diff --git a/packages/assetpack/src/core/Asset.ts b/packages/assetpack/src/core/Asset.ts
index 52aa791..e60fee5 100644
--- a/packages/assetpack/src/core/Asset.ts
+++ b/packages/assetpack/src/core/Asset.ts
@@ -253,5 +253,40 @@ export class Asset
             this.children[i].releaseChildrenBuffers();
         }
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Get the public meta data for this asset
+     * This will exclude any internal data
+     */
+    getPublicMetaData(internalPipeData: Record<string, any>)
+    {
+        const internalKeys = new Set(Object.keys(internalPipeData));
+        const metaData = Object.keys(this.allMetaData).reduce((result: Record<string, any>, key) =>
+        {
+            if (!internalKeys.has(key))
+            {
+                result[key] = this.allMetaData[key];
+            }
+
+            return result;
+        }, {} as Record<string, any>);
+
+        return metaData;
+    }
+
+    getInternalMetaData(internalPipeData: Record<string, any>)
+    {
+        const res: Record<string, any> = {};
+
+        Object.keys(internalPipeData).forEach((key) =>
+        {
+            if (this.allMetaData[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 6a2feb6..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>
+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;
@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@ export interface AssetPipe<OPTIONS=Record<string, any>, TAGS extends string = st
     /** Tags that can be used to control the plugin */
     tags?: Record<TAGS, string>;
 
+    /**
+     * Any tags here will not be placed in the manifest data.
+     */
+    internalTags?: Record<INTERNAL_TAGS, string>;
+
     /**
      * Called once at the start.
      * @param asser - the root asset
diff --git a/packages/assetpack/src/core/pipes/PipeSystem.ts b/packages/assetpack/src/core/pipes/PipeSystem.ts
index 39b528c..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;
diff --git a/packages/assetpack/src/image/compress.ts b/packages/assetpack/src/image/compress.ts
index c94d361..aa1acc3 100644
--- a/packages/assetpack/src/image/compress.ts
+++ b/packages/assetpack/src/image/compress.ts
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ 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)
             {
@@ -137,8 +137,8 @@ export function compress(options: CompressOptions = {}): AssetPipe<CompressOptio
                 if ((image.format === '.png' && !options.png) || (((image.format === '.jpg') || (image.format === '.jpeg')) && !options.jpg))
                 {
                     newAssets.push(asset);
-
                 }
+
                 return newAssets;
             }
             catch (error)
diff --git a/packages/assetpack/src/image/utils/compressGpuTextures.ts b/packages/assetpack/src/image/utils/compressGpuTextures.ts
index 7255907..f5bfff6 100644
--- a/packages/assetpack/src/image/utils/compressGpuTextures.ts
+++ b/packages/assetpack/src/image/utils/compressGpuTextures.ts
@@ -21,11 +21,11 @@ export async function compressGpuTextures(
     options: CompressOptions,
 ): Promise<CompressImageDataResult[]>
 {
-    let compressed: CompressImageDataResult[] = [];
+    let compressed: (Partial<CompressImageDataResult> & {image: Promise<string>})[] = [];
 
     if (!options.astc && !options.bc7 && !options.basis)
     {
-        return compressed;
+        return compressed as CompressImageDataResult[];
     }
 
     const tmpDir = await fs.mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), 'assetpack-tex-'));
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ export async function compressGpuTextures(
         await fs.rm(tmpDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
     }
 
-    return compressed;
+    return compressed as CompressImageDataResult[];
 }
 
 async function adjustImageSize(sharpImage: sharp.Sharp, imagePath: string): Promise<string>
diff --git a/packages/assetpack/src/manifest/pixiManifest.ts b/packages/assetpack/src/manifest/pixiManifest.ts
index 127525f..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;
@@ -137,20 +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
-            } : 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 9b16132..5749f09 100644
--- a/packages/assetpack/src/webfont/sdf.ts
+++ b/packages/assetpack/src/webfont/sdf.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import fs from 'fs-extra';
 import generateBMFont from 'msdf-bmfont-xml';
-import { checkExt, createNewAssetAt, stripTags } from '../core/index.js';
+import { checkExt, createNewAssetAt, path, stripTags } from '../core/index.js';
 
 import type { BitmapFontOptions } from 'msdf-bmfont-xml';
 import type { Asset, AssetPipe, PluginOptions } from '../core/index.js';
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ function signedFont(
         {
             const newFileName = stripTags(asset.filename.replace(/\.(ttf)$/i, ''));
 
