Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for conducting text-based searches of images using a visual signature associated with each image. A measure of string similarity between a query and an annotation associated with each entry in a first database is computed, and based upon the computed string similarity measures, a set of entries from the first database is selected. Each entry of the first database also includes an associated visual signature. At least one entry is then retrieved from a second database based upon a measure of visual similarity between a visual signature of each of the entries in the second database and the visual signatures of the entries in the selected set. Information corresponding to the retrieved entries from the second database is then generated.