This version: 2nd May 2003 http://www.acmi.net.au/dctypeproposal/docs/StillImage_6.html
Previous version: 14th April 2003 http://www.acmi.net.au/dctypeproposal/docs/StillImage_5.html
Latest version: 2nd May 2003 http://www.acmi.net.au/dctypeproposal/docs/StillImage_6.html
Creator: Simon Pockley mailto:simonp@acmi.net.au Australian Centre for the Still Image(ACMI), Melbourne, Australia
Status of this document: for Review
Description: This document contains a proposal by the DCMI Type Working Group [1] to the Dublin Core Usage Board for a still image Type in the DCMI Type Vocabulary [2].
Name: StillImage
Label: Still Image
Definition: A static visual representation other than text. For example, a picture, photograph, painting, drawing, graphic design, plan, map, or musical score. Note that a still image may be manifested in physical and electronic forms.
Comment: still image or moving image replaces the term ‘image’
Type of term: Encoding Scheme
Encoding Scheme: DCMI Type Vocabulary [2]
Term qualified: dc:type
Why needed: The Dublin Core was initially developed for describing textual resources on the Internet. Deployments of DC have since expanded to include visual, audiovisual and new media collections. When the DCMI Type Vocabulary was formed a wider ranging list of agreed types (still image and moving image) were grouped together as image in the expectation that another vocabulary would provide the necessary distinction between them. The development of this vocabulary did not proceed.
It is therefore proposed that the DCMI Type Vocabulary be extended to separate the value ‘image’ into two resource types. The purpose of separating a still image resource from a moving image resource is to support discovery of resources that originate from, and are managed by quite different domains and are quite different forms of intellectual expression.
The risk of over elaborating a high-level type list, intended to be general, is matched by the risk of not having a top level term for a richly subtyped resource such as still image. Among these subtypes are form terms like Painting, Drawing, Photograph, Plan etc. As more moving image collections are included within the DC.Type term 'image', the absence of a top level term specific to the static image domain would impede the discovery of resources and reduce, rather than increase, interoperability. It is expected that both still image and moving image communities will register second level encoding schemes. However, this proposal should not depend on any particular encoding scheme recommendation.
The suggestion that a combination of Type and Format could be used to identify still image resources would be compromised by the number and complexity of format terms. This would also impede discovery of resources and reduce, rather than increase, interoperability.
The addition of the term still image will acknowledge the importance of the static image as a non-textual repository of cultural memory, artistic and intellectual expression and complement the addition of the term moving image.
Proposed status: Recommended
Related DCMI terms: Image, MovingImage (proposed)
Related non-DCMI terms:
Still image [image fixe] (Canadian Federal Government): A visual representation of a person, object or act, produced either physically or electronically; a picture as opposed to text. Examples: paintings, prints, drawings, diagrams, graphics, photographs, etc.
Still Image (ANSI T1.523-2001): Nonmoving visual information, i.e., fixed images, such as graphs, drawings, and pictures.
Image (MPEG-7): An Image refers to 2D spatially-varying visual data
Images (object genres) (AAT): Refers to imitations, representations, or other optical counterparts of the external form of an object, person, animal, place, or phenomenon.
Digital images (AAT): Electronic images stored in the form of electronically encoded picture elements.
Electronic images (AAT): Images recorded and stored in computer and video systems.
Still Video (ANSI T1.523-2001): Video imagery that is not intended to convey the appearance of movement.
graphic (AACR2): A two dimensional representation whether opaque (e.g. art originals and reproductions, flash cards, photographs, technical drawings) or intended to be viewed, or projected without motion, by means of an optical device (e.g. filmstrips, stereographs, slides).
Visual arts (U.S. Copyright Office): For copyright purposes, visual arts are original pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works, which include two-dimensional and three-dimensional works of fine, graphic, and applied art.
Environmental Impact:
The world of fixed images (including text), still pictures and static visual materials has a long descriptive heritage within quite separate domains. Many adopters of the DC.Type term, 'image' have used the term to distinguish between text and image. The term has also been used for still image collections where pictures, photographs, maps, and musical notation can be found either under the umbrella of 'electronic images' or within museum (physical object) collections. Such breadth of use makes it difficult to identify a specific still image domain. Instead, there appear to be several communities of interest, one in the physical world and one in the electronic. Within these communities the term 'image' is not necessarily a domain specific term. Consequently, legacy deployments of the term 'image' within these communities is unlikely to be compromised by this proposal.
To avoid difficulties with deployments of the existing term ‘image’ it is proposed to add the two terms ‘still image' and ‘moving image’ as preferred types. The existing term and the two coupled proposals for new terms will reflect this change:
About the proposers: DCMI Type Working Group [1]
References:
[1] DCMI Type Working Group. http://www.dublincore.org/groups/type
[2] DCMI Type Vocabulary. http://dublincore.org/documents/dcmi-type-vocabulary/
Expressions of Support: (list to be expanded as expressions arrive)