A method and apparatus for managing source and derivative data is disclosed. Source data, typically image data, is centralized in a database and derivative data sets are formed from the source data. When it is desired to modify a derivative data, the source data can be accessed and modified to form a new derivative data set instead of modifying the already derived data set. In this way source data integrity is maintained. Derivative data sets are identified and tags are associated with new derivative images. The tag can be embedded in the derivative data or associated with the image as an attached element. The tag identifies information such as the server that generated the derivative image, the source image and any tasks or transformations that were applied to the source image to generate the derivative data. Users of source data can be given access to a central source data repository and access privileges can be assigned. In this way a number of users can access the source files and globally modify all derivative images by changes in the source file.