IIIF, the Future of Digital Resource Sharing

The IIIF Concept

IIIF (International Image Interoperability Framework) is an initiative launched by Stanford University, in collaboration with several major national libraries — including the Bibliothèque nationale de France — aimed at standardizing the provision of digital images. This initiative naturally falls within Ephoto Dam’s field of expertise.

The IIIF project has given rise to a set of technical specifications enabling digital libraries and Digital Asset Management (DAM) solutions to deliver not only images, but also videos, audio files, PDFs, and, since version 3.0, even 3D objects.

IIIF transforms the user experience

The IIIF initiative opens up new possibilities for leveraging digital media:

Compare

documents from multiple institutions in a single interface — especially useful for researchers;

Reconstruct

a document in different states — for example, a manuscript page shown both complete and with missing sections — within a single, unified view;

Cite

or precisely share a section of an image via a direct URL;

Annotate

a media item using a third-party application, while keeping the resources hosted in their original environment.

This interoperability allows users to build a personal collection of media and metadata from multiple sources, without relying on the DAM’s storage structure.

A Modern, Sustainable Architecture

IIIF brings innovation by providing broad access to digital resources and their metadata — no file downloads needed, no database access required, and via persistent URLs that are independent of any particular tool.

Ephoto Dam fully supports the IIIF standard, including the Presentation API 3.0. Our implementation is tailored to each client’s needs and handles the complete delivery infrastructure, always with an emphasis on environmentally responsible digital practices.

Expanding to New Formats

IIIF version 3.0 now supports video, audio, and even 3D. Ephoto Dam is ready for these formats, enabling a richer viewing experience — perfect for museums, archives, and cultural institutions aiming to highlight their art pieces or digitized collections.

IIIF frees digital collections from isolation. They become interoperable, shareable, annotatable, and enduring. By implementing this standard, Ephoto Dam promotes openness, collaboration, and sustainable practices — supporting cultural institutions and their audiences.