Shaping How the World Sees Itself
A Humble Beginning: April 1946
The history of I3A dates back to 1946, when the National Association of Photographic Manufacturers is launched and William C. Babbit named as Managing Director. First permanent office is in Rockefeller Plaza, New York City. Primary areas of concern to the association include price controls, trade relations, tariffs, raw material availability, photographic standards, manufacturing regulations, excise taxes, and labor relations. In October of that year, NAPM News Letter No. 1 is published. NAPM convinces the U.S. Office of Price Administration to remove price controls on most photographic equipment, and in June comes the First NAPM Annual Meeting.
1950s Through the 1970s
NAPM succeeds in its drive to have the Federal Government further reduce the Photographic Excise Tax. NAPM, in cooperation with the Photographers Association of America and the Master Photo Dealers and Finishers Association, conducts the International Photographic Exposition in Washington, DC. NAPM, in cooperation with the Atomic Energy Commission, the U.S. Public Health Service, the Weather Bureau and the U.S. Air Force, provides a warning service for radioactive contamination resulting from atomic tests to protect sensitized goods, plants, products, supplies, etc. Tom Dufficy joins NAPM as a section director. John Schuyler joins NAPM as public relations director. NAPM assumes the Secretariat of the International Organization for Standardization Technical Committee on Photography – ISO TC 42. NAPM-sponsored Photo Expo 71, held in Chicago, draws over 80,500 attendees
Growing Up in the 1980s
Testimony of Tom Dufficy, NAPM, before U.S. Environmental Protection Agency results in removal of silver from a list of 83 contaminants in drinking water. NAPM advice to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on studies on biodegradation lead to delisting of ammonium thiosulfate as a hazardous substance. NAPM participates in the Industry Sector Advisory Committee 5, which has direct input for negotiating proposals to the ongoing GATT.
1990s Get a Little More Technical
Image Technology Standards Committees on Film Paper and Plates (IT1), Image Evaluation (IT2), Photographic Apparatus (IT3), Photochemicals and Processing (IT4), Instructional Audiovisual Systems (IT7), and Physical Properties and Permanence of Imaging Materials (IT9) become part of the NAPM Standards Organization. New TCs on Electronic Still Picture Imaging (IT10), Optics and Optical Instruments (IT11) and Imaging Materials Recyclability (IT12) are created. NAPM publishes a Technical Report on "Airport X-rays and Camera Films" after completion of a series of tests evaluating the effects of X-ray machines used in airport security systems on film carried by airline passengers. NAPM changes its name to the Photographic and Imaging Manufacturers Association (PIMA). The name change retains the 50-year heritage, and serves as a welcome platform for new imaging technologies.
A New Century: 2000-2009
Lisa Walker is appointed President of the DIG. First public version of image metadata specification is announced. PIMA 15740 – Picture Transfer Protocol is approved by PIMA Standards Management Board. Tom Dufficy retires. I3A is formed by the merger of DIG and PIMA. The first I3A Achievement Award is presented to John O’Donoghue of Eastman Kodak Company. The Vision 2020 awards are established. Key Mobile Imaging companies join I3A to develop the Camera Phone Image Quality (CPIQ) Initiative, they release first white paper, and initial set of metrics and test methods.
2010 and Beyond: Adapting to Change
I3A reorganizes around a set of focused Interest Groups (IG) based on technology or market areas of concentration. The membership structure and operations are streamlined. After decades of developing pivotal industry standards, I3A passes stewardship of ISO TC42 to ANSI and IS&T, in order to concentrate on its newly formed Interest Group activities.
