ISO TR 19263-1-2017 PDF

Full title and description

ISO/TR 19263-1:2017 — Photography — Archiving systems — Part 1: Best practices for digital image capture of cultural heritage material. This technical report gives recommendations and best practices for performing digital capture of reflective two‑dimensional cultural heritage originals (for example books, documents, drawings, prints, photographs and paintings) and for analysing the quality of imaging systems used for that purpose.

Abstract

ISO/TR 19263-1:2017 specifies procedures to perform quality analysis of imaging systems (flatbed scanners, planetary scanners, digital still cameras, etc.) used to digitize reflective 2D originals. It describes image quality levels, basic capture and processing principles, imaging system setup and calibration, and technical metadata relevant to image quality assessment. The document notes that transmissive materials (transparent originals) are addressed in a separate part/project.

General information

• Status: Published.
• Publication date: March 2017 (ISO record: 2017-03).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 01.140.20 (Information sciences), 37.040.01 (Photography in general).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2017).
• Number of pages: ISO lists 19 pages (note: some distributors/registries list larger page counts such as 26–30 pages — this can reflect different packaging or inclusion of national forewords/annexes).

Scope

This technical report applies to quality analysis and best practices for digitizing reflective two‑dimensional cultural heritage originals using imaging devices (scanners and digital still cameras). It covers assessment methods, recommended capture workflows, calibration and metadata needed to document image quality. It excludes, or recognizes special treatment for, originals with complex surface geometry or highly reflective surfaces and notes that transmissive originals are treated in a separate part/project.

Key topics and requirements

• Principles for image capture and processing tailored to archival-quality reproduction (lighting, exposure, color management).
• Methods and metrics for image quality analysis and classification (image quality levels).
• Imaging system setup, calibration procedures and recommended test targets.
• Specification of technical metadata needed to record image quality analysis results.
• Guidance for applying image quality analysis to different classes of reflective originals and for documenting limitations (e.g., highly glossy or textured surfaces).
• Informative annexes (examples: grayscale/RGB tables and an annex on subjective/aesthetic imaging considerations).

Typical use and users

Primary users are archives, libraries, museums, cultural heritage digitization programmes, imaging service providers and conservators who establish or audit digitization workflows for 2D reflective originals. Photographers and imaging technicians responsible for large-scale or preservation-grade capture projects also use this report as a practical reference for consistent quality and metadata recording.

Related standards

ISO/TR 19263-1:2017 is part of the photography/archiving systems family. Closely related documents include ISO/TS (and later ISO) 19264 series on imaging systems quality analysis (Part 1: reflective originals — ISO/TS 19264-1:2017 and its later revision ISO 19264-1:2021) and work addressing transmissive originals (part projects for 19264-2). The ISO 19262 vocabulary for photography/archiving systems is also relevant. These related standards cover precise measurement methods, test targets and numerical image‑quality metrics that complement the practical capture guidance in ISO/TR 19263-1.

Keywords

photography; archiving systems; digital image capture; cultural heritage; image quality analysis; reflective originals; scanners; digital still cameras; calibration; technical metadata.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO/TR 19263-1:2017 is a technical report from ISO that provides best-practice guidance for digital image capture of reflective two‑dimensional cultural heritage materials and for analysing the quality of imaging systems used for that capture.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers image quality analysis methods, capture and processing principles, imaging system setup and calibration, recommended metadata to document image quality, and practical guidance for digitizing books, documents, prints, photographs and similar reflective originals. It does not comprehensively treat transmissive (transparent) originals — those are handled in a separate part/project.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Archivists, librarians, museum digitization teams, imaging service providers, conservators and technical photographers involved in preservation-quality digitization and quality assurance of digital imaging workflows.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO/TR 19263-1:2017 is published and remains the technical report for best practices in capture of reflective 2D cultural heritage originals (publication March 2017). Related measurement-focused documents in the 19264 series have evolved (for example ISO/TS 19264-1:2017 was later revised/replaced by ISO 19264-1:2021 for image-quality analysis). Check the ISO catalogue or national standards bodies for the latest related normative documents.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is part of the ISO photography / archiving systems family (ISO/TR 19263 series and the ISO/TS / ISO 19264 image-quality analysis series, plus ISO 19262 vocabulary). These documents together cover vocabulary, practical capture guidance and quantitative image‑quality measurement methods.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: photography, archiving systems, digital image capture, cultural heritage, image quality analysis, reflective originals, calibration, metadata.