laatukuva

Laatukuva is a Finnish term used to describe a “quality image” that meets predefined standards for accuracy, fidelity, and usability in professional contexts. The word combines laatu (quality) and kuva (image or photo). In practice, laatukuva refers to images that are selected for archival storage, publication, or high‑quality reproduction.

In Finnish libraries, museums, archives, and other institutions, laatukuvat are produced through a controlled workflow. Typical criteria include sufficient resolution, correct exposure and color, minimal noise, sharp focus, and appropriate composition. Color management is important, with embedded color profiles, and metadata such as EXIF and IPTC is usually included. File formats commonly used for masters are lossless or high‑quality lossless‑compressed types (for example TIFF), with derivatives prepared for web or print in standardized color spaces.

Quality control processes accompany the production of laatukuvat. These may involve provenance verification, inspection for defects or distortions, color calibration against targets, and documentation of the image’s technical and contextual information. The term is often encountered in digital asset management guidelines and cataloging work within cultural institutions, as well as in stock photography and publishing workflows in Finland.

Because there is no single universal standard, definitions of what constitutes a laatukuva vary by organization and project. The concept serves as a practical label for images deemed suitable for long-term use, reproduction, or public dissemination within Finnish professional practice.