diff --git a/packages/assetpack/src/core/Asset.ts b/packages/assetpack/src/core/Asset.ts
index 57dcd3e..e60fee5 100644
--- a/packages/assetpack/src/core/Asset.ts
+++ b/packages/assetpack/src/core/Asset.ts
@@ -30,9 +30,7 @@ export class Asset
 
     metaData: Record<string, any> = {};
     inheritedMetaData: Record<string, any> = {};
-    allMetaData: Record<string, any> = {};
     transformData: Record<string, any> = {};
-    manifestData: Record<string, any> = {};
 
     settings?: Record<string, any>;
 
@@ -64,7 +62,6 @@ export class Asset
         asset.parent = this;
 
         asset.inheritedMetaData = { ...this.inheritedMetaData, ...this.metaData };
-        asset.allMetaData = { ...asset.inheritedMetaData, ...asset.metaData };
         asset.transformData = { ...this.transformData, ...asset.transformData };
     }
 
@@ -88,12 +85,16 @@ export class Asset
         asset.transformParent = this;
 
         asset.inheritedMetaData = { ...this.inheritedMetaData, ...this.metaData };
-        asset.allMetaData = { ...asset.inheritedMetaData, ...asset.metaData };
         asset.transformData = { ...this.transformData, ...asset.transformData };
 
         asset.settings = this.settings;
     }
 
+    get allMetaData()
+    {
+        return { ...this.inheritedMetaData, ...this.metaData };
+    }
+
     get state()
     {
         return this._state;
@@ -254,20 +255,38 @@ export class Asset
     }
 
     /**
-     * Update the manifest data with certain keys from the metaData
-     * @param keys - keys to apply from the metaData to the manifestData
+     * Get the public meta data for this asset
+     * This will exclude any internal data
      */
-    applyManifestData(keys: string[])
+    getPublicMetaData(internalPipeData: Record<string, any>)
     {
-        for (let i = 0; i < keys.length; i++)
+        const internalKeys = new Set(Object.keys(internalPipeData));
+        const metaData = Object.keys(this.allMetaData).reduce((result: Record<string, any>, key) =>
         {
-            const key = keys[i];
+            if (!internalKeys.has(key))
+            {
+                result[key] = this.allMetaData[key];
+            }
+
+            return result;
+        }, {} as Record<string, any>);
 
-            if (this.metaData[key] !== undefined)
+        return metaData;
+    }
+
+    getInternalMetaData(internalPipeData: Record<string, any>)
+    {
+        const res: Record<string, any> = {};
+
+        Object.keys(internalPipeData).forEach((key) =>
+        {
+            if (this.allMetaData[key])
             {
-                this.manifestData[key] = this.metaData[key];
+                res[key] = this.allMetaData[key];
             }
-        }
+        });
+
+        return res;
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/assetpack/src/core/pipes/AssetPipe.ts b/packages/assetpack/src/core/pipes/AssetPipe.ts
index 26e203d..1662ba3 100644
--- a/packages/assetpack/src/core/pipes/AssetPipe.ts
+++ b/packages/assetpack/src/core/pipes/AssetPipe.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ export type DeepRequired<T> = T extends Primitive
     };
 export interface PluginOptions {}
 
-export interface AssetPipe<OPTIONS=Record<string, any>, TAGS extends string = string, DATA_TAGS extends string = string>
+export interface AssetPipe<OPTIONS=Record<string, any>, TAGS extends string = string, INTERNAL_TAGS extends string = string>
 {
     /** Whether the process runs on a folder */
     folder?: boolean;
@@ -32,10 +32,9 @@ export interface AssetPipe<OPTIONS=Record<string, any>, TAGS extends string = st
     tags?: Record<TAGS, string>;
 
     /**
-     * Any tags here will be placed in the manifests `data` object
-     * This can be used to pass data to loaders more easily
+     * Any tags here will not be placed in the manifest data.
      */
-    dataTags?: Record<DATA_TAGS, string>;
+    internalTags?: Record<INTERNAL_TAGS, string>;
 
     /**
      * Called once at the start.
diff --git a/packages/assetpack/src/core/pipes/PipeSystem.ts b/packages/assetpack/src/core/pipes/PipeSystem.ts
index 470e61e..6b14e85 100644
--- a/packages/assetpack/src/core/pipes/PipeSystem.ts
+++ b/packages/assetpack/src/core/pipes/PipeSystem.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,11 @@ export class PipeSystem
 
     assetSettings: AssetSettings[] = [];
 
