Volume 5, Number 4 – August 2008

I3A’s “Eye on Standards” newsletter is issued every other month, to keep you informed and up-to-date on Standards activities and breaking news, as well as on important I3A membership activity.  If you have comments or questions, please send a message to Editor@I3A.org or to Jim Peyton, I3A Director of Standards and Technology, JamesP@I3A.org.

From the Director's Desk

James A. Peyton When worldwide participation or support for a standard is needed, I3A provides international leadership as Secretariat to ISO TC42.

Ensuring Worldwide Participation in Standards Development – I3A as the Secretariat for ISO TC42

By James A. Peyton, I3A Director of Standards and Technology

As the pace of technological change continues to accelerate and we become more dependent upon converged products and systems, the need for, and importance of, industry standards also increases.

When the market calls for a quick solution, the I3A Initiative process provides for the rapid development of consortium standards. I3A membership has grown considerably, with new companies joining to participate in our targeted and timely Initiatives.

What new members may not be aware of is another aspect of I3A's work. When a more formal approach is necessary to ensure full national or worldwide participation or support for a standard, I3A provides international leadership as Secretariat to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical Committee on Photography, TC42. I3A also serves as administrator of the USA Technical Advisory Group for the ISO/TC42 committee (USA/TAG/ISO/TC42), the coordinating body for USA positions on ISO standards.

For our new members and for members involved in other aspects of I3A membership, here's a refresher on the critical roles of I3A and ISO.

Secretariat for the International Organization for Standardization Technical Committee 42 (ISO/TC42) on Photography

I3A serves as Secretariat for the International Organization for Standardization Technical Committee 42 (ISO/TC42) on Photography. In this role, I3A represents the ISO experts on worldwide imaging standards. Dating back to 1947, TC42 originally focused on developing international standards for traditional silver halide photography and the recycling of imaging products. Today, the focus is on advanced digital imaging standards.

TC42 standards are approved using the formal ISO process. Stages include New Project (NP) ballot by country, development of technical documentation, approval by the Technical Committee as a committee draft, country approval as a draft international standard, resolution of comments, and approval as a final draft international standard and, finally, as an international standard.

Range of TC42 Activities

The scope of TC42 is primarily standardization of still picture imaging, chemical and electronic, including:

• Definitions for still imaging systems
• Methods for measuring, testing, rating, packaging, labeling, specifying and classifying the dimensions, physical properties and performance characteristics of media, materials and devices used in chemical and electronic still imaging
• Specifications and recommendations of logical and physical characteristics, practices, interfaces and formats for still imaging capture, processing, and output systems
• Methods, measurements, specifications and recommended practices for storage, permanence, integrity and security of imaging media and materials, and imaging media disposition

TC42 Working Groups include these segments of the imaging ecosystem:

• WG3 – Image Evaluation
• WG4 – Photo Equipment
• WG5 – Physical Properties & Permanence of Imaging Materials
• WG6 – Photochemicals and Processing
• WG8 – Films & Papers: Dimensions & Packaging
• WG18 – Electronic Still Picture Imaging
• JWG17 – Dental Film
• JWG20 – DSC Color Characterization
• JWG21 – Densitometry
• JWG22 – Color Measurement and Management
• JWG23 – Extended Color Encodings
• JWG24 – Viewing Conditions

See the I3A Web site for details on these groups.

Global Influence

Participants in I3A's TC42 activities have an opportunity to influence the development of critical industry standards, recommend best practices and aid the creation of technical reports that define the future of the imaging ecosystem.

TC42/WG 5 Meeting in Portland, Oregon, in November

TC42/WG 5 – Physical Properties & Permanence of Imaging Materials will meet next in November 2008 in Portland, Oregon following the IS&T/SID 16th Color Imaging Conference. Some of the topics to be discussed will be photo books, abrasion, reflection color photography, processed imaging materials, digital hard copy for medical imaging, and more.

Get Involved

The first step toward joining an ISO/TC42 Working Group is to participate in the corresponding I3A Image Technology Committee. I3A, in our role as USA Technical Advisory Group for ISO/TC42, approves new ISO/TC42 participants from organizations domiciled in the USA. Worldwide, experts may be nominated by their respective ISO Member Bodies.

For more information on how to participate, please contact me, your ISO/TC42 Secretariat, to help you get started!

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ISO Standards Actions

For JWG23 Review and Comment

ISO/PDTS 22028-4.3 Photography and graphic technology – Extended color encodings for digital image storage, manipulation and interchange – Part 4: European Color Initiative RGB color image encoding [eciRGB (2008)]

Scope: This Technical Specification defines an extended color–gamut output–referred RGB color image encoding designated as European Color Initiative RGB (eciRGB (2008)). Digital images encoded using eciRGB (2008) can be manipulated, stored, transmitted, displayed, or printed by digital still picture imaging systems. Two precision levels are defined using 8– and 16–bits/channel.

