diff --git a/src/data/field.hpp b/src/data/field.hpp
index bb3de113..3ede7d99 100644
--- a/src/data/field.hpp
+++ b/src/data/field.hpp
@@ -103,15 +103,15 @@ public:
   Style(const FieldP&);
   virtual ~Style();
   
-  const FieldP       fieldP;          ///< Field this style is for, should have the right type!
+  const FieldP         fieldP;        ///< Field this style is for, should have the right type!
   
-  int                z_index;         ///< Stacking of values of this field, higher = on top
-  int                tab_index;       ///< Tab index in editor
-  Scriptable<double> left,  top;      ///< Position of this field
-  Scriptable<double> width, height;   ///< Position of this field
-  Scriptable<double> right, bottom;   ///< Position of this field
-  Scriptable<Degrees> angle;          ///< Rotation of the box
-  Scriptable<bool>   visible;         ///< Is this field visible?
+  int                  z_index;       ///< Stacking of values of this field, higher = on top
+  int                  tab_index;     ///< Tab index in editor
+  Scriptable<double>   left,  top;    ///< Position of this field
+  Scriptable<double>   right, bottom; ///< Position of this field
+  Scriptable<double>   width, height; ///< Size of this field
+  Scriptable<Degrees>  angle;         ///< Rotation of the box
+  Scriptable<bool>     visible;       ///< Is this field visible?
   CachedScriptableMask mask;          ///< Mask image
   
   enum AutomaticSide {
@@ -123,10 +123,10 @@ public:
   } automatic_side : 8;  ///< Which of (left, width,  right) and (top,  height, bottom) is determined automatically?
   bool content_dependent;  ///< Does this style depend on content properties?
   
-  inline RealPoint getPos()  const { return RealPoint(left, top); }
-  inline RealSize  getSize() const { return RealSize(width, height); }
-  inline RealRect  getExternalRect() const { return RealRect(left, top, width, height); }
-  inline String    getExternalRectString(double scale, Radians angle, double bleed, int img_width, int img_height, int img_offset) { ///< update the style before calling this
+  inline RealPoint   getPos()  const { return RealPoint(left, top); }
+  inline RealSize    getSize() const { return RealSize(width, height); }
+  inline RealRect    getExternalRect() const { return RealRect(left, top, width, height); }
+  inline std::string getExternalRectString(double scale, Radians angle, double bleed, int img_width, int img_height, int img_offset) { ///< update the style before calling this
     double x = left * scale, y = top * scale;
     double w = width * scale, h = height * scale;
     RealRect rect(x, y, w, h);
@@ -142,14 +142,14 @@ public:
       rect = RealRect(img_width - y - h, x, h, w);
       degrees = 270;
     } else {
-      return _("");
+      return "";
     }
-    return _("---") + wxString::Format(wxT("%i"), (int)std::ceil( rect.x + bleed + img_offset)) +
-           _("-") +   wxString::Format(wxT("%i"), (int)std::ceil( rect.y + bleed)) +
-           _("-") +   wxString::Format(wxT("%i"), (int)std::floor(rect.width)) +
-           _("-") +   wxString::Format(wxT("%i"), (int)std::floor(rect.height)) +
-           _("-") +   wxString::Format(wxT("%i"), degrees) +
-           _("---");
+    return "<mse-crop-data>" + std::to_string((int)std::ceil (rect.x + bleed + img_offset)) +
+           "-"               + std::to_string((int)std::ceil (rect.y + bleed)) +
+           "-"               + std::to_string((int)std::floor(rect.width)) +
+           "-"               + std::to_string((int)std::floor(rect.height)) +
+           "-"               + std::to_string(degrees) +
+           "</mse-crop-data>";
   }
 
   /// Does this style have a non-zero size (or is it scripted)?
diff --git a/src/data/field/image.cpp b/src/data/field/image.cpp
index b2f08127..84a0b121 100644
--- a/src/data/field/image.cpp
+++ b/src/data/field/image.cpp
@@ -18,17 +18,18 @@ IMPLEMENT_REFLECTION(ImageField) {
   REFLECT_BASE(Field);
 }
 
