Digital Imaging Group he focus of the DIG35 Initiative Group is on defining metadata standards. By establishing standards, the Initiative Group seeks to overcome a variety of challenges that have arisen as the sheer volume of digital images being used has increased. Among these are efficiently archiving, indexing, cataloging, reviewing, and retrieving individual images, whenever and wherever needed. From the consumers' standpoint this means avoiding the digital equivalent of an unorganized shoebox full of photos. For businesses, it means maximizing precious assets in the form of well-organized and accessible image archives.
Metadata allows image files to contain additional information beyond the pixels in the image itself.
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. XML offers a ready-made environment within which vendors of digital imaging applications and devices can rapidly incorporate the advantages of metadata structures.