TC130 NP 12640–4 Graphic technology – Prepress digital data exchange –Part 4: Wide gamut display–referred standard color image data (Adobe RGB (1998) /SCID)

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ANSI Actions

American National Standards Institute (ANSI) requires that its standards shall be kept current and relevant by means of timely revision or reaffirmation within five years from the date of its approval. Obsolete standards shall be withdrawn; ongoing standards must undergo periodic maintenance or continuous maintenance.

Continuous maintenance procedures ensure timely, documented consensus action on change requests for established standards. In the event that no revisions are issued for a period of four years, action to reaffirm or withdraw the standard is required.

Standards Submitted for Periodic Review

ANSI/I3A IT2.39-1998(R2004) Photography – Black-and-White, Continuous-Tone Films – Photographic Modulation Transfer Function

ANSI/I3A IT2.40-2003 Photography (Film) – Root Mean Square (rms) Granularity of Film (Images on One Side Only) – Method for Measuring

ANSI/I3A IT4.99-1996(R2002) Photography – Photographic-grade chemicals – Test methods

ANSI/I3A IT4.101-2002 Photography – Processing Chemicals – Specifications for Sulfuric Acid

ANSI/I3A IT4.104-2002 Photography – Processing Chemicals – Specifications for Hydrochloric Acid

ANSI/I3A IT4.107-2002 Photography – Processing Chemicals – Specifications for Anhydrous Citric Acid and Citric Acid Monohydrate

ANSI/I3A IT4.129-2002 Photography – Processing Chemicals – Specifications for p-Aminophenol Hydrochloride

ANSI/I3A IT4.152-2001 Photography (Chemicals) – Formaldehyde, 37% Solution with Stabilizer

ANSI/PIMA IT4.155-1981 (R2001) Photography (Chemicals) – Aluminum Sulfate Solution

ANSI/I3A IT4.156-2002 Photography – Processing Chemicals – Specifications for Sodium Formaldehyde Bisulfite, Anhydrous

ANSI/I3A IT4.181-1980 (R2002) Photography (Chemicals) – Benzyl Alcohol

ANSI/I3A IT4.186-1987 (R2002) Photography (Chemicals) – Hydroxylamine Sulfate

ANSI/I3A IT4.205-1984 (R2002) Photography (Chemicals) – 5-Methylbenzotriazole

ANSI/I3A IT4.304-1987 (R2001) Photography – Processing Chemicals – Specifications for Sodium Ferrocyanide, Decahydrate

ANSI/I3A IT4.14-2002 Photography (Processing) – Developers for Black-and-White Films and Plates – Method for Graininess Evaluation

ANSI/I3A IT10.2000-2004 Digital still cameras – JPEG 2000 DSC profile

ANSI/I3A IT10.7000-2004 Photography – Digital still cameras – Guidelines for reporting pixel related specifications

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Standards Submitted for Withdrawal

Withdrawal of ANSI/I3A IT10.7466 – 2002 Photography – Electronic still picture imaging – Reference Input Medium Metric RGB Color encoding: RIMM-RGB

Scope: This I3A standard specifies a family of extended color-gamut scene-referred RGB color encodings designated as Reference Input Medium Metric RGB (RIMM RGB). Digital images encoded using RIMM RGB can be manipulated, stored, transmitted, displayed, or printed by digital still picture imaging systems. Three precision levels are defined using 8-, 12- and 16-bits/channel. An extended luminance dynamic range version of RIMM RGB is also defined designated as Extended Reference Input Medium Metric RGB (ERIMM RGB). Two precision levels of ERIMM RGB are defined using 12- and 16-bits/channel.

Proposed for withdrawal because of publication of ISO/TC 22028-3: 2006

Withdrawal of ANSI/I3A IT10.7666: 2002 Electronic still picture imaging   Reference output medium metric RGB color encoding: ROMM-RGB

Scope: This I3A standard specifies a family of extended color-gamut output-referred RGB color encodings designated as Reference Output Medium Metric RGB (ROMM RGB). Digital images encoded using ROMM RGB can be manipulated, stored, transmitted, displayed, or printed by digital still picture imaging systems. Three precision levels are defined using 8-, 12- and 16-bits/channel.

Proposed for withdrawal because of publication of ISO/TC 22028-2: 2006

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SMB/TAG Standards Actions

For Systematic Review

ISO procedures require that Technical Specifications be reviewed at a minimum of every three years. Interim changes must be approved by the Standardization Management Board. Specifications that no need for revision or amendment at the time of the scheduled review need to be confirmed for a further period or withdrawn.

