While ISO 19264-2 describes a method to determinate image quality performance of imaging systems (flatbed scanners, digital cameras) used for digitization of two-dimensional transmissive cultural heritage materials. The aim of ISO 19264-2 is to enable cultural heritage institutions to set up, evaluate and control their imaging systems in a standardized way.

This ISO TR 19263-2 gives practical guidance on how to use the above standard in digitization workflows to produce accurate digital copies of transmissive heritage objects in a consistent manner. Furthermore, the report gives an overview of the nature and typical characteristics of the originals to be digitized. It provides practical advice on how to digitize such materials and proposes classification into different quality levels of digitization in terms of aims and tolerances for the characteristics given in ISO 19264-2.

For the purposes of this document, we define transmissive materials as objects that are two-dimensional and whose primary original use required light to pass through the object. The bulk of such materials found in heritage collections were objects used as the recording media in a photographic still image camera – such as, photographic negatives, transparencies, glass plate negatives, lantern slides, aerial film, roll film, micrographic, or radiographic materials, or other transmissive photographic materials.

However, an original's suitability for this document is based on the intention to light it from behind; this is the primary factor that determines the hardware, software, and workflow that is required for proper digitization.   This document refers mainly to transparent originals with a photographic emulsion on a support material used to create images. Non-photographic media that are considered transmissive materials are not in the scope of this document. These include e.g. overhead transparencies used in schools, stained glass windows, diaphanous textiles intended to be displayed in front of a window or light source, and microscope slides.