The Role of Embedded Metadata in Visual Resources
Mira Basara
DSPS
January 2015

What is Embedded Metadata?
 Embedded metadata is when information about the image is encoded into the image itself.
 Technical and descriptive metadata can be embedded in the images and its addition makes images more accessible to users.

Why it Matters?
 If you download an image from the web, metadata is lost. Images separated from their metadata lose their identity and usefulness.
 The metadata associated with an image delivers information such as:
 Technical Information – how was the image made?
 Descriptive Information – what does the image show?
 Administrative – who made the image and when?
 Copyrights – who can use the image and how?
 If you have a large collection of digital files and are looking for a way to add information about them without having a database, using embedded metadata may be for you.

Embedding Metadata into the Image File
 Allows the descriptive information to travel with the image across file formats and software applications
 Can be used for preservation
 Images with embedded metadata can be a desktop database
 Aids search and retrieval
 Improves workflow
 Can be used to store information for tracking and managing images during the workflow process
 For example, you can embed a job number, requestor, staff ID, etc. You can embed information, such as editing instructions, useful to other staff who open the image later in the workflow.

Things to Note
 Embedded metadata does NOT damage an image
 It is permanent
 There is no limit to how much data you can embed
 Embedded metadata cannot be protected
 Some programs and services strip embedded metadata

Ways to Export-Import Embedded Metadata
 Nikon- View NX2 – robust and free
( https://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/19252 )
 XnView – robust and free
( http://www.xnview.com/en/ )
 Bridge- customizable and free after Photoshop trial expires
 EMET – Embedded Metadata Extraction Tool
 Created by ARTstor
 Tool designed to extract metadata embedded in JPEG and TIFF files
 Free and available to download at http://get.adobe.come/air/

VRA Custom File Info Panel
 VRA Info panel was created by Embedded Metadata working group. EMwg is a working group of the Data
Standards Committee of the Visual Resources Association.
 Includes various data schemas to create a custom view that describes cultural heritage works.
 Uses Adobe’s open-source labeling technology, Extensible
Metadata Platform (XMP), to allow users to embed descriptive metadata directly into an image file.
 Creates data that is compatible with both the VRA Core 4.0 standard and International Press Telecommunications
Council (IPTC) data standards so that it is interoperable with most photo software applications and can be easily ingested into a visual resources database.

VRA Custom File Info Panel
 Works with Adobe Creative Suite 4 and 5 products,
Photoshop/Bridge or higher, Illustrator and Photoshop
Elements 9.
 It is NOT compatible with Lightroom.
 http://metadatadeluxe.pbworks.com/w/page/48025141
/VRA%20Panel%20Export-Import%20Tool

Supported File Formats
 DNG (Digital Negative)
 GIF (Graphic Interchange Format)
 JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
 PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
 PSD (Adobe Photoshop)
 TIFF (Tagged Image File Format)

How to Find Embedded Metadata?
 To edit metadata in one image, use Photoshop
 Select File Menu -> File Info

The File Info Panel Dialog Box

The File Info Panel Dialog Box

The File Info Panel Dialog Box

The File Info Panel Dialog Box

The panel is divided into four sections
 • Work: describes the creative artwork, object, or performance shown in the image.
 • Image: describes the photo as a visual surrogate of the
Artwork/Object.
 • Administration: information used for project oversight and tracking.
 • Summary: data that will show in most photo applications

Adobe Bridge Metadata Palette

Adobe Bridge Metadata Palette

Using Templates
 Creating Templates can save you time AND ensure that repeating data is applied consistently – Templates help you work SUPER efficiently.
 Apply the same information in several fields to several images all at once

VRA Panel export-import tool
 The Visual Resources Association’s (VRA) Panel exportimport tool is a JavaScript plugin for Adobe Bridge
 Allows you to export embedded metadata from RAW,
TIFF, JPEG, and PNG files to a tab-delimited text file
 Also allows you to import metadata from a tab-delimited text file into a group of images

VRA Panel Export-Import Tool

VRA Panel Export-Import Tool

Embedded Metadata in Bridge
Export a template

Embedded Metadata in Bridge
Import a template

Embedded Metadata in Bridge
Created in Bridge

Embedded Metadata
An image uploaded to Picasa

Embedded Metadata
An image uploaded to Flickr

Embedded Metadata
An image uploaded to Flickr – EXIF file

Display of Windows Photo Viewer

Embedded Metadata
Search result

Jhove
Embedded Metadata

Conclusion
 The more standardized and useful information we embed into images, the more searchable those images will be.
 It is very important to protect your assets!

Resources
 VRA Embedded Metadata working group
(VRA info panels and User Guides) http://metadatadeluxe.pbworks.com/w/page/32300275/VR
A-XMP-Info-Panel-(beta)
 Greg Reser. Embedded Metadata – an explanation with real world uses. Retrieved from SlideShare website: http://www.slideshare.net/gregreser/viz-embeddedmetadata-workshop?related=7
 IPTC (International Press Telecommunications Council) http://www.iptc.org/IPTC4XMP/
 XMP (Extensible Metadata Platform) http://www.adobe.com/products/xmp/

Questions?
THANK YOU!
Contact: mb327@cornell.edu