1. A system for processing an image with embedded metadata, the system comprising: a digit separator configured to determine an integer value of a byte and separate said integer value into a plurality of digits; a digit converter configured to convert each of said digits into an encoding value using a predefined conversion function; a pixel block selector configured to select a pixel block in a metadata container; and a pixel value setter configured to encode into said selected pixel block each of said encoding values, wherein any of said digit separator, digit converter, pixel block selector, and pixel value setter are implemented in either of computer hardware and computer software and embodied in a computer-readable medium.