ISO 12231-1:2025
(Main)Digital imaging — Vocabulary — Part 1: Fundamental terms
Digital imaging — Vocabulary — Part 1: Fundamental terms
This document defines terms used in digital imaging.
Imagerie numérique — Vocabulaire — Partie 1: Termes fondamentaux
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
International
Standard
ISO 12231-1
Second edition
Digital imaging — Vocabulary —
2025-05
Part 1:
Fundamental terms
Imagerie numérique — Vocabulaire —
Partie 1: Termes fondamentaux
Reference number
© ISO 2025
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
Annex A (informative) List of WGs related to ”digital imaging” inside TC 42, and their
responsible ISO deliverables . . 3
iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 42, Photography.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 12231-1:2020), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— fundamental terms that are commonly-used in digital imaging were added;
— obsolete terms were deleted.
A list of all parts in the ISO 12231 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
iv
Introduction
Digital imaging concepts are drawn from traditional photography, electronics, video, and information
technology. In some cases, the concepts are redefined to apply to digital imaging. For example, unlike
traditional photography, measurements cannot be defined in terms of “film” or “sensitised material”, since
images acquired by digital image capture devices are stored electronically and are not immediately exposed on
film. The meaning of shutter and exposure time is also different for digital image capture devices, because an
electronic imaging sensor typically has image acquisition characteristics that are different from those of film.
This document provides a vocabulary which standardizes the use and meaning of terms associated with
digital imaging that were not defined by other ISO/TC 42 deliverables (see Annex A for a list of related WGs
and documents). It is organized alphabetically and follows natural (English) word order wherever possible.
v
International Standard ISO 12231-1:2025(en)
Digital imaging — Vocabulary —
Part 1:
Fundamental terms
1 Scope
This document defines terms used in digital imaging.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
aliasing
output image artefacts that occur in a sampled imaging system due to insufficient sampling
Note 1 to entry: These artefacts usually manifest themselves as moiré patterns in repetitive image features or as
jagged stair-stepping at edge transitions.
[SOURCE: ISO 12233:2024, 3.2]
3.2
digital still camera
DSC
device which incorporates an image sensor and produces a digital signal representing a still picture
Note 1 to entry: A digital still camera is typically a portable, hand-held device. The digital signal is usually recorded on
a removable or an internal memory.
[SOURCE: ISO 12232:2019, 3.1]
3.3
flare
light falling on an image, in an imaging system, which does not emanate from the subject point
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.