Overview
ISO 19262:2015 - Photography - Archiving Systems - Vocabulary provides a standardized vocabulary for terms used in the qualification of imaging systems for archival recording and approval. The standard collects and defines terminology relevant to both traditional and digital photographic archiving, image permanence, and related information‑technology topics. Entries are organized alphabetically, follow natural English word order, and reference source definitions where applicable.
Key topics
ISO 19262 focuses on clear, consistent terminology rather than prescriptive technical requirements. Representative topics and terms included are:
- Image capture and sensor concepts: array (imaging), colour-filter array, automatic document feeder (ADF)
- Image quality and artifacts: acutance, aliasing, artifact, banding, blooming, chromatic aberration, colour fringing
- Colour and colour management: Adobe RGB 1998, colour gamut, colour image encoding, colour accuracy, colourimeter
- Image data and representation: bit depth / bits per pixel, binary / bitonal images, codec, bit rate
- Tone and exposure issues: clipping (highlights / black), black point, brightness
- Geometric and sampling concepts: aspect ratio, pixel aspect ratio, sampling aspect ratio
- Measurement and metadata vocabulary that supports qualification and approval workflows
The standard draws on existing ISO/TC 42 definitions (for example ISO 12651‑1, ISO 16067‑1, ISO 4246) and advises users to check for updated source documents.
Practical applications
ISO 19262 is a reference tool that improves clarity and consistency in professional workflows involving photographic archiving:
- Enables archivists, conservationists, imaging specialists and scanning vendors to use consistent terminology when specifying, testing, and approving archival capture systems
- Supports procurement and acceptance criteria for digitization projects by providing unambiguous term definitions
- Assists standards writers, technical authors and trainers in producing interoperable documentation, procedures and quality‑assurance protocols
- Helps IT and digital preservation teams interpret image quality metrics, colour management parameters and metadata requirements in archival contexts
Who should use it
- Cultural heritage institutions (archives, museums, libraries)
- Photographic labs and digitization service providers
- Image quality engineers and conservation professionals
- Standards developers, technical writers and project managers working on imaging qualification or archival policies
Related standards
ISO 19262 consolidates vocabulary drawn from other ISO/TC 42 publications (see in‑text source attributions such as ISO 12651‑1:2012, ISO 16067‑1:2003, ISO 4246:1994). Users are recommended to consult the latest editions of those source standards for complete technical methods and measurements.
For authoritative use, obtain the full ISO 19262:2015 document from ISO or your national standards body.
