Overview

Representing nearly all leading and emerging imaging companies, I3A – the not-for-profit International Imaging Industry Association – is the largest imaging industry group worldwide. I3A’s member companies from around the world are dedicated to developing and promoting the adoption of open industry standards, addressing environmental issues and providing a voice for the industry that will ultimately benefit all users. I3A is the product of the merger of the Digital Imaging Group (DIG) and the Photographic & Imaging Manufacturers Association (PIMA), with almost 60 years of combined imaging industry leadership.

As the central forum for the development and advancement of open standards within the imaging industry, I3A takes a broad view of the entire imaging market value chain. In doing so, I3A seeks to identify strategic market growth barriers, where a strong industry consortium has the greatest potential for impact, then targets specific initiatives or standards projects to reduce or eliminate those barriers. I3A uses a combination of technical and marketing activities to reach its goals of solving interoperability challenges, resolving infrastructure issues and minimizing overall market confusion.

The concept is to provide an environment conducive to collaboration and, ultimately, to foster growth of the imaging market. Toward these ends, I3A has adopted a structure unique among consortia.

A Flexible Body

The key to I3A’s unique approach to standardization is our portfolio of development techniques. I3A has the best of both worlds when it comes to standards development. Our Initiative process provides for the rapid development of consortium standards when the market calls for a quick solution. At other times a more formal approach is necessary to ensure full worldwide participation and support for a standard.

The Initiative process encourages the rapid development of ideas into results through the formation of small, focused working groups. These Initiative Groups explore and propose potential new directions in imaging, then transform those ideas into new technologies. Working in Initiative Groups minimizes overhead and eliminates lengthy delays common with formal standards processes. And, since member organizations can find everyone they need to partner with right here, work can begin sooner and results can be produced quickly.

I3A’s status as an accredited Standards Developing Organization enables us to take the formal approach when it’s called for. As secretariat for the International Organization for Standardization Technical Committee 42 (ISO/TC42) on Photography and administrator for the USA Technical Advisory Group for this committee, I3A is well qualified in the world of formal international standardization. In short, I3A is a flexible body, designed to respond quickly to market opportunity while at the same time being capable of a formal, deliberate and open approach to standards development.

Opportunity

With respect to opportunities within I3A, the organization’s three membership levels allow companies to choose the type of membership that best meets their needs. Find out more about membership here.