Standard of the Camera & Imaging Products AssociationWhite PaperofCIPA DC- x 007- 2009

Multi-Picture Format

This translation has been made based on the original White Paper. In the event ofany doubts arising as the contents, the original Standard is to be the final authority.

Published by:
Camera & Imaging Products Association

1. Background and Objective
As the performance and capabilities of digital cameras have increased, there havebeen calls for summarizing and recording not only Individual Image data, but also
multiple image data which are interrelated in order to display image data withspecified pixel count on a monitor. One method of linking and recording multiple
images is to record the images as Individual Image files, then to record theinformation linking the files as a separate file. Other methods are to store thelinked image files in a single folder, or to record the links based on a file name.
These methods offer the benefit of permitting each image to be operated using
existing players. However, as users operate or move files between recording media,
image files may become scattered and lost, and their links may be broken. To
resolve these problems, it was decided to set a format for recording multiple image
data as a single file.
Table 1 shows the type of containable images specified in this specification.

Table 1

The type of containable images specified in this specification

Type information

Sub-Type(s)Large Thumbnails*

Multi-View Individual Images

Description

Class 1

VGA equivalentClass 2

Full HD equivalent

Panorama
Disparity
Multi-Angle

Other Images

Large Thumbnails are defined as two kinds: mainly class 1 (VGA) to be displayedon the monitors of compact devices, and class 2 (equivalent to full HD) to be
displayed on a high-definition television. Multi-View Individual Images* aredefined as a type with three sub-types: Panorama images (image recorded bydividing the photographed range into multiple shots), Disparity images, andMulti-Angle images which is an image taken from different directions.
Because usage of this standard is likely to expand later, an “undefined” type wasestablished.
Figure 1 and Figure 2 show the use cases with this specification.
*See §4 for "Individual Image"2HeaderShotMP File

Individual Image 2 Header

Display

Figure 1 Use Case of Large Thumbnails for Displays

HeaderMP FileMulti-View Camera
Individual Image 2 Header

Print

Individual Image 3 Header…
…
Individual Image n Header

Multi-VIew Display

Figure 2 Use Case of Multi-View Images

32. Scope
This document specifies an image data format and metadata tags used by digital
cameras and other imaging products including software

3. General StructureThis document specifies a file format to achieve the above objectives. The fileformat includes MP extensions which enable to store multiple Individual Images
in a single file. Individual Image has the same structure as Exif JPEG data.
3.1. Baseline MP File
A Baseline MP file consists of a Primary Image and an additional duplicate image
that has been formatted for optimal viewing on TVs and other viewing devices.
Baseline MP file uses Exif extensions, and specifies a file format including MPextensions which enable to store the Primary Image and additional image(s).
3.2. Extended MP File
An Extended MP file consists of a collection of images that correspond to one of theMP Types defined in this specification. Multi-view is defined as MP Type, andMulti-view has 3 sub-types: Panorama, Disparity, and Multi-Angle. Other images
may also be recorded with this file format. Extended MP file uses Exif extensions,and specifies a file format including MP extensions which enable to store multiple
images.The Extended MP file has a new file extension.

4. Data Structure
4.1. Basic MP File Structure
Figure 3 shows the basic structure of an MP File. An MP File contains two or more
Individual Images - of which the top most Individual Image is called the First
Individual Image. The MP Extensions are specified in the APP2 marker segment
which follows immediately after the Exif Attributes in the APP1 marker segment
except as otherwise specified. Each Individual Image adheres to the structured ofa valid JPEG image, delimited by an SOI and EOI marker. This specification does
not define any restrictions for data between the EOI marker of one IndividualImage and the SOI marker of the following Individual Image.
Table 2 lists the tags defined in this specification.

4

SOI
APP1 Exif Attributes
ThumbnailAPP2 MP Extensions
MP Index IFD
First Individual Image

Individual Image(1) JPEGEOISOIAPP1 Exif Attributes
ThumbnailAPP2 MP Extensions
Individual Image #2

Individual Image(2) JPEGEOISOIAPP1 Exif Attributes
ThumbnailAPP2 MP Extensions
Individual Image #3

Individual Image(3) JPEG

…

EOI
SOI

APP1 Exif Attributes
ThumbnailAPP2 MP Extensions
Individual Image #n

Individual Image(n) JPEG

EOI

Figure 3 Basic MP File format data structure5

Table 2

The Tags defined in this specification
Tag Name

Field Name

MP Format Version Number

MPFVersion

Number of Images

NumberOfImages

MP Entry Information

MPEntry

Individual Image Unique ID list

ImageUIDListTotal Number of Captured Frames

TotalFrames

MP Individual Image Number

MPIndividualNum

Panorama Scanning Orientation

PanOrientation

Panorama Horizontal Overlap

PanOverlap_H

Panorama Vertical Overlap

PanOverlap_V

Base Viewpoint Number

BaseViewpointNum

Convergence Angle

ConvergenceAngle

Baseline Length

BaselineLength

Divergence Angle

VerticalDivergence

Horizontal Axis Distance

AxisDistance_X

Vertical Axis Distance

AxisDistance_Y

Collimation Axis Distance

AxisDistance_Z

Yaw Angle

YawAngle

Pitch Angle

PitchAngle

Roll Angle

RollAngle

6