+    internalMetaData: Record<string, any> = {
+        copy: 'copy',
+        ignore: 'ignore',
+    };
+
     constructor(options: PipeSystemOptions)
     {
         const pipes = [];
@@ -49,6 +54,7 @@ export class PipeSystem
         options.pipes.flat().forEach((pipe) =>
         {
             this.pipeHash[pipe.name] = pipe;
+            this.internalMetaData = { ...this.internalMetaData, ...Object.values(pipe.internalTags ?? pipe.tags ?? {}).reduce((acc, tag) => ({ ...acc, [tag]: true }), {}) };
         });
 
         this.pipes = pipes;
@@ -88,8 +94,6 @@ export class PipeSystem
         {
             asset.transformName = pipe.name;
             asset.transformChildren = [];
-            // apply the dataTags of the pipe to the asset so it can be used by pixi and other loaders
-            asset.applyManifestData(Object.values(pipe.dataTags ?? {}));
 
             const assets = await pipe.transform(asset, options, this);
 
diff --git a/packages/assetpack/src/image/compress.ts b/packages/assetpack/src/image/compress.ts
index 92ba323..12be771 100644
--- a/packages/assetpack/src/image/compress.ts
+++ b/packages/assetpack/src/image/compress.ts
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ export function compress(options: CompressOptions = {}): AssetPipe<CompressOptio
         },
         async transform(asset: Asset, options)
         {
-            const shouldCompress = compress && !asset.metaData.nc;
+            const shouldCompress = compress && !asset.metaData[this.tags!.nc];
 
             if (!shouldCompress)
             {
diff --git a/packages/assetpack/src/manifest/pixiManifest.ts b/packages/assetpack/src/manifest/pixiManifest.ts
index 6eed7e6..d439f51 100644
--- a/packages/assetpack/src/manifest/pixiManifest.ts
+++ b/packages/assetpack/src/manifest/pixiManifest.ts
@@ -30,10 +30,49 @@ export interface PixiManifestEntry
 
 export interface PixiManifestOptions extends PluginOptions
 {
+    /**
+     * The output location for the manifest file.
+     */
     output?: string;
+    /**
+     * if true, the alias will be created with the basename of the file.
+     */
     createShortcuts?: boolean;
+    /**
+     * if true, the extensions will be removed from the alias names.
+     */
     trimExtensions?: boolean;
+    /**
+     * if true, the metaData will be outputted in the data field of the manifest.
+     */
     includeMetaData?: boolean;
+    /**
+     * if true, the all tags will be outputted in the data.tags field of the manifest.
+     * If false, only internal tags will be outputted to the data.tags field. All other tags will be outputted to the data field directly.
+     * @example
+     * ```json
+     * {
+     *   "bundles": [
+     *     {
+     *       "name": "default",
+     *       "assets": [
+     *         {
+     *           "alias": ["test"],
+     *           "src": ["test.png"],
+     *           "data": {
+     *             "tags": {
+     *               "nc": true,
+     *               "customTag": true // this tag will be outputted to the data field directly instead of the data.tags field
+     *             }
+     *           }
+     *         }
+     *       ]
+     *     }
+     *   ]
+     * }
+     * @default true
+     */
+    legacyMetaDataOutput?: boolean;
 }
 
 export function pixiManifest(_options: PixiManifestOptions = {}): AssetPipe<PixiManifestOptions, 'manifest' | 'mIgnore'>
@@ -45,6 +84,7 @@ export function pixiManifest(_options: PixiManifestOptions = {}): AssetPipe<Pixi
             createShortcuts: false,
             trimExtensions: false,
             includeMetaData: true,
+            legacyMetaDataOutput: true,
             ..._options,
         },
         tags: {
@@ -72,7 +112,8 @@ export function pixiManifest(_options: PixiManifestOptions = {}): AssetPipe<Pixi
                 pipeSystem.entryPath,
                 manifest.bundles,
                 defaultBundle,
-                this.tags!
+                this.tags!,
+                pipeSystem.internalMetaData
             );
             filterUniqueNames(manifest);
             await fs.writeJSON(newFileName, manifest, { spaces: 2 });
@@ -109,7 +150,8 @@ function collectAssets(
     entryPath = '',
     bundles: PixiBundle[],
     bundle: PixiBundle,
-    tags: AssetPipe<null, 'manifest' | 'mIgnore'>['tags']
+    tags: AssetPipe<null, 'manifest' | 'mIgnore'>['tags'],
+    internalTags: Record<string, any>
 )
 {
     if (asset.skip) return;
@@ -137,21 +179,28 @@ function collectAssets(
 
         if (finalManifestAssets.length === 0) return;
 
+        const metadata = {
+            tags: { ...asset.getInternalMetaData(internalTags) },
+            ...asset.getPublicMetaData(internalTags)
+        } as Record<string, any>;
+
+        if (options.legacyMetaDataOutput)
+        {
+            metadata.tags = asset.allMetaData;
+        }
+
         bundleAssets.push({
             alias: getShortNames(stripTags(path.relative(entryPath, asset.path)), options),
             src: finalManifestAssets
                 .map((finalAsset) => path.relative(outputPath, finalAsset.path))
                 .sort((a, b) => b.localeCompare(a)),
-            data:  options.includeMetaData ? {
-                tags: asset.allMetaData,
-                ...asset.manifestData
-            } : undefined
+            data:  options.includeMetaData ? metadata : undefined
         });
     }
 
     asset.children.forEach((child) =>
     {
-        collectAssets(child, options, outputPath, entryPath, bundles, localBundle, tags);
+        collectAssets(child, options, outputPath, entryPath, bundles, localBundle, tags, internalTags);
     });
 
