Image metadata

Image metadata in this context means information embedded in image files that is in addition to the information describing the pixels themselves. It is information about the image; when it was taken, by whom, with what equipment, etc.

I started thinking about image metadata when considering how to build the photos section of this site.

• My efforts to define a data model from the metadata defined in the Kodak Picture Metadata Guidelines.
• The DIG35 Metadata XML Document Type Definition as extracted from the DIG35 Working Draft 1

Organisations

• Digital Imaging Group
• Japan Electronic Industry Development Association, owners of the EXIF file format standard

References

• James Milch and Ken Parulski, Eastman Kodak Company, 2000, Using Metadata to Simplify Digital Photography
• James Milch and Rob Reisch, 2000, Eastman Kodak Company Picture Metadata Guidelines (2000-2001), Version 1.1
• James Milch, Eastman Kodak Company, 2000, Hints for the Creation and Usage of Picture Metadata
• James Milch, Eastman Kodak Company, 2000, A System View of Digital Photography, online presentation
• Digital Imaging Group, 1999, Working Together to Build the Future of Digital Imaging, an introduction to DIG
• Digital Imaging Group, 1999, The Power of Metadata Is Propelling Digital Imaging Beyond the Limitations of Conventional Photography, an overview of the DIG35 initiative
• Digital Imaging Group, 2000, DIG35 Working Draft 1
• TsuruZoh Tachibanaya's Description of the EXIF File Format

The Kodak papers are available from Kodak's Developer Relations Group.

Presentations from the Kodak Developer Conference 2000 are available at iPresenter.com.