On images: Basic and applied research

In numerous disciplinary fields, images are fundamental sources of information for research activities and, as such, are collected, used, and discussed within their respective theoretical and methodological frameworks. However, it is in the specific field of graphic sciences that the production of images becomes the primary focus of research and teaching activities. In this field, the scientific community focuses mainly on this aspect, although based on a complex set of theoretical, historical, geometric, and operational insights, as highlighted by the taxonomy reconstructed and discussed in this paper. Five years after the launch of the img journal publishing project this article offers a systematic reflection on the main strands of research and teaching in the field of images today. The analysis of scientific production related to graphic sciences allows us to identify some prevailing research trends, both in basic and applied research. These categories include not only individual scientific contributions —which, as already noted, may intersect and feed into several strands at the same time— but also publications such as journals and series, as well as conferences and scientific events that contribute to the structuring and dissemination of disciplinary debate.