Adaptive Metadata Layers
Adaptive Metadata layers enable you to have detailed, content-specific metadata profiles, without cluttering your system with too many metadata fields
Adaptive Metadata is the #1 reason organizations choose Picturepark over other digital asset management systems. First introduced by Picturepark in 2013, the ability to define, add and remove metadata in layers has changed the way Picturepark customers manage their metadata and content.
Video shows Adaptive Metadata 2.0 shipped with the Picturepark Content Platform.
What’s in a metadata layer
Each metadata layer you define includes one or more related metadata fields. One layer might include all the fields you need for managing product images, while another layer provides the fields you need for press release management. This content-focused approach helps ensure that each digital asset has all the metadata it needs, and nothing more.
The Product metadata layer includes fields for Product Family and Product Line, while the Press layer includes Embargo Date and Distribution markets. Additional metadata layers for Sales materials and Photo provide their own metadata fields. (Some fields can be configured to appear regardless of assigned content classes. This is why Filesize and Restrictions appear here.)
Metadata layers can also include the fields you need for internal discussions or reviews, production management and other administrative uses. Each digital asset in Picturepark has its own metadata layer set, so adding review fields to one digital asset won’t add those same fields to all content in the system.
The content on the left is under development, so the Development metadata layer has been added, which provides fields to manage that process. The image on the right shows when development is complete. The Development metadata layer has been removed, which takes away those fields, helping to keep the metadata fields to a minimum.
Add or remove metadata layers at any time
Permitted users can add or remove metadata layers at any time. By adding a single metadata layer tag, all metadata fields provided by that layer appear. Remove a layer tag to remove metadata fields that are no longer needed. This helps keep your Picturepark easier for users to work with because they never see metadata fields that make no sense.
An error has been found in the content on the left, so a user has added the Change Request metadata layer. Among the fields provided by the layer include the reporting user and a description of the problem. The editor is notified automatically. Once the edit is complete (right), the Change Request layer is removed, and the fields go away.
Different metadata for different user groups
Adaptive Metadata layering also means you can provide different metadata profiles to different user groups. Internal users can see the fields they need, while partners and customers see only what you intend them to see.
Metadata layering becomes even more important when you use Picturepark with Sitecore, SharePoint, Kentico or other integrated business systems. You don’t want the users of those systems to have access to all the same metadata your internal users see. Instead, create a new metadata layer for each integration and you can more easily control which metadata values will be accessible to the users of those systems.
Create metadata layers for each of your integrated business systems so that you can better control which metadata is available outside Picturepark. This image shows metadata layers that are used to send metadata to Sitecore and SharePoint integrations.
Easier management of metadata standards
Metadata standards are definitions of metadata values required for specific purposes. For example, news agencies often use the IPTC standard, which provides metadata fields like World Region, Headline and Rights Usage Terms. Photographers often use the EXIF standard, which provides fields like Camera Model, Shot Date and lens Focal Length.
Many industries have their own standards too. In fact, there are hundreds of metadata standards in use today. Picturepark makes it easy to manage multiple metadata standards because you can isolate each standard’s fields onto their own layer.
You can also isolate metadata used for internal purposes that isn’t a part of any standard. This makes it easier for your users to know which metadata values might be seen outside the company.
The benefits of keeping metadata standards isolated are:
- It’s clear to users which values are part of each standard
- It’s easier to keep track of which metadata values should be embedded into the content that leaves Picturepark
- You can more reliably define access permissions for each standard, so that only the users you intend to see certain fields can see them
More Adaptive Metadata resources
You can learn more about Picturepark Adaptive Metadata in the following resources: