ISO/IEC 12087-5:1998

Information technology - Computer graphics and image processing - Image Processing and Interchange (IPI) - Functional specification - Part 5: Basic Image Interchange Format (BIIF)

Technologies de l'information — Infographie et traitement de l'image — Spécification fonctionnelle pour le traitement de l'image et l'échange (IPI) — Partie 5: Format d'échange de l'image de base (BIIF)

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 21-Oct-1998
• ICS: 35.140 - Computer graphics
• Technical Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 24 - Computer graphics, image processing and environmental data representation
• Drafting Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 24 - Computer graphics, image processing and environmental data representation
• Current Stage: 9599 - Withdrawal of International Standard
• Start Date: 15-Aug-2025
• Completion Date: 30-Oct-2025

Relations

• Revised: ISO/IEC 12087-5:2025 - Information technology - Image processing and interchange (IPI) functional specification - Part 5: Basic image interchange format (BIIF)
• Effective Date: 19-Aug-2023

Overview

ISO/IEC 12087-5:1998 specifies the Basic Image Interchange Format (BIIF) as part of the ISO/IEC 12087 Image Processing and Interchange (IPI) functional specification series. Published in 1998, this standard defines a transportable, extensible file format and logical structures for exchanging raster image data, associated metadata and auxiliary data between computer graphics and image-processing systems.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Format overview and interoperability: BIIF defines a transportable file structure (TFS) and complexity levels to ensure consistent exchange and backward compatibility.
• Fields and data types: Standardized header/subheader fields, textual representations, date/time expressions and valid-data conventions for metadata.
• Pixel storage and coordinate systems: Logical structure for pixel coordinates, a common coordinate system (CCS), row/column addressing and CCS boundary rules.
• Image segments and subheaders: Structured image segments including image subheaders, symbol segments and text-information segments for rich content.
• Image data formats and encoding: Support for multiple data recording formats, compressed and uncompressed image data, blocked images, masking and vector-quantized data.
• Color and bands: Definitions for number of bands (NBANDS), PIKS objects and image representation models.
• Look-Up Tables (LUTs): Support for LUTs to map pixel values to display or processing values.
• Data extensions and tagged records: Mechanisms for Tagged Record Extensions (TRE), Data Extension Segments (DES) and reserved extensions for future-proofing.
• Conformance and profiles: Profiles, complexity-level proformas and implementation support requirements to guide producers and interpreters of BIIF files.
• Normative annexes: Annex A describes the Transportable File Structure (TFS) command set and encoding; Annex B covers Vector Quantization.

Applications and who uses it

BIIF is intended for organizations and professionals needing robust, standardized image interchange, including:

• Software developers and library authors implementing image I/O and metadata handling.
• System integrators enabling multi-vendor interoperability in imaging workflows.
• Digital archives and asset managers storing and exchanging high-fidelity image data.
• Imaging and graphics tool vendors requiring a formal interchange format with support for metadata, LUTs and compression.
• Standards engineers and QA teams defining conformance profiles or integrating BIIF into workflows.

Related standards

• Part of the ISO/IEC 12087 IPI family (other parts specify complementary functional and interchange details). Refer to the ISO catalog for related IPI parts and normative references cited in the standard.

Keywords: ISO/IEC 12087-5, BIIF, Basic Image Interchange Format, IPI, image interchange, transportable file structure, vector quantization, image metadata, LUT, compressed image data.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 12087-5
First edition
1998-10-15
Information technology — Computer
graphics and image processing — Image
Processing and Interchange (IPI) —
Functional specification —
Part 5:
Basic Image Interchange Format (BIIF)
Technologies de l'information — Infographie et traitement de l’image —
Spécification fonctionnelle pour le traitement de l’image et l’échange (IPI) —
Partie 5: Format d’échange de l’image de base (BIIF)
Reference number
B C
Contents
Contents.ii
List of Figures . v
List of Tables.vi
Foreword. viii
1 Scope. 1
2 Normative references . 2
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviations . 4
3.1 Definitions. 4
3.2 Abbreviations:. 7
4 Basic Image Interchange Format (BIIF) specification. 8
4.1 Format overview. 8
4.1.1 Description . 9
4.1.1.1 Format fields.9
4.1.1.2 Standard data types .9
4.1.1.3 Extensions.9
4.1.1.4 Transportable file structure (TFS).10
4.1.1.5 Complexity Levels .10
4.1.2 Interoperability/exchange . 10
4.1.3 Fields. 11
4.1.3.1 Valid data .11
4.1.3.2 Date and time expressions.11
4.1.3.3 Representation of textual information in fields .11
4.1.4 Logical structure of pixel storage. 12
4.1.4.1 Pixel coordinates .12
4.1.4.2 PIKS pixel coordinates .12
4.1.5 Common coordinate system . 13
4.1.5.1 Common coordinate system structure.13
4.1.5.2 Row and column coordinates .13
4.1.5.3 CCS Boundaries.14
4.1.6 Display and attachment levels. 14
4.1.6.1 Display levels .14
4.1.6.2 Attachment levels.15
4.2 Format . 16
4.2.1 Data recording formats. 16
4.2.2 Encoding. 17
4.2.3 Header. 18
4.2.4 Image segment. 26
4.2.4.1 Image subheader .26
4.2.4.2 Look-up tables (LUTS) .27
4.2.5 Image data field format . 36
4.2.5.1 Blocked images.36
4.2.5.2 Image data masking.37
4.2.5.3 Compressed image data format.42
4.2.5.4 Uncompressed image data format .42
4.2.5.5 Vector quantized data .43
4.2.5.6 Number of bands (NBANDS).43
4.2.5.7 PIKS Objects .43
4.2.5.8 Image representation .44
©  ISO/IEC 1998
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced
or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and
microfilm, without permission in writing from the publisher.
ISO/IEC Copyright Office • Case postale 56 • CH-1211 Genève 20 • Switzerland
Printed in Switzerland
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ISO/IEC ISO/IEC 12087-5:1998(E)
4.2.6 Symbol segment. 45
4.2.6.1 Symbol subheader. 45
4.2.6.2 Symbol data. 48
4.2.7 Text information segment . 48
4.2.7.1 Text subheader. 48
4.2.7.2 Text. 50
4.2.8 Data Extensions . 50
4.2.8.1 Tagged Record Extensions (TRE): Public and Private. . 50
4.2.8.2 Data extension segments (DES). 52
4.2.8.3 Defined DESs . 54
4.2.8.4 Reserved extension segments (RES). 56
5 Conformance profiles and extensions . 58
5.1 Profiles . 58
5.2 Profile specific header/subheader dependencies proforma. 58
5.3 Complexity level proforma. 58
5.4 Implementation support requirements. 59
5.4.1 General support requirements . 59
5.4.2 Producing and interpreting BIIF files . 59
5.4.2.1 Producing BIIF files. 59
5.4.2.2 Interpreting BIIF files. 59
5.5 Defined extensions. 59
5.6 Profile registration. 59
Annex A (normative)  Transportable file structure. 61
A.1 Transportable file structure (TFS). 61
A.1.1 TFS Commands. 61
A.1.2 TFS encoding. 62
A.1.3 TFS command flow. 62
A.2 TFS command formats . 63
A.2.1 TFS delimiter commands. 63
A.2.1.1 Begin TFS command. 63
A.2.1.2 Begin transport command . 64
A.2.1.3 Begin transport body command. 64
A.2.1.4 Begin transport profile command . 64
A.2.1.5 Begin transport profile body command. 65
A.2.1.6 End transport profile command . 65
A.2.1.7 End transport command . 65
A.2.1.8 End TFS command. 65
A.2.2 TFS descriptor commands . 65
A.2.2.1 TFS version command . 66
A.2.2.2 TFS security command. 66
A.2.2.3 TFS subscription command. 66
A.2.2.4 TFS configuration command . 67
A.2.2.5 TFS configuration data command . 68
A.2.2.6 TFS metadata command. 68
A.2.2.7 TFS index command . 68
A.2.3 Transport descriptor commands. 69
A.2.3.1 Transport security command. 69
A.2.3.2 Transport metadata command . 70
A.2.3.3 Transport index command. 70
A.2.4 Transport Profile descriptor commands. 70
A.2.4.1 Transport Profile security command. 70
A.2.4.2 Transport profile metadata command. 70
A.2.4.3 Transport profile index command. 70
A.2.5 Transport profile commands. 70
A.2.5.1 Transport profile action command. 71
A.2.5.2 Transport profile object command. 71
A.2.6 TFS escape command . 79
Annex B (normative) Vector Quantization . 80
B.1 Vector Quantized Data. 80
B.2 Quantization Process. 80
B.3 Reconstruction . 81
B.3.1 Spatial reconstruction . 82
B.3.2 Color reconstruction. 83
B.3.3 Data elements. 84
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B.3.3.1 Quantization ratio. 84
B.3.3.2 Masked vs unmasked . 84
B.3.3.3 Code book organization . 84
B.3.3.4 Spatial data section. 85
B.4 File organization. 85
B.5 Definitions - image data section. 87
B.6 Definitions - BIIF header and image subheader . 87
Annex C (normative) Profiling BIIF . 89
C.1 Profiling process . 89
C.2 Profile proforma . 89
C.2.1 Use of the model profile. 89
C.2.2 Rules for filling out the proforma tables . 89
C.2.2.1 Profile Tables.91
Annex D (informative) Implementation Considerations and Product Configurations. 123
D.1 Implementation considerations and product configurations. 123
D.2 TRE_OVERFLOW example . 123
D.3 Scope of implementation . 123
D.3.1 Creating headers and subheaders . 123
D.3.2 Character counts . 123
D.3.3 Data entry . 124
D.3.4 Tagged Record Extensions . 124
D.3.5 Out-of-bounds field values. 124
D.3.6 Use of images. 124
D.3.7 Use of text files . 124
D.3.7.1 BCS (TXTFMT=STA). 124
D.3.7.2 Additional TXTFMT Codes . 124
D.3.8 File system constraints . 130
D.3.9 Security considerations. 130
D.4 Product configurations . 131
D.4.1 General . 131
D.4.1.1 Single file, single base image .131
D.4.1.2 Single file, multiple images .132
D.4.1.3 Single file, no image .134
D.4.1.4 Multiple correlated files .134
Annex E (informative) Examples BIIF Profiles. 135
E.1 Example file. 135
E.1.1 Use of this example . 135
E.1.2 BIIF Model Profile for example file. 135
E.1.2.1 Explanation of the file header .137
E.1.2.2 Explanation of the image subheaders.138
E.1.2.3 Explanation of the symbol subheaders .142
E.1.2.4 Explanation of the text subheaders.147
E.2 Examples using the Transportable File Structure (TFS). 147
E.2.1 Use of TFS. 147
E.2.2 TFS Examples . 147
E.2.2.1 TFS example of PIKS processing for an image .147
E.2.2.2 TFS example of requesting imagery and patient history.148
E.2.2.3 TFS example of using configuration and a five band image .148
E.3 Open Skies Digital Data Exchange Profile example (Informative). 149
E.3.1 Open Skies Digital Data Exchange File Header . 150
E.3.2 Open Skies Image Data Subheader . 151
E.3.3 Open Skies SAR Information. 154
E.3.4 Open Skies Text Data Subheader . 156
E.3.5 Open Skies Annotation Text Format . 157
E.3.6 Data Extension Segment Subheader. 159
E.3.7 Open Skies Digital Data Exchange Format (OSDDEF) DCRsi TAPE ANNOTATION and TAPE
DIRECTORY File Examples. 160
E.3.8 Example Entries in Data and Field Tables. 163
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List of Figures
Figure 1 -- Translation process. 8
Figure 2 -- Structure. 9
Figure 3 -- Image Array Structure. 12
Figure 4 -- Common coordinate system . 13
Figure 5 -- Display level and attachment level relationships. 15
Figure 6 -- Display and attachment levels . 16
Figure 7 -- Octet sequence order. 17
Figure 8 -- Header structure . 18
Figure 9a -- A blocked image. 37
Figure 9b -- A blocked padded image. 37
Figure 10 -- A blocked padded image with empty blocks . 38
Figure B.1 -- Vector quantization process flow . 80
Figure B.2 -- BIIF file structure with VQ data. 81
Figure B.3 -- VQ reconstruction procedure. 82
Figure B.4 -- Spatial reconstruction . 83
Figure B.5 -- Color reconstruction. 84
Figure B.6 -- Structure of the BIIF VQ image data section . 86
Figure D.1 -- Single file, single base image representation. 131
Figure D.2 -- Single file, multiple images representation. 133
Figure E.1 -- Sample file composite image. 135
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List of Tables
Table 1 -- Header. 19
