A Practical Guide to Key Image Technology Standards for Modern Businesses

In today's rapidly evolving technological ecosystem, image technology is at the heart of numerous sectors—from precision optics manufacturing and archiving of priceless imagery to advanced office automation and digital print management. International standards in image technology are not just add-ons for compliance—they are foundational requirements for any organization seeking competitiveness, productivity, and security. This guide offers a comprehensive, user-friendly exploration of four essential standards that empower businesses to improve quality, streamline operations, and scale with confidence.

Overview / Introduction

Image technology standards form the bedrock upon which modern industries build reliable, secure, and scalable solutions. Whether you're manufacturing optical components, safeguarding photographic archives, ensuring the durability of optical glass, or optimizing print processes in a digital office, adhering to internationally recognized standards brings tangible benefits.

This article demystifies four recently updated standards:

• ISO 10110-11:2025 (Optics and photonics; optical drawings; non-toleranced data)
• ISO 18916:2025 (Imaging materials; photographic activity test)
• ISO 21575:2026 (Optical glass; water resistance; powder test method)
• ISO/IEC 17629:2025 (Office equipment; FPOT measurement for printers)

You'll learn what each standard covers, why compliance matters, and how implementation boosts productivity, quality, and innovation—especially when deploying new technologies. The guide also offers practical insights for real-world adoption and compliance management.

Detailed Standards Coverage

ISO 10110-11:2025 - Streamlining Optical Drawings for Industry

Optics and photonics – Preparation of drawings for optical elements and systems – Part 11: Non-toleranced data

This standard is a cornerstone for any business or professional working with the design and manufacture of optical elements and systems. ISO 10110-11:2025 provides the default, or implicit, tolerances for specification in drawings when explicit values are omitted. It's part of the wider ISO 10110 series, which collectively sets unified guidelines for the representation, documentation, and communication of optical requirements.

Key requirements & scope:

• Applies to drawings for optical elements and systems where certain values (like dimensions or properties) are not specifically toleranced.
• Offers a table of default tolerances covering parameters such as surface form, texture, birefringence, coatings, and angular tolerances—all designed to ensure manufacturing reliability and interoperability.
• Updates in this edition include clarified defaults for surface form, coating specifications (now explicitly 'uncoated' by default), defaults for surface texture, and new treatments for large optical elements regarding stress birefringence.

Who should comply?

• Optical manufacturers, design engineers, and quality assurance teams in sectors such as industrial optics, photonics, medical imaging, aerospace, and defense.
• Any organization preparing technical drawings for optical elements, especially those engaged in international collaborations or supply chains.

Practical implications:

Implementing ISO 10110-11:2025 guarantees that information gaps in optical drawings do not lead to costly ambiguities or production errors. Relying on standardized, well-understood defaults streamlines manufacturing and enhances cross-company collaboration. Incorporation of this part with other modules from the ISO 10110 series enables comprehensive, consistent documentation practice.

Key highlights:

• Clarifies which tolerances apply by default in the absence of explicit details.
• Reduces misinterpretation and risk of defects due to missing data.
• Supports scalable design through standardized documentation.

Access the full standard:View ISO 10110-11:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 18916:2025 - Safeguarding Photographic Heritage and Collections

Imaging materials – Photographic activity test for enclosure materials – Processed silver‐gelatin and dye‐gelatin prints

ISO 18916:2025 is crucial for anyone responsible for storing, displaying, or transporting photographic materials. This standard establishes a photographic activity test (PAT) to assess chemical reactivity between enclosure materials (like sleeves, boxes, adhesives) and valuable photographic prints, specifically those created with silver-gelatin or dye-gelatin processes.

Key requirements & scope:

• Defines test procedures for detecting chemical interactions (like image fading or discoloration) caused by enclosure materials.
• Applies broadly to all general photographic storage materials: paper, plastics, mats, adhesives, inks, labels, and more.
• Mandates batch-level (not just annual) testing to reflect changes in supplier, formulation, or manufacturing process.
• Requires that every color variant or component (e.g., of adhesives) be tested independently.
• Includes optional modifications for dye-coupler and diazo photographic materials.

Who should comply?

• Museums, archives, libraries, photographic studios, and collectors.
• Packaging and storage material manufacturers serving the photographic and archival markets.
• Any organization that wants to ensure long-term preservation of photographic assets.

Practical implications:

Implementing ISO 18916:2025 minimizes the risk of irreversible damage to precious photographic archives by ensuring enclosure materials do not react harmfully over time. The thoroughness of its protocols helps institutions prove archival safety, instilling trust in clients and stakeholders. It complements general requirements for photo-safe storage from ISO 18902.

Key highlights:

• Ensures chemical safety of enclosure materials for photographic prints.
• Protects archival and historical image collections from subtle but permanent damage.
• Promotes rigorous, batch-based testing and documentation for true material accountability.

Access the full standard:View ISO 18916:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 21575:2026 - Ensuring Durability of Optical Glass through Water Resistance Testing

Raw optical glass — Powder test method for the water resistance of optical glass — Test method and classification

High-performance optical glass is foundational for imaging systems in sectors like aerospace, medical diagnostics, research, and communications. ISO 21575:2026 standardizes the powder method for assessing the water resistance of raw optical glass—crucial for evaluating long-term durability and suitability for high-value applications.

Key requirements & scope:

• Outlines specific procedures for preparing, treating, and analyzing glass powder samples.
• Specifies required reagents, apparatus, and step-by-step guidance for executing the test and categorizing water resistance levels.
• Emphasizes accurate reproducibility, introducing updated terminology (e.g., mass vs. weight), expanded apparatus instructions, and refined classification reporting.
• Enables manufacturers to classify glass types for scientific, automotive, consumer, and industrial use based on objective, standardized criteria.

