link{ImageArray}}s}
diff --git a/man/misc.Rd b/man/misc.Rd
index b63a1e8..32e489b 100644
--- a/man/misc.Rd
+++ b/man/misc.Rd
@@ -3,17 +3,14 @@
 \name{misc}
 \alias{misc}
 \alias{show,SpatialData-method}
-\alias{show,ImageArray-method}
-\alias{show,LabelArray-method}
+\alias{show,sdArray-method}
 \alias{show,PointFrame-method}
 \alias{show,ShapeFrame-method}
 \title{Miscellaneous `Miro` methods}
 \usage{
 \S4method{show}{SpatialData}(object)
 
-\S4method{show}{ImageArray}(object)
-
-\S4method{show}{LabelArray}(object)
+\S4method{show}{sdArray}(object)
 
 \S4method{show}{PointFrame}(object)
 
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-imagearray.R b/tests/testthat/test-imagearray.R
index ea212f9..ae70feb 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-imagearray.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-imagearray.R
@@ -30,3 +30,13 @@ test_that("data(),ImageArray", {
     expect_error(data(img, ""))
     expect_error(data(img, c(1,2)))
 })
+
+x <- file.path("extdata", "blobs.zarr")
+x <- system.file(x, package="SpatialData")
+x <- readSpatialData(x, tables=FALSE)
+
+test_that("[,ImageArray", {
+  y <- image(x, i <- "blobs_image")
+  y <- y[,seq_len(32)] # subset to make things harder
+})
+
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-labelarray.R b/tests/testthat/test-labelarray.R
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..00cfca1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-labelarray.R
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+arr <- seq_len(12)
+
+test_that("LabelArray()", {
+  val <- sample(arr, 20*20, replace=TRUE)
+  mat <- array(val, dim=c(20, 20))
+  # invalid
+  expect_error(LabelArray(mat))
+  expect_error(LabelArray(mat, 1))
+  expect_error(LabelArray(mat, list()))
+  # single scale
+  expect_silent(LabelArray(list()))
+  expect_silent(LabelArray(list(mat)))
+  expect_silent(LabelArray(list(mat), Zattrs()))
+  # multiscale
+  dim <- lapply(c(20, 10, 5), \(.) c(3, rep(., 2)))
+  lys <- lapply(dim, \(.) array(sample(arr, prod(.), replace=TRUE), dim=.))
+  expect_silent(LabelArray(lys))
+})
+de
+test_that("data(),LabelArray", {
+  dim <- lapply(c(8, 4, 2), \(.) c(3, rep(., 2)))
+  lys <- lapply(dim, \(.) array(0, dim=.))
+  lab <- LabelArray(lys)
+  for (. in seq_along(lys))
+    expect_identical(data(lab, .), lys[[.]])
+  expect_identical(data(lab, Inf), lys[[3]])
+  expect_error(data(lab, 0))
+  expect_error(data(lab, -1))
+  expect_error(data(lab, 99))
+  expect_error(data(lab, ""))
+  expect_error(data(lab, c(1,2)))
+})
+
+x <- file.path("extdata", "blobs.zarr")
+x <- system.file(x, package="SpatialData")
+x <- readSpatialData(x, tables=FALSE)
+
+test_that("[,LabelArray", {
+  y <- label(x, i <- "blobs_labels")
+  y <- y[,seq_len(32)] # subset to make things harder
+  y <- label(x, i <- "blobs_multiscale_labels")
+  y <- y[,seq_len(32)] # subset to make things harder
+})
\ No newline at end of file