Table 2 -- Image pixel data type codes and descriptions . 27
Table 3 -- Image subheader . 28
Table 4 -- Image data mask table. 39
Table 5 -- Representative examples of IREP and associated fields. 45
Table 6 -- Symbol subheader. 46
Table 7 -- Text subheader . 49
Table 8 -- TRE subheader . 52
Table 9 -- Data extension segment subheader. 53
Table 10 -- Data extension segment subheader for TRE OVERFLOW . 54
Table 11 -- Data extension segment subheader for TRANSPORTABLE_FILE_STRUCT . 55
Table 12 -- Reserved extension segment subheader. 57
Table A.1 -- Encoding of a TFS command . 62
Table A.2 -- TFS delimiter command table. 63
Table A.3 -- TFS command even form . 64
Table A.4 -- TFS command odd form. 64
Table A.5 -- TFS descriptor command table. 65
Table A.6 -- TFS version. 66
Table A.7 -- TFS subscription command . 67
Table A.8 -- TFS subscription contents table. 67
Table A.9 -- TFS configuration command. 68
Table A.10 -- TFS config data command. 68
Table A.11 -- TFS index command. 69
Table A.12 -- Transport descriptor command table. 69
Table A.13 -- Transport profile descriptor command table . 70
Table A.14 -- Transport profile command table . 71
Table A.15 -- Transport profile object command . 72
Table A.16 -- Object data for BIIF transport profile object . 72
Table A.17 -- Object storage and object data format. 73
Table A.18 – PIKS Objects minimum size. 73
Table A.19 -- PIKS objects data structures. 74
Table B.1 -- BIIF header and subheader specified data values. 88
Table C.1 -- File header fields. 91
Table C.2 -- Security fields specification. 96
Table C.3 -- Image subheader fields . 97
Table C.4 -- Image data mask table . 107
Table C.5 -- Symbol subheader. 108
Table C.6 -- Text subheader. 111
Table C.7 -- Tagged record extensions . 112
Table C.8a -- Data extension segment proforma . 113
Table C.8b -- Reserved extension segment proforma. 114
Table C.9 -- TFS profile proforma table. 115
Table C.10 – Implementation Support Requirements. 122
Table D.1 -- Basic Latin character set . 125
Table D.2 -- Basic Latin character set explanation . 126
Table D.3 -- Latin-1 supplement character set . 128
Table D.4 -- Latin-1 supplement character set explanation. 129
Table E.1 -- Example BIIF file header. 136
Table E.2 -- Example of the first image subheader . 138
Table E.3 -- Example of the second image subheader . 140
Table E.4 -- Symbol subheader for the first symbol. 142
Table E.5 -- Symbol subheader for the second symbol. 143
Table E.6 -- Symbol subheader for the third symbol. 144
Table E.7 -- Symbol subheader for the fourth symbol. . 145
Table E.8 -- Symbol subheader for the fifth symbol. 146
Table E.9 -- Text subheader for the text document . 147
Table E.10 -- Open Skies Digital Data Exchange File Header . 150
Table E.11 -- Image Data Subheader. 151
Table E.12 -- Tagged Record Extension for SAR Information Parameters. 154
Table E.13 -- SAR Information Parameters. 154
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Table E.14 -- Text Data Subheader. 156
Table E.15 -- Treaty on Open Skies Annotation Text Format . 157
Table E.16 -- Data Extension Segment Subheader. 159
Table E.17 -- Tape annotation file example. 160
Table E.18 -- Tape annotation file example. 160
Table E.19 -- Tape annotation file . 161
Table E.20 -- Tape Directory File Example. 161
Table E.21 -- Tape Directory File. 162
Table E.22 -- Data Field Table Example. 162
Table E.23 -- Header example for various exchange files examples . 163
Table E.24 -- Image data subheader. 164
Table E.25 -- Text subheader. 165
Table E.26 -- RETAG data for SAR initial phase data. 165
Table E.27 -- User defined registered extension . 166
Table E.28 -- Expansion of SAR micronavigational parameters . 166
Table E.29 -- Configuration of SAR . 166
Table E.30 -- 2nd example of configuration of SAR . 166
Table E.31 -- Data extension segment for SAR . 167
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Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical Commission)
form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are members of ISO or IEC
participate in the development of International Standards through technical committees established by the
respective organization to deal with particular field
...