ImageExchange™ FAQ
- What is the ImageExchange add-on?
- How does the ImageExchange work?
- How does the metadata stay with the image?
- Which browser can run the ImageExchange add-on?
- Who uses ImageExchange?
- Why don't I see the “i”?
- What version of Firefox do I need to be using?
- How do I turn ImageExchange off/on?
ImageExchange™ add-on is a free productivity tool for creative professionals that works with Firefox (coming soon on Internet Explorer) in both Mac and Windows. After installing the add-on, users can easily connect with the licensors for millions of images that are ready for legitimate use. Images from leading global agencies and individual photographers have been indexed and registered with the PicScout ImageIRC, so that every time an ImageExchange user encounters an indexed image, they recognize the image as one they can license directly.
ImageExchange provides a very quick, easy, and intuitive process to legitimately use images whenever and wherever an ImageExchange user encounters an indexed image, they will see an “i” icon 
in the corner of the image. Clicking on the opens a box with key information about the image, along with a button to license the image. When clicking the button to license an image, the ImageExchange user connects directly to the licensing site and sees additional details , including sizes and resolutions, cost options and accreditation requirements.
Equipped with the ImageExchange add-on, it only takes a few minutes from the time you find an image to the time you start using it.
The technology process begins with the PicScout ImageIRC (Index, Registry, Connection), the foundational platform for all PicScout products and services. The product, ImageExchange, accesses ImageIRC in real-time to identify images for users wherever they encounter an indexed image −whether in search pages like Google Images or Yahoo Images, browsing the internet, or even on user generated sites like Facebook. There are millions of registered, indexed images from 35 stock agencies and hundreds/thousands?? of photographers participating in ImageIRC. Indexed images appear with an “i” icon to those who have installed the ImageExchange add-on. When an ImageExchange user opens a Firefox or Internet Explorer browser window and encounters an ImageIRC image they will see the . Clicking on the reveals the image metadata in a pop-up window, so the user can learn more about the image and connect directly to the licensing site.
PicScout applies its proprietary image recognition and digital fingerprinting technology to ImageIRC images wherever they’re encountered, even if an image has been altered. PicScout fingerprinting assures that the image metadata is always retained, ensuring that images can always be credited, searched, and preserved.
Image metadata resides on our servers parallel to the image fingerprint. Whenever an image query is submitted to the ImageIRC the response includes the relevant metadata and this is shared with the user through ImageExchange.
Currently, the ImageExchange add-on is available in beta for Firefox. We are working on the Internet Explorer version which is coming soon. Contact us if you would like an email notification when the Internet Explorer beta version is released.
Professional designers, graphic designers, ad agency personnel, photography editors, picture buyers, photo researchers, publishers, bloggers and corporate creative and communications professionals are among those using ImageExchange. PicScout ImageExchange facilitates search and licensing processes and eliminates frustration for anyone who regularly uses images in their work, making licensing and related image information instantly available for the millions of online images indexed in the PicScout ImageIRC.
There may be several reasons:
- The images you see are not yet registered with the ImageIRC. The ImageExchange “i” icon appears on images that are indexed in PicScout’s ImageIRC. Currently there are millions of images from leading global and specialty stock agencies and photographers indexed with more images from agencies and photographers being added daily.
- Your ImageExchange may be turned off. In the upper right-hand corner of your browser you should see a blue (i) icon - this indicates the ImageExchange is turned on. If the (i) icon is grey in color – that means it is turned off. Just click on the grey (i) icon to reactivate it and restore visibility of the blue (i) icon .
- You may be using an unsupported browser. Please check to make sure you are using a supported version.
- You may need to update your ImageExchange add-on. To do this in Firefox, click on "Tools" and then "Add-ons." Under "Extensions," highlight the ImageExchange add-on and click "Find Updates." If a newer version of the add-on is available, you can install it by clicking "Install Updates" within the "Updates" tab.
Version 3.6 and above.
If you are running ImageExchange in Firefox and would like to turn it off, you can do it one of the following ways:
1) Click on the blue icon in the upper right hand corner of your screen and it will turn gray. Click it again when you want to turn it back on.
2) Right click on the blue icon on the lower right hand corner of the browser and select turn off. To turn on again, right click the now grey "i" icon and select turn on.