Site revised 7/6/00
Image Markup Language is a project of the Structural Informatics Group, Department of Biological Structure, School of Medicine, University of Washington.
IML is a straightforward schema for storing textual annotations to GIF or JPEG images. The annotation model is one of outlined regions, identified by labels, and colored "strings" and "pins". The schema also allows for some limited metadata about the annotations.
IML 1.0 has been submitted to the XML.ORG schema repository, with more information here.:
IML 1.0 is based on an existing lisp-like format used in our web-based interactive anatomy atlases. IML 1.0 is a straight implementation of the current, production Frame Format 2.0, which is presently used in the Personal Annotated Image Server, an open source project of our research group.
New releases of IML will improve the granularity of the present annotation model, refine the metadata, and introduce new annotation models.
IML 1.5 will be an extension to IML 1.0 with a reordering of elements to allow more flexible display, an extension of Metadata, integration of the STRUCT and CONTROL types into a richer featured region, general URL references, etc. The error handling in the PAIS tools needs to be substantially enhanced. This will no longer be backwards compatible with FF2.
IML 2 will be the extension of IML to include IMS style metadata, post discussion with Sebastian, Chris, and Sharon.
IML 3 will be the extensin of IML to include a Layer/Overlay model of annotation.
IML
You can also right-click on these next two links to download the DTD, and a sample XML document produced by the schema editor, or here it is for your cut and paste convenience:
- <!---->
- <!--Image Markup Language 1.0
- This is derived from the Digital Anatomist Frame Format 2.0
- (http://www9.biostr.washington.edu/DA/docs/specs/currSpec.html)
- for annotation of images for the DA online image server
- For more infomation on the Digital Anatomist Project:
- http://sig.biostr.washington.edu
- Bill Lober, MD
- Structural Informatics Group
- June, 2000
- copyright (2000) University of Washington
- licenced under the Gnu Public Liscense
- (see license file in distribution)
- -->
- <!ELEMENT Frame (Info? | Colors | Region* )>
- <!ATTLIST Frame image CDATA #REQUIRED >
- <!ELEMENT Colors EMPTY>
- <!ATTLIST Colors outline_color CDATA #IMPLIED
- pin_color CDATA #IMPLIED
- string_color CDATA #IMPLIED >
- <!ELEMENT Region (label? , center , outline )>
- <!ATTLIST Region type (STRUCT | CONTROL ) #REQUIRED
- id CDATA #REQUIRED
- action CDATA #IMPLIED >
- <!ELEMENT label (#PCDATA )>
- <!ELEMENT center (pt )>
- <!ELEMENT pt EMPTY>
- <!ATTLIST pt x CDATA #REQUIRED
- y CDATA #REQUIRED >
- <!ELEMENT outline (pt+ )>
- <!ELEMENT Info (#PCDATA )>
Hopefully, this has piqued your interest. If you'd like to see IML in action, here's a second plug for PAIS, my open-source Personal Annotated Image Server.
diagram of IML 1.0 elements
ToDo list
1) Add Links to older version of this page
2) Reconcile development pathway with PAIS development
3) Edit xml.org info page