+            // set the family name to the filename if it doesn't exist
+            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 3f56165..4ed2471 100644
--- a/packages/assetpack/src/webfont/webfont.ts
+++ b/packages/assetpack/src/webfont/webfont.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ export function webfont(): AssetPipe<any, 'wf'>
 
             newAsset.buffer = buffer;
 
+            // set the family name to the filename if it doesn't exist
+            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 31f344e..b76691d 100644
--- a/packages/assetpack/test/manifest/Manifest.test.ts
+++ b/packages/assetpack/test/manifest/Manifest.test.ts
@@ -225,6 +225,7 @@ 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/spineAtlasAll.test.ts b/packages/assetpack/test/spine/spineAtlasAll.test.ts
index eefc4d5..2d29ff9 100644
--- a/packages/assetpack/test/spine/spineAtlasAll.test.ts
+++ b/packages/assetpack/test/spine/spineAtlasAll.test.ts
@@ -168,6 +168,7 @@ describe('Spine Atlas All', () =>
                     // remove the outputDir
                     file = file.replace(`${outputDir}/`, '');
                     const isFileHalfSize = file.includes('@0.5x');
+                    // eslint-disable-next-line no-nested-ternary
                     const isFileFileType = file.includes(isWebp ? '.webp' : isAstc ? '.astc' : '.png');
                     const shouldExist = isHalfSize === isFileHalfSize && isFileType === isFileFileType;
 
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/texture-packer/texturePackerAll.test.ts b/packages/assetpack/test/texture-packer/texturePackerAll.test.ts
index 3d39700..494921c 100644
--- a/packages/assetpack/test/texture-packer/texturePackerAll.test.ts
+++ b/packages/assetpack/test/texture-packer/texturePackerAll.test.ts
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ describe('Texture Packer All', () =>
                     // remove the outputDir
                     file = file.replace(`${outputDir}/`, '');
                     const isFileHalfSize = file.includes('@0.5x');
+                    // eslint-disable-next-line no-nested-ternary
                     const isFileFileType = file.includes(isWebp ? '.webp' : isAstc ? '.astc.ktx' : '.png');
                     const shouldExist = isHalfSize === isFileHalfSize && isFileType === isFileFileType;
 
diff --git a/packages/assetpack/test/texture-packer/texturePackerCompress.test.ts b/packages/assetpack/test/texture-packer/texturePackerCompress.test.ts
index d9e867f..9ca4964 100644
--- a/packages/assetpack/test/texture-packer/texturePackerCompress.test.ts
+++ b/packages/assetpack/test/texture-packer/texturePackerCompress.test.ts
@@ -52,5 +52,5 @@ describe('Texture Packer Compression', () =>
         expect(sheetWebp.meta.image).toEqual(`sprites.webp`);
         expect(sheetAstc.meta.image).toEqual(`sprites.astc.ktx`);
         expect(sheetBasis.meta.image).toEqual(`sprites.basis.ktx2`);
-    });
+    }, { timeout: 20000 });
 });
diff --git a/packages/assetpack/test/texture-packer/texturePackerManifest.test.ts b/packages/assetpack/test/texture-packer/texturePackerManifest.test.ts
index 7245c96..12932fb 100644
--- a/packages/assetpack/test/texture-packer/texturePackerManifest.test.ts
+++ b/packages/assetpack/test/texture-packer/texturePackerManifest.test.ts
@@ -110,5 +110,5 @@ describe('Texture Packer Compression', () =>
                 }
             },
         ]);
-    });
+    }, { timeout: 20000 });
 });
diff --git a/packages/assetpack/test/webfont/Webfont.test.ts b/packages/assetpack/test/webfont/Webfont.test.ts
index b924fc9..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 }),
             ]
         });
 
