The OME project has released specifications for files generated by OME software that includes that provides a flexible, easily format for storing and migrating binary image data, image metadata, and any derived analytic results.
The OME-XML File provides a convenient image data migration format.
Our partners at LOCI have proposed a derivative of the OME-XML File known as OME-TIFF. This format is especially designed to support image acquisition and visualization.
Our OME File Formats page has a full write-up on these files.