The following Technical Specifications are scheduled for Systematic Review:

ISO 15739 Photography – Electronic still picture imaging – Noise measurements

ISO 18913: 2003 Imaging materials – Stability – Vocabulary

ISO 18922: 2003 Imaging materials – Method for determining scratch resistance of processed photographic films

For Approval of Reaffirmation

American National Standards Institute (ANSI) requires that its standards shall be kept current and relevant by means of timely revision or reaffirmation within five years from the date of its approval.

The following standard has been recommended for reaffirmation:

ANSI/I3A IT2.37-2001 Photographic Technology – Print Grain Index – An Assessment of Print Graininess from Color Negative Films

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I3A Community

Share Your Best Shots With I3A

The I3A community is stocked with great photographers and people who appreciate great photography. A new feature of the I3A Web site is a place for I3A members to show and share their favorite shots. Members are especially invited to submit photos taken at I3A events. Send your photos to editor@i3a.org.

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Membership Updates

Updates to membership of the I3A Standards Management Board (SMB), ISO/TC42 Working Groups (WG) and Technical Committees:

• Betsy Guffey, Carestream, IT2, replaces Marian L. Walrath
• Phil Wychorski, Orion Standards, LLC, joins IT2
• Matt McGreer, Atlas Material Testing, IT9, replaces George Coonley
• Robert Lay, Motorola, joins IT10

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Member Resources

I3A Marketplace

The MarketPlace is a service for I3A members. There you will find I3A's publications, including white papers, Initiative specifications and standards, most available free to members. You will also find special offers on products and services available only to I3A members.

Access the MarketPlace at: http://members.i3a.org/members/marketplace/.

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DX Reports Available

The 135 DX system was developed by Technical Committee IT1, Photographic Films, Papers, and Plates, to identify each film in a controlled manner so that the encoded identification may be detected and used effectively by photofinishers. DX numbers are given only to sensitizing companies, per their request, so that the most effective use of this system can be recognized by the photofinishing community in general.

Access the latest reports at: http://members.i3a.org/members/marketplace/.

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I3A Job Board

As the leading global imaging industry association, I3A is a focal point for the entire industry, drawing the active participation of members and interested parties from around the world and across all segments of the photographic and information imaging markets. That's what makes the I3A Job Board the best place in the world for employers to find the most qualified people – and for job applicants to pursue their career goals, no matter what their interest or specialty.

There are currently no open jobs. Subscribe to email job alerts or the I3A RSS feed to be notified when new jobs are posted.

Posting a job is easy. Simply click here and follow the instructions. I3A will review your submission and, if accepted, it will be posted on the Job Board for 30 days.

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Imaging Technology Briefs

3-D technology to dominate commercial industry in 10 years
Living in a three-dimensional world is something Martin Keating looks forward to with great anticipation. Ten years from today, he believes current technology, such as iPhones, personal computers and Blackberries, will be outdated. He believes people will be able to speak the vendor's name, wave their hand and "see" the image they desire. The choice will be made by interactive voice commands and a person's account charged by choice identification. It will put an end to junk mail crowding electronic mail boxes.

Coming Soon: A Camera Based On The Human Eye
Digital cameras would soon be more humanized with a new technology that can produce images with a wider field of view, just like the human eye. In a collaborative study, Yonggang Huang, Joseph Cummings Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, and John Rogers, the Flory-Founder Chair Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, have created array of silicon detectors and electronics that can be conformed to a curved surface.

Futuristic imaging technique may improve cancer surgery
A new imaging system that shows up cancerous tissue could improve cancer surgery by allowing surgeons to identify between diseased and healthy tissue more easily.

Carestream Health Unveils New Wireless Digital X-Ray Technology That Can Reduce Patient Wait Times
A revolutionary new wireless digital imaging system from Carestream Health, Inc., promises to deliver higher productivity for hospital staffs and less time in the waiting room for patients. Carestream Health is one of the world's leading providers of medical imaging systems and healthcare IT solutions.

Mixed verdict on Microsoft Photosynth
At one level, Microsoft Live Labs' public launch of its Photosynth project is an intriguing test of a commercial software producer's ability to perform supercomputer-style computations as a service for the general public. At another level, it's a clever and somewhat effective scheme for getting more users signed onto Microsoft's Windows Live network, as well as using plentiful amounts of its online storage.

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Upcoming Standards Meetings

To arrange to attend any of these meetings, please register on the members’
Web site or contact the Standards Department at i3astds@i3a.org. Meetings without a named location are conference calls.

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Industry Events

As a service to its members, I3A provides a listing of events affecting the imaging industry.

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We distribute our newsletter around the 15th day of each month with a content deadline the week before. Please send your news for consideration in our newsletter. To share your comments about this newsletter or to submit information, send a message to Editor@I3A.org.

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