ISO/IEC 23008-12:2022 PDF

Overview

ISO/IEC 23008-12:2022 specifies an Image File Format for interoperable storage of a single image, image collections, and image sequences. Built on the ISO base media file format (ISO/IEC 14496-12), this standard enables reliable interchange, editing, display and carriage of image-associated metadata. It also defines storage brands for images and image sequences conforming to HEVC, AVC, JPEG, VVC and EVC codecs. (Note: storage of HEVC/AVC/VVC/EVC video sequences is out of scope and is provided in ISO/IEC 14496‑15.)

Key topics and technical requirements

• File derivation and structure: Reuses ISO/IEC 14496-12 foundations for box/atom structures and container interoperability.
• Image types and roles: Single images, collections, multi-layer images, pre-derived and derived images, thumbnails, cover and auxiliary images, master images and predictively coded items.
• Image properties: Definitions and handling of spatial extents, pixel aspect ratio, colour information, pixel formats, decoder configuration, clean aperture, rotation, mirroring, scaling, content light level and colour volume metadata.
• Metadata and linking: Structures to contain metadata, mechanisms to link metadata to images, and formats for carrying metadata (including accessibility text, creation/modification time, and technical capture attributes).
• Derived content and edits: Rules for derived images, region items, masks, annotations, and derived region items for editing workflows.
• Sequence and timed presentation: Support for image sequences, sample groups, timed tracks and presentation constraints for slideshows, burst capture and image playback.
• Auxiliary samples: Support for alpha planes, depth maps and other auxiliary image sample formats.
• Entity and sample grouping: Grouping constructs to relate untimed items to timed sequences (e.g., bursts, panoramas, slideshows).

Applications and who uses it

• Image software vendors: Editors, compositors, and asset managers use the format for interoperable storage, multi-layer imagery and rich metadata support.
• Device manufacturers: Cameras and mobile devices implement the format to store capture sequences, depth maps, alpha channels and capture metadata.
• Web and media platforms: CDNs, media servers and browsers adopt the standard for efficient image delivery, slideshows and image collections.
• Archiving and publishing: Digital libraries and publishers rely on standardized metadata, color volume and mastering information for reliable long-term access.
• Codec and standards implementers: Developers building encoders/decoders and format readers for HEVC/AVC/VVC/EVC/JPEG-based images.

Related standards

• ISO/IEC 14496-12 - ISO base media file format (foundation for container structures)
• ISO/IEC 14496-15 - Storage of video sequences for HEVC/AVC/VVC/EVC (video sequence storage out of scope in Part 12)

Keywords: ISO/IEC 23008-12:2022, Image File Format, image sequences, metadata, ISO base media file format, HEVC, AVC, VVC, EVC, JPEG, image interchange, multi-layer images.