     // for all assets.. check for atlas and remove them from the bundle..
diff --git a/packages/assetpack/src/webfont/sdf.ts b/packages/assetpack/src/webfont/sdf.ts
index 8bfc490..5749f09 100644
--- a/packages/assetpack/src/webfont/sdf.ts
+++ b/packages/assetpack/src/webfont/sdf.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ export interface SDFFontOptions extends PluginOptions
 
 function signedFont(
     defaultOptions: SDFFontOptions
-): AssetPipe<SDFFontOptions, 'font' | 'nc' | 'fix', 'family'>
+): AssetPipe<SDFFontOptions, 'font' | 'nc' | 'fix'>
 {
     return {
         folder: false,
@@ -25,9 +25,6 @@ function signedFont(
             nc: 'nc',
             fix: 'fix',
         },
-        dataTags: {
-            family: 'family',
-        },
         test(asset: Asset)
         {
             return asset.allMetaData[this.tags!.font] && checkExt(asset.path, '.ttf');
@@ -37,7 +34,7 @@ function signedFont(
             const newFileName = stripTags(asset.filename.replace(/\.(ttf)$/i, ''));
 
             // set the family name to the filename if it doesn't exist
-            asset.manifestData.family = asset.metaData.family ?? path.trimExt(asset.filename);
+            asset.metaData.family ??= path.trimExt(asset.filename);
             const { font, textures } = await GenerateFont(asset.path, {
                 ...options.font,
                 filename: newFileName,
diff --git a/packages/assetpack/src/webfont/webfont.ts b/packages/assetpack/src/webfont/webfont.ts
index 1fcd451..8802402 100644
--- a/packages/assetpack/src/webfont/webfont.ts
+++ b/packages/assetpack/src/webfont/webfont.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { fonts } from './fonts.js';
 
 import type { Asset, AssetPipe } from '../core/index.js';
 
-export function webfont(): AssetPipe<any, 'wf', 'family'>
+export function webfont(): AssetPipe<any, 'wf'>
 {
     return {
         folder: false,
@@ -12,9 +12,6 @@ export function webfont(): AssetPipe<any, 'wf', 'family'>
         tags: {
             wf: 'wf',
         },
-        dataTags: {
-            family: 'family',
-        },
         test(asset: Asset)
         {
             return asset.allMetaData[this.tags!.wf] && checkExt(asset.path, '.otf', '.ttf', '.svg');
@@ -48,7 +45,7 @@ export function webfont(): AssetPipe<any, 'wf', 'family'>
             newAsset.buffer = buffer;
 
             // set the family name to the filename if it doesn't exist
-            asset.manifestData.family = asset.metaData.family ?? path.trimExt(asset.filename);
+            asset.metaData.family ??= path.trimExt(asset.filename);
 
             return [newAsset];
         }
diff --git a/packages/assetpack/test/manifest/Manifest.test.ts b/packages/assetpack/test/manifest/Manifest.test.ts
index cd29400..bfbae6d 100644
--- a/packages/assetpack/test/manifest/Manifest.test.ts
+++ b/packages/assetpack/test/manifest/Manifest.test.ts
@@ -218,6 +218,7 @@ describe('Manifest', () =>
                     alias: ['spine/dragon.atlas'],
                     src: ['spine/dragon@0.5x.atlas', 'spine/dragon.atlas'],
                     data: {
+                        spine: true,
                         tags: {
                             spine: true,
                         },
diff --git a/packages/assetpack/test/spine/spineAtlasManifest.test.ts b/packages/assetpack/test/spine/spineAtlasManifest.test.ts
index 2a24b3d..f546e62 100644
--- a/packages/assetpack/test/spine/spineAtlasManifest.test.ts
+++ b/packages/assetpack/test/spine/spineAtlasManifest.test.ts
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ describe('Atlas Manifest', () =>
                                 'dragon.atlas'
                             ],
                             data: {
+                                spine: true,
                                 tags: {
                                     spine: true
                                 }
@@ -182,6 +183,7 @@ describe('Atlas Manifest', () =>
                                     'dragon.atlas'
                                 ],
                                 data: {
+                                    spine: true,
                                     tags: {
                                         spine: true
                                     }
@@ -206,6 +208,7 @@ describe('Atlas Manifest', () =>
                                     'nested/dragon.atlas'
                                 ],
                                 data: {
+                                    spine: true,
                                     tags: {
                                         spine: true
                                     }
diff --git a/packages/assetpack/test/webfont/Webfont.test.ts b/packages/assetpack/test/webfont/Webfont.test.ts
index 1593a7c..ea7e695 100644
--- a/packages/assetpack/test/webfont/Webfont.test.ts
+++ b/packages/assetpack/test/webfont/Webfont.test.ts
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ describe('Webfont', () =>
                 msdfFont(),
                 mipmap(),
                 compress(),
-                pixiManifest(),
+                pixiManifest({ legacyMetaDataOutput: false }),
             ]
         });