IIIF, or the International Image Interoperability Framework, is a global standard for the hosting and serving of digital media. Initially IIIF was reserved for images, but it now allows for audiovisual objects and even 3D objects! It allows different people and institutions to share a common format for their digital media which can be shared and accessed freely across the world.

IIIF proposes a number of different APIs, including the Presentation API, which is currently in its third version. The Presentation API allows you to create a very light-weight file called a Manifest, which allows you to create complex digital objects which point to one or many media files, add annotations, add metadata etc.

Arvest is completely IIIF-compatible, and allows you to start engaging with and creating IIIF content quickly, with no technical know-how required.

IIIF Manifest

The IIIF Manifest is an important part of what structures the IIIF ecosystem. Even if we consider that is should not be necessary to know how a Manifest works in order to use Arvest, it can be useful to know how a Manifest works if you wish to take things further.

Check back soon for a full tutorial on IIIF Manifests!