1. A computer-implemented method of searching a multi-media database, said method comprising the steps of: a. receiving one or more key images; b. determining one or more domains to which the key images belong by identifying objects contained in said key images; c. searching said multimedia database using domain-specific similarity matrices specific to the domains to which said one or more key images have been determined to belong; d. providing as a result a list of images from said multi-media database based on said search, said search being performed by calculating an edit distance metric; e. applying a personalized similarity matrix to said result list of images to further refine said results; f. receiving one or more selected images from said list of refined results, said selected images being determined by calculating an edit distance metric; and g. modifying said personalized similarity matrix based on said selected images to form an updated personalized similarity matrix; wherein said edit distance metric is determined based on matching blocks of pixels between images being compared.