Overview
ISO/IEC TR 21565:2018 - Information technology - Office equipment - Viewing environment guideline for office equipment - provides an overview and practical guidance on office viewing environments and colour characterization for office imaging devices. The report focuses on colour printing devices with digital imaging capabilities (including multi‑function devices) and aims to help manufacturers and users select consistent viewing conditions for reliable colour assessment and reproduction.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Viewing conditions: distinction between visual assessment (human observer) and colorimetry (instrumental measurement).
- Lighting and illuminants: discussion of international guidance (CIE, ISO and IEC). Notes that graphic arts standards commonly specify CIE Illuminant D50, while CIE 15 recommends D65 when possible and otherwise D50/D55/D75. Typical office lamp colour temperatures and popular fluorescent types (F2 ≈ 4230 K, F6 ≈ 4150 K) are described.
- Office reference values (from IEC/ISO cross‑references): example reference values include display background at 20% of reference luminance (16 cd/m2), reference ambient illuminance 64 lx, reference ambient white point D50, and veiling glare 1.0%. The report also notes a typical office illuminance of about 350 lx.
- Colorimetry basics: overview of spectral measurement needs, colour space definition and practical measurement considerations for office equipment.
- Guidelines and recommendations: advice for selecting viewing conditions for image comparison between hardcopy and display, and for office colour assessment.
- Informative annexes: lists related standards (Annex A), an example for image comparison (Annex B), descriptions of actual office environments (Annex C) and recommended office viewing conditions (Annex D).
Practical applications and who uses it
ISO/IEC TR 21565:2018 is practical for:
- Office equipment manufacturers (printers, MFDs, scanners) for device colour characterization and QA.
- Product designers and firmware engineers implementing colour management and proofing workflows.
- Quality assurance and printing operators who need reproducible assessment methods for print vs. display comparisons.
- Standards and compliance teams seeking consistency with ISO 3664, ISO 13655, IEC 61966‑2‑1 and other colour/viewing standards.
- IT and facilities managers deciding on office lighting to minimise colour mismatches in business workflows.
Related standards (selected)
- ISO 3664 (viewing conditions for graphic technology)
- ISO 13655 (spectral measurements for graphic arts)
- IEC 61966‑2‑1 (sRGB / display viewing conditions)
- CIE 15 (basic colorimetry)
ISO/IEC TR 21565:2018 helps avoid misunderstandings about viewing conditions, enabling consistent colour reproduction in office environments and better alignment between print and digital displays.