IIIF (International Image Interoperability Framework) is an open standard for delivering images featuring rich viewing, comparison, manipulation, and annotation options. Scalar uses the open source Mirador platform* for viewing these images. Scalar annotations, however, cannot currently be applied to IIIF images.

An IIIF image is made up of a collection of files, plus a JSON document known as a manifest. To bring an IIIF image into Scalar, users can simply import the URL of the manifest, or the manifest itself, and Scalar will take care of the rest. (Note that the non-manifest files that make up the IIIF image must be hosted online somewhere in order for them to be accessed by Scalar.)

To import an IIIF manifest that's hosted elsewhere, click the import icon on your Scalar header bar and select "Files and URLs" and then "Link to media files". Enter the URL for the manifest and any other metadata desired, select "IIIF manifest" from the Media type drop-down menu, and then click "Save and view".

To upload an IIIF manifest, click the import icon on your Scalar header bar and select "Files and URLs" and then "Upload media files". Click the "Is IIIF manifest" checkbox, choose the file from your local drive, enter any other metadata desired, and then click "Upload".

*Thanks to Cole Crawford's team at Harvard University Digital Scholarship for performing the Mirador integration.