This society was initiated by a number of experts and scholars from the earliest batch of image and graphics technology workers in China, representing institutions such as Peking University, Tsinghua University, University of Science and Technology of China, Institute of Electronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, North China Institute of Computing Technology (Ministry of Electronics Industry), and Beijing No. 9 Research Institute. Preparations for national academic exchange activities began in the early 1980s. In November 1982, during the 1st National Academic Conference on Image and Graphics held in Guilin, Guangxi, the Preparatory Committee of the Chinese Society for Image Science was formally established. Subsequently, under the organization and leadership of the Preparatory Committee, four sessions of the National Academic Conference on Image and Graphics were held in Kunming in October 1984, Qingdao in April 1986, and Guangzhou in December 1988. On this basis, an official application for social organization registration was submitted to the Ministry of Civil Affairs on December 20, 1988, to establish the "China Society for Image and Graphics (CSIG)".

On January 5, 1990, with the approval of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the China Society for Image and Graphics was formally established. The 1st National Congress of Members was held in Beijing on December 19 of the same year, and the 1st Council was elected. Academician Chang Dong served as Chairman, Fu Hongyuan, Cai Defu, Ge Chenghui, Jin Donghan, Wang Xinmin, Zhuang Fenggan, and Hou Ziqiang as Vice Chairmen, and Wang Baoxing as Secretary-General. The society was affiliated with Beijing No. 9 Research Institute of China Academy of Engineering Physics, with the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense as its competent authority.

On April 19, 1994, the 2nd National Congress of Members was held in Chengdu, forming the 2nd Council. Researcher Hou Ziqiang served as Chairman, Shi Qingyun, Shi Jiaoying, Xu Hequn, Li Shuliang, Li Deren, Jin Donghan, Xu Guanhua, Fu Hongyuan, Ge Chenghui, You Zhisheng, and Cai Defu as Vice Chairmen, and Wang Baoxing as Secretary-General. The society was affiliated with the Institute of Computing Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, with the Ministry of Civil Affairs as its competent authority.

On May 12, 1998, the 3rd National Congress of Members was held in Xi'an, electing the 3rd Council. Academician Pan Yunhe was elected Chairman, Academician Xu Guanhua as Honorary Chairman, Dai Weiling, Gao Wen, Ge Chenghui, Li Deren, Li Shuxiang, Lin Zongjian, Liu Jiren, Shi Jiaoying, Shi Qingyun, Xu Hequn, You Zhisheng, and Zhao Rongchun as Vice Chairmen, and Luo Zhi'an as Secretary-General. The society was affiliated with the Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, with the Ministry of Civil Affairs as its competent authority. In October 2000, with the approval of the 90th meeting of the Secretariat of the 5th China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), CAST became the competent authority of the society.

On August 15, 2002, the 4th National Congress of Members was held in Hefei, electing the 4th Council. Academician Pan Yunhe was re-elected Chairman, Academician Xu Guanhua as Honorary Chairman, Tan Tieniu, Wei Sui, Zhang Yujin, Lin Zongjian, Zheng Nanning, Gao Wen, Li Xiaowen, Li Deren, Liu Jiren, You Zhisheng, and Shi Jiaoying as Vice Chairmen, and Luo Zhi'an as Secretary-General.

At the 5th National Congress of Members held in Nanjing on November 5, 2006, Academician Pan Yunhe and Academician Xu Guanhua were elected Chairman and Honorary Chairman of the society respectively, Tan Tieniu, Wei Sui, Zhang Yujin, Wang Runsheng, Yu Lun, Zha Hongbin, Chen Wufan, and Zhuang Yueting as Vice Chairmen, and Liu Kailong as Secretary-General.

On August 11, 2011, the 6th National Congress of Members was held in Hefei, electing the 6th Council. Academician Xu Guanhua was elected Chairman, Academician Pan Yunhe as Honorary Chairman, Wu Yirong, Yu Lun, Chen Wufan, Zhuang Yueting, Gao Wen, Zhou Mingquan, Ding Guohui, Yang Hongyu, and Pan Zhigeng as Vice Chairmen, and Liu Kailong as Secretary-General.

On July 29, 2016, the 7th National Congress of Members was held in Beijing, electing the 7th Council. Academician Tan Tieniu was elected Chairman, Lai Jianhuang, Lu Hanqing, Pan Zhigeng, Wang Guoping, Wu Yirong, Yu Nenghai, Zhao Zhongming, and Zhang Yujin as Vice Chairmen, and Ma Huimin as Secretary-General.

On December 5, 2020, the 8th National Congress of Members was held in Beijing, electing the 8th Council. Academician Wang Yaonan was elected Chairman, Deng Zhonghan, Lai Jianhuang, Ma Huimin, Wang Guoping, Wang Liang, Wang Yongtian, Yu Nenghai, and Zhang Yanning as Vice Chairmen, and Ma Huimin as Secretary-General.

Current Address of the Society: Rooms 307 and 308, East Building, No. 95 Zhongguancun East Road, Haidian District, Beijing