SIST ISO 12231-1:2022

Photography - Electronic still picture imaging terminology

This document defines terms used in electronic still picture imaging that have not been defined by other ISO/TC 42 standards, Technical Specifications or Technical Reports.

Photographie - Terminologie des prises de vue électroniques

Fotografija - Terminologija s področja elektronskega upodabljanja mirujočih slik

Ta dokument opredeljuje izraze, ki se uporabljajo pri elektronskem upodabljanju mirujočih slik in v drugih standardih ISO/TC 42, tehničnih specifikacijah oziroma tehničnih poročilih niso bili opredeljeni.

General Information

• Status: Withdrawn
• Publication Date: 24-Mar-2022
• Withdrawal Date: 19-Aug-2025
• ICS: 01.040.37 - Image technology (Vocabularies)
• ICS: 37.040.10 - Photographic equipment. Projectors
• Technical Committee: GRT - Graphical technology
• Current Stage: 9900 - Withdrawal (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 13-Aug-2025
• Due Date: 05-Sep-2025
• Completion Date: 20-Aug-2025
• Ref Project: ISO 12231-1:2020 - Photography - Electronic still picture imaging terminology - Part 1: Supplemental vocabulary

Relations

• Replaces: SIST ISO 12231:2012 - Photography - Electronic still picture imaging - Vocabulary
• Effective Date: 01-May-2022
• Replaced By: SIST ISO 12231-1:2025 - Digital imaging - Vocabulary - Part 1: Fundamental terms
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2025

Overview

SIST ISO 12231-1:2022, titled Photography - Electronic still picture imaging terminology - Part 1: Supplemental vocabulary, is an international standard published by ISO that focuses on defining terms related to electronic still picture imaging. This part serves as a supplemental vocabulary, clarifying terminology that has not been previously defined by other ISO/TC 42 photography standards, technical specifications, or reports. It ensures consistent use and understanding of electronic imaging language across technical and professional communities.

The document is essential for professionals involved in digital photography, imaging technology, and photographic equipment development. It supports clear communication in the fields of electronic image acquisition, processing, and reproduction.

Key Topics

SIST ISO 12231-1:2022 covers a variety of electronic still imaging terms, providing precise definitions that address concepts unique to digital imaging technology. Key vocabulary includes:

• Aliasing ratio: A value describing modulation variation in imaging sensors.
• Application: Software used on personal computers for image handling.
• Colour sequential exposure: Technique involving multiple exposures to capture distinct color components.
• Exposure process: Methods employed by electronic still picture cameras to capture images.
• Flare: Unwanted light affecting image quality, also known as veiling glare.
• Nyquist limit: The spatial frequency limit beyond which aliasing occurs in digital images.
• Pixel aspect ratio: Ratio of pixel dimensions in orthogonal directions, indicating pixel shape.
• Single exposure: Capturing an image with a single simultaneous exposure of all sensor pixels.
• Time sequential exposure: Capture method involving multiple exposures over time to gather spatial components.

These terms are aligned with prior ISO photography standards but focus on electronic still picture imaging, reflecting the transition from traditional film-based photography to digital systems.

Applications

The standardized vocabulary provided in SIST ISO 12231-1:2022 has practical value across many areas in the imaging and photography industries, including:

• Digital camera manufacturing: Assisting designers and engineers with consistent terminology for imaging sensor technologies and camera features.
• Software development: Enhancing the clarity in the development of image application software for editing, processing, and image management.
• Technical documentation: Supporting the creation of manuals, specifications, and technical reports with unambiguous electronic image terminology.
• Quality assessment: Providing common language used in testing and evaluating image quality parameters such as flare, aliasing, and exposure techniques.
• Standardization alignment: Facilitating collaboration between international stakeholders by adhering to universally accepted definitions in electronic still picture imaging.

Adoption of this standard fosters interoperability, improved communication, and efficient innovation in digital imaging technologies.

Related Standards

SIST ISO 12231-1:2022 complements and references various ISO technical committees and standards relevant to electronic still picture imaging:

• ISO 12233: Photography - Resolution and spatial frequency responses in electronic imaging.
• ISO 12232: Determination of exposure index and ISO speed ratings for digital still cameras.
• ISO 12234 series: Standards for removable memory and XMP metadata for electronic still pictures.
• ISO 516: Standards concerning camera shutter timing.
• ISO 15739: Noise measurements in electronic still picture imaging.
• ISO 20462: Psychophysical methods for estimating image quality.
• ISO 22028 series: Extended color encodings for digital image storage and interchange.
• Other ISO/TC 42 working groups related to electronic still picture imaging provide complementary deliverables focused on resolution, image quality, metadata, and more.

These standards collectively form a robust framework supporting the evolving fields of digital photography and imaging technologies.