Who should comply?

• Manufacturers of optical glass and lenses, suppliers to imaging and photonics industries, quality control laboratories, and R&D teams.
• Sectors where glass endurance against environmental exposure (humidity, condensation) is a reliability-critical factor.

Practical implications:

By standardizing durability testing with ISO 21575:2026, companies gain objective data to select, specify, and certify glass materials for demanding environments. This improves reliability, reduces warranty risk, and ensures customer satisfaction across international markets.

Key highlights:

• Detailed, reproducible test method for water resistance of optical glass.
• Facilitates global market access by supporting recognized classification protocols.
• Protects end-users by guaranteeing optical component longevity and stability.

Access the full standard:View ISO 21575:2026 on iTeh Standards

ISO/IEC 17629:2025 - Reliable Benchmarks for Digital Print Productivity

Information technology – Office equipment – Method for measuring first print out time for digital printing devices

Effective document management and office automation depend on predictable performance from digital printing devices. ISO/IEC 17629:2025 delivers a systematic method for measuring First Print Out Time (FPOT): the critical interval between job initiation and the output of the first printed sheet for digital printers and multifunctional devices.

Key requirements & scope:

• Applies to both color and black-and-white digital printing devices, including multifunctional products (MFPs) with various marking technologies.
• Details test platform setup, device configuration, supported modes (ready, sleep, off), sample sizes, and reporting protocols for consistent benchmarking.
• Ensures test results are reproducible and comparable across brands, models, and environments.
• Addresses nuanced office needs by including scenarios for ready state, sleep mode recovery, and start-up from off state.

Who should comply?

• Printer manufacturers, office equipment suppliers, and IT administrators responsible for procurement and fleet management.
• Businesses optimizing workflows or tracking Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
• Buyers, service providers, and independent testing organizations comparing device performance.

Practical implications:

By implementing ISO/IEC 17629:2025, organizations gain transparency around true device performance, enabling smarter investment and optimized workflows. Manufacturers can validate marketing claims, consumers can compare like-for-like, and IT managers can better plan for productivity.

Key highlights:

• Defines a clear, fair process for evaluating first-page-out times.
• Supports productivity benchmarks for office and enterprise settings.
• Promotes fair competition and transparency in the digital printing market.

Access the full standard:View ISO/IEC 17629:2025 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

Business Value of Image Technology Standards

For modern enterprises, the adoption of leading image technology standards ensures:

• Increased productivity: Streamlined communication, reduced errors, and predictable outcomes across supply chains, laboratories, or office platforms.
• Security and preservation: Protection of sensitive, valuable, or archival materials against preventable risks—be it chemical degradation, data loss, or unplanned downtime.
• Scalability: Consistent practices enable organizations to grow, expand internationally, and adopt emergent technologies without reinventing processes.
• Market access and compliance: International standards are recognized benchmarks, making it easier to earn client trust, pass audits, and access regulated markets.

Compliance Considerations

• Mandatory for contracts: Many clients and procurement bodies insist on adherence as a baseline.
• Proof of due diligence: Meeting these standards is evidence of responsible stewardship for assets, products, or information.
• Risk management: Proactively reduces the likelihood and cost of failures, recalls, or disputes.

Risks of Non-Compliance

• Production loss due to misunderstood drawings or material incompatibilities.
• Damage to cultural heritage from improper storage or reactive enclosures.
• Reduced reliability for optical devices in demanding fields, hurting performance and brand reputation.
• Misleading performance claims harming customer satisfaction, competitive standing, or legal compliance.

Implementation Guidance

Common Approaches

1. Gap Analysis: Benchmark current procedures against standard requirements.
2. Staff Training: Educate relevant personnel about the benefits and processes of each standard.
3. Quality Management Integration: Embed requirements within existing quality assurance or certification frameworks (such as ISO 9001).
4. Documentation & Recordkeeping: Maintain clear records for testing, procurement, and specification requirements.
5. Supplier Engagement: Specify standards compliance within supplier agreements and require supporting certificates or batch reports.
6. Ongoing Review: Periodically reassess for updates, batch changes, or technology shifts that impact compliance.

Best Practices

• Use template-driven drawings that integrate default tolerances from ISO 10110-11.
• Source archival materials with batch-level PAT certification per ISO 18916.
• Validate optical glass purchases with up-to-date powder test results to ISO 21575.
• Insist on FPOT benchmarks from vendors, measured per ISO/IEC 17629, for all digital printing equipment.
• Leverage digital tools or consultancies specializing in standards implementation.

Resources for Organizations

• Access the full text of each standard (see backlinks above) for detailed requirements.
• Explore additional training from standards bodies or industry organizations.
• Utilize specialized software and testing services designed for compliance in optics, imaging, and IT.
• Network with peers at industry events or in professional forums to exchange best practices and lessons learned.

Conclusion / Next Steps

Modern businesses cannot afford to treat image technology standards as afterthoughts. These four international standards—ISO 10110-11:2025, ISO 18916:2025, ISO 21575:2026, and ISO/IEC 17629:2025—deliver the clarity, assurance, and scalability required for high-productivity, secure, and future-ready organizations.

Key takeaways:

• Standards bring structure, reliability, and transparency to complex technical operations.
• Compliance yield measurable gains in quality, efficiency, and customer trust.
• Regular review and proactive adoption is essential, especially as technologies and workflows evolve.

Recommendations:

• Audit your organization’s practices relative to these standards.
• Invest in employee awareness and continuous process improvement.
• Make standards compliance a strategic priority—turning requirements into a competitive advantage.

For those looking to stay ahead of the curve, now is the time to review, adopt, and leverage these essential standards. Explore the full documents and resources on iTeh Standards, and position your business for excellence and security in the evolving world of image technology.