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Apologies for any cross-postings. Have you ever wanted to create and save image-sets on-line or search for images based on their colour? The Visual Arts Data Service (VADS): The AHDS Centre for Visual Arts has just launched two exciting new features that will allow users to do just that and more. VADS’ new ‘Lightbox’ and ‘Visual Search’ features provide users the opportunity to store, send and search, for images from a selection of VADS' collections in a completely new and personalised way. The Lightbox allows users to personally manage images they find within VADS (similar to a 'shopping basket' type feature). Users have the options to store images in sets, save & compare individual images and e-mail image- sets which can then be ‘adopted’ by other users when they visit VADS The Visual Search function uses a technique known as Content Based Image Retrieval (CBIR) that allows users to search the collections on the basis of features extracted from the images themselves (such as colour, shape and contrast), rather than using text based methods. Visual searching is particularly useful where text descriptions are ambiguous or limited such as with patterns, colours or abstract designs. Visual searching is a relatively new concept and VADS is pleased to offer it on a trial basis, in association with The Institute for Image Data Research (IIDR), University of Northumbria. VADS welcomes feedback on these new developments and will be providing specific feedback mechanisms in the near future. In the meantime, please explore & let us know what you think by emailing [log in to unmask] These new features result from a Joint Information Systems Committee (5/99) funded project entitled PICTIVA: Promoting the use of on-line Image Collections for learning and Teaching in the Visual Arts. VADS now provides over 16,500 cross-searchable visual arts images for use in research, learning and teaching: http://vads.ahds.ac.uk.