-
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ImageStyle
 
 IMPLEMENT_REFLECTION(ImageStyle) {
   REFLECT_BASE(Style);
   REFLECT_N("default", default_image);
+  REFLECT(store_in_metadata);
 }
 
 int ImageStyle::update(Context& ctx) {
   int changes = Style::update(ctx);
   changes |= default_image.update(ctx) * CHANGE_DEFAULT;
+  changes |= store_in_metadata.update(ctx) * CHANGE_OTHER;
   return changes;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/data/field/image.hpp b/src/data/field/image.hpp
index 686f6a18..0c95d82a 100644
--- a/src/data/field/image.hpp
+++ b/src/data/field/image.hpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 
 #include <util/prec.hpp>
 #include <data/field.hpp>
+#include <data/set.hpp>
 #include <script/scriptable.hpp>
 #include <script/image.hpp>
 #include <util/io/package.hpp>
@@ -30,19 +31,6 @@ public:
   DECLARE_FIELD_TYPE(Image);
 };
 
-// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ImageStyle
-
-/// The Style for a ImageField
-class ImageStyle : public Style {
-public:
-  inline ImageStyle(const ImageFieldP& field) : Style(field) {}
-  DECLARE_STYLE_TYPE(Image);
-  
-  ScriptableImage default_image; ///< Placeholder
-  
-  int update(Context&) override;
-};
-
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ImageValue
 
 /// The Value in a ImageField, i.e. an image
@@ -50,8 +38,33 @@ class ImageValue : public Value {
 public:
   inline ImageValue(const ImageFieldP& field) : Value(field) {}
   DECLARE_VALUE_TYPE(Image, LocalFileName);
-  
+
   ValueType filename;    ///< Filename of the image (in the current package), or ""
   Age       last_update; ///< When was the image last changed?
 };
 
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ImageStyle
+
+/// The Style for an ImageField
+class ImageStyle : public Style {
+public:
+  inline ImageStyle(const ImageFieldP& field) : Style(field), store_in_metadata(false) {}
+  DECLARE_STYLE_TYPE(Image);
+  
+  ScriptableImage default_image;      ///< Placeholder image when the user hasn't set one.
+  Scriptable<bool> store_in_metadata; ///< Is the image stored in full in the metadata when exporting?
+  
+  int update(Context&) override;
+
+  inline std::string getExternalImageString(const SetP& set, ImageValue* value) { ///< update the style before calling this
+    auto imageInputStream = set->openIn(value->filename);
+    Image img(*imageInputStream, wxBITMAP_TYPE_PNG);
+    if (!img.IsOk()) throw ScriptError(_ERROR_2_("file not found", value->filename.toStringForKey(), set));
+    String temppath = wxFileName::CreateTempFileName(_("mse")) + _(".png");
+    img.SaveFile(temppath);
+    std::string s = "<mse-image-data>" + fileToUTF8(temppath.ToStdString()) + "</mse-image-data>";
+    wxRemoveFile(temppath);
+    wxRemoveFile(temppath.substr(0, temppath.size() - 4));
+    return s;
+  }
+};
diff --git a/src/data/format/file_to_text.h b/src/data/format/file_to_text.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..87186ce6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/data/format/file_to_text.h
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+//+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+//| Description:  Magic Set Editor - Program to make card games                |
+//| Copyright:    (C) Twan van Laarhoven and the other MSE developers          |
+//| License:      GNU General Public License 2 or later (see file COPYING)     |
+//+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+
+#pragma once
+
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Includes
+
+#include <util/prec.hpp>
+#include <fstream>
+
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : File to UTF8 Encoding
+
+inline std::string fileToUTF8(const std::string& filepath) {
+  // File to char
+  std::ifstream file(filepath, std::ios::binary);
+  file.unsetf(std::ios::skipws);
+  std::vector<unsigned char> buffer = std::vector<unsigned char>(std::istreambuf_iterator<char>(file), std::istreambuf_iterator<char>());
+  int size = buffer.size();
+  if (size < 2) {
+    queue_message(MESSAGE_WARNING, _("File too small to encode"));
+    return "";
+  }
+  // All bytes that have a highest bit of 0 are valid UTF8 characters, so:
+  // Reset the highest bit of each byte, store these bits in additional bytes at the end
+  const unsigned char highest_bit = 1 << 7;
+  unsigned char added_byte = 0;
+  for (int i = 0, b = 0 ; i < size ; ++i, ++b) {
+    if (b == 7) {                         // Never set the highest bit of the added byte
+      buffer.push_back(added_byte);
+      b = 0;
+    }
+    unsigned char bit = 1 << b;
+    if ((buffer[i] & highest_bit) != 0) { // The highest bit of the buffer is set
+      buffer[i] &= ~highest_bit;          // Reset the highest bit of the buffer
+      added_byte |= bit;                  // Set the bit of the added byte
+    } else {
+      added_byte &= ~bit;                 // Reset the bit of the added byte
+    }
+  }
+  buffer.push_back(added_byte);
+  // Char to string
+  return std::string(buffer.begin(), buffer.end());
+}
+
+inline bool UTF8ToFile(const std::string& filepath, std::string& string) {
+  // String to char
+  std::vector<unsigned char> buffer(string.begin(), string.end());
+  int size = buffer.size();
+  if (size < 2) {
+    queue_message(MESSAGE_WARNING, _("File too small to decode"));
+    return false;
+  }
+  // Restore the highest bit of each byte
+  size = (size * 7) / 8;
+  const unsigned char highest_bit = 1 << 7;
+  unsigned char added_byte = buffer[size];
+  for (int i = 0, j = size, b = 0 ; i < size ; ++i, ++b) {
+    if (b == 7) {
+      ++j;
+      added_byte = buffer[j];
+      b = 0;
+    }
+    unsigned char bit = 1 << b;
+    if ((added_byte & bit) != 0) { // The bit of the added byte is set
+      buffer[i] |= highest_bit;    // Set the highest bit of the buffer
+    }
+  }
+  buffer.resize(size);
+  // Char to file
+  std::ofstream file(filepath, std::ios::out|std::ios::binary);
+  std::copy(buffer.cbegin(), buffer.cend(), std::ostream_iterator<unsigned char>(file));
+  return true;
+}
diff --git a/src/data/format/image.cpp b/src/data/format/image.cpp
index d12c3243..1ef9b5c4 100644
--- a/src/data/format/image.cpp
+++ b/src/data/format/image.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include <util/tagged_string.hpp>
 #include <data/format/formats.hpp>
 #include <data/format/clipboard.hpp>
+#include <data/format/file_to_text.h>
 #include <data/game.hpp>
 #include <data/field/image.hpp>
 #include <data/set.hpp>
@@ -18,8 +19,7 @@
 #include <data/settings.hpp>
 #include <script/functions/json.hpp>
 #include <gui/util.hpp>
-#include <render/card/viewer.hpp>
-#include <wx/filename.h>
+#include <render/card/viewer.hpp>
 