@@ -309,36 +309,40 @@ describe('Webfont', () =>
                     alias: ['defaultFolder/ttf.ttf'],
                     src: ['defaultFolder/ttf.woff2'],
                     data: {
+                        family: 'ttf',
                         tags: {
                             wf: true,
-                        }
+                        },
                     }
                 },
                 {
                     alias: ['msdfFolder/ttf.ttf'],
                     src: ['msdfFolder/ttf.fnt'],
                     data: {
+                        family: 'ttf',
                         tags: {
                             msdf: true,
-                        }
+                        },
                     }
                 },
                 {
                     alias: ['sdfFolder/ttf.ttf'],
                     src: ['sdfFolder/ttf.fnt'],
                     data: {
+                        family: 'ttf',
                         tags: {
                             sdf: true,
-                        }
+                        },
                     }
                 },
                 {
                     alias: ['svgFolder/svg.svg'],
                     src: ['svgFolder/svg.woff2'],
                     data: {
+                        family: 'svg',
                         tags: {
                             wf: true,
-                        }
+                        },
                     }
                 },
             ],
diff --git a/packages/assetpack/vitest.config.js b/packages/assetpack/vitest.config.js
index 558d2fc..95696c1 100644
--- a/packages/assetpack/vitest.config.js
+++ b/packages/assetpack/vitest.config.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { defineConfig } from 'vitest/config';
 
 export default defineConfig({
     test: {
+        testTimeout: 10000,
         poolOptions: {
             threads: {
                 // Due to the cpu-features and vitest threads incompatibility, see:
diff --git a/packages/docs/docs/guide/pipes/overview.mdx b/packages/docs/docs/guide/pipes/overview.mdx
index be273fc..5c5d6dd 100644
--- a/packages/docs/docs/guide/pipes/overview.mdx
+++ b/packages/docs/docs/guide/pipes/overview.mdx
@@ -57,5 +57,12 @@ Each plugin has its own set of tags, so be sure to check the documentation for t
 ### Other Tag Examples
 
 - You can also add multiple tags to a single asset, like this `asset{tag1}{tag2}`.
-- Tags can have data appended to them, like this `asset{tag1:myData}`.
-- Tags can have multiple data values, like this `asset{tag1:100,200}`.
+- Tags can have data appended to them, like this `asset{tag1=myData}`.
+- Tags can have multiple data values, like this `asset{tag1=100&200}`.
+
+### Data Tags
+
+Data tags are a special type of tag that a plugin can specify to allow for the value of that tag to be passed to the manifest.
+This can be useful for PixiJS as in the manifest you can specify certain properties for each asset.
+
+For example, the webfont plugin has a `family` tag that can be used to specify the font family name of the font file.
diff --git a/packages/docs/docs/guide/pipes/webfont.mdx b/packages/docs/docs/guide/pipes/webfont.mdx
index 0bd9bad..3907127 100644
--- a/packages/docs/docs/guide/pipes/webfont.mdx
+++ b/packages/docs/docs/guide/pipes/webfont.mdx
@@ -30,9 +30,10 @@ export default {
 
 ### Tags
 
-| Tag  | Folder/File | Description                                                    |
-| ---- | ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
-| `wf` | `both`      | If present the file(s) will be converted to a webfont (woff2). |
+| Tag      | Folder/File | Description                                                    |
+| -------- | ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| `wf`     | `both`      | If present the file(s) will be converted to a webfont (woff2). |
+| `family` | `file`      | The font family name.                                          |
 
 ---
 
@@ -80,7 +81,8 @@ export default {
 
 ### Tags
 
-| Tag    | Folder/File | Description                                              |
-| ------ | ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
-| `sdf`  | `both`      | If present the file(s) will be converted to a SDF font.  |
-| `msdf` | `both`      | If present the file(s) will be converted to a MSDF font. |
+| Tag      | Folder/File | Description                                              |
+| -------- | ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
+| `sdf`    | `both`      | If present the file(s) will be converted to a SDF font.  |
+| `msdf`   | `both`      | If present the file(s) will be converted to a MSDF font. |
+| `family` | `file`      | The font family name.                                    |