ISO 6013-1978 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 6013:1978 — Photography — Photo flashcubes — Colour coding of packages. This short International Standard specified a system of colour coding for the packaging of photographic flashcubes (single‑use clustered flash units) to help identification and handling in photographic processing, retail and distribution environments.

Abstract

ISO 6013:1978 defined colours and marking conventions for the external packaging of photographic flashcubes so that users and retailers could quickly recognise key product attributes (for example film/voltage compatibility or intended market). The standard was published in 1978 and has since been withdrawn; it is a one‑page International Standard issued by ISO/TC 42.

General information

• Status: Withdrawn
• Publication date: 1978 (published September 1978, edition 1).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
• ICS / categories: 37.040.10 (Photographic equipment; projectors)
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (1978)
• Number of pages: 1

Key bibliographic details above are taken from the ISO bibliographic record and national standards catalogues. The standard is recorded as withdrawn in ISO records and is shown as withdrawn from 2 February 1993 in some national catalogues.

Scope

Scope (summary): specify a simple, recognisable colour coding scheme for outer packaging of photographic flashcubes to indicate important product characteristics for manufacturers, distributors and end users. The standard was narrowly focused on packaging colours and did not attempt to standardise the internal construction or electrical characteristics of flashcubes themselves.

Key topics and requirements

• Defined a small set of colours and their intended meaning when applied to flashcube packaging.
• Provided basic marking/placement rules on the outer package for rapid visual identification.
• Aimed at harmonising packaging presentation across manufacturers to reduce handling errors in retail and photographic labs.
• Was intentionally brief (one page) and limited to packaging colour coding — no electrical or safety requirements.

Typical use and users

Typical users were: photographic‑film and flash accessory manufacturers, packaging designers and printers serving the photography trade, retailers and photo lab operators who handled a variety of flash units, and national standards bodies cataloguing photographic product standards. Use was primarily for product identification and supply‑chain consistency rather than safety certification.

Related standards

Related materials are other ISO standards maintained by ISO/TC 42 concerning photographic equipment and imaging; later photographic standards address electronic flash units, digital imaging and camera measurement methods. Note that ISO 6013:1978 itself has been withdrawn and no direct current edition exists; users should consult current ISO/TC 42 publications for up‑to‑date requirements.

Keywords

flashcube, flash cube, packaging, colour code, photography, ISO 6013, ISO/TC 42, withdrawn standard

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 6013:1978 is an International Standard titled "Photography — Photo flashcubes — Colour coding of packages" that specified a colour‑coding scheme for outer packaging of photographic flashcubes.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covered only the colour coding and basic marking placement on packaging for photo flashcubes — not the electrical or functional design of the flash units themselves. The document is very short (one page).

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Historically, manufacturers, packagers, retailers, photo labs and standards librarians in the photographic industry used this guidance to harmonise packaging appearance and ease product identification.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 6013:1978 has been withdrawn (recorded as withdrawn in ISO bibliographic records and shown withdrawn in national listings). There is no active ISO 6013 edition in force; users should refer to current ISO/TC 42 documents for applicable, modern requirements.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It was a standalone, narrowly scoped International Standard under the work of ISO/TC 42 (photography). It is not listed as part of a numbered multi‑part series.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Keywords include: flashcube, flash cube, colour coding, packaging, photography, ISO 6013, ISO/TC 42.