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    • Metadata Standards:  A Smarter Way to Look at Digital Images

    DIG35 Initiative Group

    Example Metadata

    Formed in April of 1999, the vision of the DIG35 Initiative Group was to "provide a standardized mechanism which allows end-users to see digital image use as being equally as easy, as convenient and as flexible as the traditional photographic methods while enabling additional benefits that are possible only with a digital format."

    What is Metadata?

    Metadata allows image files to contain additional information beyond the pixels in the image itself. This data about the image can be used in a variety of ways, including:

    • To enhance the content of the image (by adding an audio track, for instance)
    • To provide in-depth information on the image and its creation, such as date and time, focus distance, light levels, GPS location, etc.
    • To allow for easy indexing, identification, categorization and usage-control according to image type, copyright conditions, originator, subject matter, location, etc.

    The ability to efficiently embed additional information directly into the image file also opens up a variety of new and powerful applications scenarios. For instance, metadata could be used to automatically provide distributed Internet applications with machine-readable embedded information, thereby conserving bandwidth, streamlining usage and simplifying requirements for user intervention.

    The key focus areas of the DIG35 Initiative Group include:

    • Defining a standard set of metadata for digital images that can be widely implemented across multiple image file formats
    • Providing a uniform underlying construct to support interoperability of metadata between various digital imaging devices
    • Ensuring that the metadata structure provides both a common inter-application exchange format and a high-degree of extensibility for enhanced use by specific applications
    • Educating the industry at large regarding the importance of metadata usage, preservation and exchangeability

    Leveraging XML

    A key decision made by the DIG35 Initiative Group was the choice of XML (Extensible Markup Language) as the recommended reference implementation structure. XML offers a ready-made environment within which vendors of digital imaging applications and devices can rapidly incorporate the advantages of metadata structures.

    Use-Case Modeling

    One of the ways that the DIG35 Initiative Group process ensured the real-world viability of its metadata recommendations is through the use a defined process of "Use-Case" Modeling. This involves outlining and testing all of the metadata implications with regard to how the user would perform specific scenarios, as well as how device manufacturers and applications developers would implement underlying structures.

    Fostering Coordination

    In keeping with I3A’’s overall role as cross-organizational, industry-wide coordinating organization, the DIG35 Initiative and other DIG Initiatives maintained close interaction with related standards-setting bodies. Primarily, these included ISO’’s JPEG-2000 and MPEG-7 committees. In addition, the group has closely tracked the development of XML, as well as other Internet standards.

    Summary

    Ultimately the basic goals of I3A’’s emphasis on cross-coordination are to foster the use of common technologies, to avoid over-laps, conflicts or gaps between different standards efforts, and to develop a stronger foundation for generating standards for the entire digital imaging industry.

    Companies Who Participated

    Adobe Systems
    AGFA
    Canon
    PictureIQ
    digitella
    Eastman Kodak Company
    FUJIFILM
    HP
    NetImage
    PhotoChannel
    PhotoWorks

    This initiative is now closed.

    Contact I3A for more information.
    Download DIG35 Initiative Group documents