Coat of Arms

Coat of arms granted by the College of Heralds in 1991. The Arms (the shield) is properly described as: "... Argent fretty and semy of annulets gules on a pale vert three suns in splendor gold."

The fretty pattern of red criss cross lines represents the interlacing of blood vessels and the red circle annulets represent rings of blood corpuscles. The green bar down the middle called the pale vert has three suns which symbolise light for the camera and the red circle within it the lens of the camera.

The Crest is "... A helm with a wreath argent and gules, an opinicus segant erect holding in the dexter forepaw a quill pen gules."

The helm has a closed visor and always faces the left. It can only be used in this way for a corporate company (individuals with titles are allowed to use the helm with an open visor facing front). The wreath in gold and silver is a representation of twisted silk of the knight. It always has twelve twists all round and therefore six in view. The mantling round the wreath and helm is a representation of cloth over the neck of the knight to shade him from the sun and artists of course can use this to their advantage. The opinicus sejant is a rare monster from the mediaeval bestiaries now associated with surgery and was first used by the Company of Barber Surgeons in 1561 and since by many other eminent physicians and surgeons. It has the body, forelegs and hind legs of a lion and the wings and tail of an eagle. Its tail is short and stumpy like that of a camel. In its paw is a red quill in reference to art and illustration.

The motto beneath the crest translates as "Images surpass words".

The Coat of Arms is used on IMI's official documents such as Membership and Fellowship certificates.