 class ZoomedUnrotatedDataViewer : public DataViewer {
 public:
@@ -136,16 +136,25 @@ Image export_image(const SetP& set, const CardP& card, const bool write_metadata
     boost::json::object cardv = mse_to_json(card, set.get());
     boost::json::object& cardv_data = cardv["data"].as_object();
     StyleSheetP stylesheet = set->stylesheetForP(card);
-    if (!settings.stylesheetSettingsFor(*stylesheet).card_notes_export()) cardv["notes"] = "";
+    if (!settings.stylesheetSettingsFor(*stylesheet).card_notes_export()) cardv["notes"] = "";
+    // iterate over all image fields
     for(IndexMap<FieldP, ValueP>::iterator it = card_data.begin() ; it != card_data.end() ; ++it) {
       ImageValue* value = dynamic_cast<ImageValue*>(it->get());
       if (value && !value->filename.empty()) {
         FieldP field = (*it)->fieldP;
-        StyleP style = stylesheet->card_style.at(field->index);
+        ImageStyle* style = dynamic_cast<ImageStyle*>(stylesheet->card_style.at(field->index).get());
         if (style) {
-          style->update(set->getContext(card));
-          std::string rect = style->getExternalRectString(zoom, angle_radians, bleed_pixels, width, height, 0).ToStdString();
-          cardv_data[field->name.ToStdString()] = rect;
+          style->update(set->getContext(card));
+          // store the entire image in the metadata
+          if (style->store_in_metadata()) {
+            std::string bytes = style->getExternalImageString(set, value);
+            cardv_data[field->name.ToStdString()] = bytes;
+          }
+          // store only crop coordinates
+          else {
+            std::string rect = style->getExternalRectString(zoom, angle_radians, bleed_pixels, width, height, 0);
+            cardv_data[field->name.ToStdString()] = rect;
+          }
         }
       }
     }
@@ -224,13 +233,20 @@ Image export_image( const SetP& set, const vector<CardP>& cards,
     for(IndexMap<FieldP, ValueP>::iterator it = card_data.begin() ; it != card_data.end() ; ++it) {
       ImageValue* value = dynamic_cast<ImageValue*>(it->get());
       if (value && !value->filename.empty()) {
-        FieldP field = (*it)->fieldP;
-        StyleP style = stylesheet->card_style.at(field->index);
+        FieldP field = (*it)->fieldP;
+        ImageStyle* style = dynamic_cast<ImageStyle*>(stylesheet->card_style.at(field->index).get());
         if (style) {
           style->update(set->getContext(card));
-          Rotation rotation();
-          std::string rect = style->getExternalRectString(zooms[i], angles[i], bleeds[i], widths[i], heights[i], offsets[i]).ToStdString();
-          cardv_data[field->name.ToStdString()] = rect;
+          // store the entire image in the metadata
+          if (style->store_in_metadata()) {
+            std::string bytes = style->getExternalImageString(set, value);
+            cardv_data[field->name.ToStdString()] = bytes;
+          }
+          // store only crop coordinates
+          else {
+            std::string rect = style->getExternalRectString(zooms[i], angles[i], bleeds[i], widths[i], heights[i], offsets[i]);
+            cardv_data[field->name.ToStdString()] = rect;
+          }
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/src/data/settings.cpp b/src/data/settings.cpp
index ce4b3efc..0a94babc 100644
--- a/src/data/settings.cpp
+++ b/src/data/settings.cpp
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ double Settings::exportScaleSettingsFor(const StyleSheet& stylesheet) {
   if (export_scale == 0) return adaptiveScaleSettingsFor(stylesheet, 300.0, 50.0);
   if (export_scale == 1) return adaptiveScaleSettingsFor(stylesheet, 300.0, 1.0);
   if (export_scale == 2) return adaptiveScaleSettingsFor(stylesheet, 150.0, 1.0);
-  return scale_choices[export_scale - 3] / 100;
+  return (double)scale_choices[export_scale - 3] / 100.0;
 }
 