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By integrating SIST ISO 12231-1:2022’s supplemental vocabulary into digital imaging practices, stakeholders can ensure clarity, reliability, and consistency in the communication and development of electronic still picture imaging technologies worldwide.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 12231-1
First edition
2020-12
Photography — Electronic still picture
imaging terminology —
Part 1:
Supplemental vocabulary
Photographie — Terminologie des prises de vue électroniques —
Partie 1: Vocabulaire supplémentaire
Reference number
©
ISO 2020
© ISO 2020
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: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

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 electronic still picture imaging inside TC 42,
and their responsible ISO deliverables . 4
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 documents 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).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/ patents).
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 first edition of ISO 12231-1 cancels and replaces the third edition (ISO 12231:2012), which has
been technically revised. The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— ISO 12231 was renamed ISO 12231-1;
— the formatting has been switched from a comprehensive vocabulary standard to a supplemental
vocabulary standard, supplementing the ISO Online Browsing Platform;
— unlike previous editions of this document, this edition no longer includes terms and definitions
that were defined by other ISO/TC 42 deliverables (Standards, Technical Specifications or Technical
Reports).
Therefore, from this edition, this document consists of:
a) originally-defined terms and definitions, and
b) useful terms and definitions for electronic still picture imaging that are referred from other
standard bodies outside of ISO/TC 42.
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 © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

Introduction
Electronic still picture imaging concepts are drawn from traditional photography, electronics, video,
and information technology. In some cases, the concepts are redefined to apply to electronic still
picture 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
electronic still picture 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.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 12231-1:2020(E)
Photography — Electronic still picture imaging
terminology —
Part 1:
Supplemental vocabulary
1 Scope
This document defines terms used in electronic still picture imaging that have not been defined by
other ISO/TC 42 standards, Technical Specifications or Technical Reports.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
aliasing ratio
value equal to the “maximum minus minimum” modulation divided by the “average” modulation of an
electronic still picture camera when imaging a frequency burst of constant spatial frequency
[SOURCE: ISO 12231:2012, 3.8]
Note 1 to entry: This term was originally defined in ISO 12233, and was adopted to ISO 12231:1997.
3.2
application
image application software for use on a personal computer
[SOURCE: ISO 12231:2012, 3.9]
Note 1 to entry: This term was originally defined in the past edition of ISO 12234-3, and was adopted to
ISO 12231:2005.
3.3
colour sequential exposure
acquisition of a picture by combining repeated exposures to capture different colour components
Note 1 to entry: Colour sequential exposure can be by means of three colour illuminations, or by three colour
filters.
[SOURCE: ISO 12231:2012, 3.52.2]
Note 2 to entry: This term was originally defined in the past edition of ISO 12232, adopted to ISO 12231:1997 and
was modified at ISO 12231:2005.
3.4
exposure process
various methods to capture ima
...

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-maj-2022
Nadomešča:
SIST ISO 12231:2012
Fotografija - Terminologija s področja elektronskega upodabljanja mirujočih slik
Photography - Electronic still picture imaging terminology
Photographie - Terminologie des prises de vue électroniques
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: ISO 12231-1:2020
ICS:
01.040.37 Slikovna tehnologija (Slovarji) Image technology
(Vocabularies)
37.040.10 Fotografska oprema. Photographic equipment.
Projektorji Projectors
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 12231-1
First edition
2020-12
Photography — Electronic still picture
imaging terminology —
Part 1:
Supplemental vocabulary
Photographie — Terminologie des prises de vue électroniques —
Partie 1: Vocabulaire supplémentaire
Reference number
©
ISO 2020
© ISO 2020
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: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

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 electronic still picture imaging inside TC 42,
and their responsible ISO deliverables . 4
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 documents 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).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/ patents).
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 first edition of ISO 12231-1 cancels and replaces the third edition (ISO 12231:2012), which has
been technically revised. The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— ISO 12231 was renamed ISO 12231-1;
— the formatting has been switched from a comprehensive vocabulary standard to a supplemental
vocabulary standard, supplementing the ISO Online Browsing Platform;
— unlike previous editions of this document, this edition no longer includes terms and definitions
that were defined by other ISO/TC 42 deliverables (Standards, Technical Specifications or Technical
Reports).
Therefore, from this edition, this document consists of:
a) originally-defined terms and definitions, and
b) useful terms and definitions for electronic still picture imaging that are referred from other
standard bodies outside of ISO/TC 42.
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 © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

Introduction
Electronic still picture imaging concepts are drawn from traditional photography, electronics, video,
and information technology. In some cases, the concepts are redefined to apply to electronic still
picture 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
electronic still picture 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.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 12231-1:2020(E)
Photography — Electronic still picture imaging
terminology —
Part 1:
Supplemental vocabulary
1 Scope
This document defines terms used in electronic still picture imaging that have not been defined by
other ISO/TC 42 standards, Technical Specifications or Technical Reports.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
aliasing ratio
value equal to the “maximum minus minimum” modulation divided by the “average” modulation of an
electronic still picture camera when imaging a frequency burst of constant spatial frequency
[SOURCE: ISO 12231:2012, 3.8]
Note 1 to entry: This term was originally defined in ISO 12233, and was adopted to ISO 12231:1997.
3.2
application
image application software for use on a personal computer
[SOURCE: ISO 12231:2012, 3.9]
Note 1 to entry: This term was originally defined in the past edition of ISO 12234-3, and was adopted to
ISO 12231:2005.
3.3
colour sequential exposure
acquisition of a picture by combining repeated exposu
...