 double Settings::importScaleSettingsFor(const StyleSheet& stylesheet) {
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ double Settings::importScaleSettingsFor(const StyleSheet& stylesheet) {
   if (import_scale_selection == 1) return adaptiveScaleSettingsFor(stylesheet, 300.0, 50.0);
   if (import_scale_selection == 2) return adaptiveScaleSettingsFor(stylesheet, 300.0, 1.0);
   if (import_scale_selection == 3) return adaptiveScaleSettingsFor(stylesheet, 150.0, 1.0);
-  return scale_choices[import_scale_selection - 4] / 100;
+  return (double)scale_choices[import_scale_selection - 4] / 100.0;
 }
 
 double Settings::adaptiveScaleSettingsFor(const StyleSheet& stylesheet, double dpi_target, double dpi_leeway) {
diff --git a/src/gui/control/card_list.cpp b/src/gui/control/card_list.cpp
index dcb27f01..f2af7d8d 100644
--- a/src/gui/control/card_list.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/control/card_list.cpp
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ bool CardListBase::parseImage(Image& image, vector<CardP>& out) {
           if (rect.width > 0 && rect.height > 0) {
             Image img = image.GetSubImage(rect);
             img = rotate_image(img, deg_to_rad(360-degrees));
-            LocalFileName filename = set->newFileName((*it)->fieldP->name, settings.internal_image_extension ? _(".png") : _("")); // a new unique name in the package
+            LocalFileName filename = set->newFileName("cropped_image", settings.internal_image_extension ? _(".png") : _("")); // a new unique name in the package
             img.SaveFile(set->nameOut(filename), wxBITMAP_TYPE_PNG);
             value->filename = filename;
           }
@@ -340,6 +340,23 @@ bool CardListBase::parseText(String& text, vector<CardP>& out) {
       out.push_back(make_intrusive<Card>(*c->getValue()));
     }
   } catch (...) {}
+
+  // recreate images to populate image fields
+  for (int k = j; k < out.size(); k++) {
+    CardP& card = out[k];
+    for (IndexMap<FieldP, ValueP>::iterator it = card->data.begin(); it != card->data.end(); it++) {
+      ImageValue* value = dynamic_cast<ImageValue*>(it->get());
+      if (value) {
+        Image img = value->filename.getExternalImage();
+        if (img.IsOk()) {
+          LocalFileName filename = set->newFileName(_("decoded_image"), settings.internal_image_extension ? _(".png") : _("")); // a new unique name in the package
+          img.SaveFile(set->nameOut(filename), wxBITMAP_TYPE_PNG);
+          value->filename = filename;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   return j < out.size();
 }
 
diff --git a/src/gui/image_slice_window.cpp b/src/gui/image_slice_window.cpp
index 59cd5c64..0eac482f 100644
--- a/src/gui/image_slice_window.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/image_slice_window.cpp
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ void ImageSlicePreview::update() {
 }
 
 wxSize ImageSlicePreview::getBestSliceSize() const {
-  float target_ratio = ((float)slice.target_size.GetWidth()) / ((float)slice.target_size.GetHeight());
+  double target_ratio = ((double)slice.target_size.GetWidth()) / ((double)slice.target_size.GetHeight());
   if (target_ratio > 1.0) {
     return wxSize(500, 500 / target_ratio);
   } else {
diff --git a/src/script/functions/json.cpp b/src/script/functions/json.cpp
index 0b2ebf39..967fa84e 100644
--- a/src/script/functions/json.cpp
+++ b/src/script/functions/json.cpp
@@ -314,9 +314,10 @@ ScriptValueP json_to_mse(const boost::json::value& jv, Set* set) {
     return to_script(integer);
   }
   else if (jv.is_string()) {
+    if (jv.as_string().empty()) return to_script(String());
     std::string string = boost::json::value_to<std::string>(jv);
-    String wxstring = String(string.c_str(), wxConvUTF8);
-    if (wxstring.empty()) wxstring = String(string.c_str());
+    String wxstring = String(string);
+    if (wxstring.empty()) wxstring = String(string.c_str(), wxConvUTF8);
     return to_script(wxstring);
   }
   else if (jv.is_array()) {
diff --git a/src/util/io/package.hpp b/src/util/io/package.hpp
index fb44c1c9..d33690eb 100644
--- a/src/util/io/package.hpp
+++ b/src/util/io/package.hpp
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #include <util/error.hpp>
 #include <util/file_utils.hpp>
 #include <util/vcs.hpp>
+#include <data/format/file_to_text.h>
 
 class Package;
 class wxFileInputStream;
@@ -55,11 +56,11 @@ public:
 
   /// Retreive a rect from a filename
   inline static void getExternalRect(const String& filename, wxRect& rect_out, int& degrees_out) {
-    size_t first = filename.find(_("---"));
+    size_t first = filename.find(_("<mse-crop-data>"));
     if (first == String::npos) return;
-    size_t last = filename.find(_("---"), first+3);
+    size_t last = filename.find(_("</mse-crop-data>"), first + 15);
     if (last == String::npos) return;
-    String string = filename.substr(first + 3, last - (first + 3));
+    String string = filename.substr(first + 15, last - (first + 15));
     if (string.empty()) return;
 
     size_t divider = string.find(_("-"));
@@ -96,7 +97,28 @@ public:
   }
   inline void getExternalRect(wxRect& rect_out, int& degrees_out) {
     getExternalRect(fn, rect_out, degrees_out);
+  }
+
+  /// Retreive an image from a filename
+  inline static Image getExternalImage(const String& filename) {
+    Image img;
+    size_t first = filename.find(_("<mse-image-data>"));
+    if (first == String::npos) return img;
+    size_t last = filename.find(_("</mse-image-data>"), first + 16);
+    if (last == String::npos) return img;
+    std::string s = filename.substr(first + 16, last - (first + 16)).ToStdString();
+    if (s.empty()) return img;
+
+    const std::string& temppath = (wxFileName::CreateTempFileName(_("mse")) + _(".png")).ToStdString();
+    UTF8ToFile(temppath, s);
+    img.LoadFile(temppath, wxBITMAP_TYPE_PNG);
+    wxRemoveFile(temppath);
+    wxRemoveFile(temppath.substr(0, temppath.size() - 4));
+    return img;
   }
+  inline Image getExternalImage() {
+    return getExternalImage(fn);
+  }
 
 private:
   LocalFileName(const wxString& fn) : fn(fn) {}
diff --git a/src/util/uid.hpp b/src/util/uid.hpp
index 13e9f5f9..d7531642 100644
--- a/src/util/uid.hpp
+++ b/src/util/uid.hpp
@@ -25,5 +25,5 @@ static String generate_uid() {
   for (i = 0; i < 32; i++) {
     ss << dis(gen);
   };
-  return String(ss.str().c_str(), wxConvUTF8);
+  return String(ss.str());
 }