Overview - ISO 12637-2:2008 (Graphic technology - Vocabulary - Part 2: Prepress terms)
ISO 12637-2:2008 is an international vocabulary standard that defines prepress terms used across the graphic technology and printing industry. Part of the ISO 12637 series, this document provides clear, language-neutral definitions for concepts common to digital prepress, colour management, imaging and plate-making. The goal is to harmonize terminology for use in other International Standards, specifications, technical documentation, training and international exchanges.
Key topics and technical scope
This part of ISO 12637 is a terminology standard rather than a prescriptive technical specification. Key topics covered include:
- Colour management and colour spaces: CIE chromaticity, CIELAB, CIELUV, CIEXYZ, colour gamut, colour profile, ICC profile, device-dependent vs device-independent colour spaces, colour encoding and colour rendering.
- Prepress processes and file handling: colour separation, composite/compound entity, assembly, imposition, CtP (computer to plate), digital proof, EPS.
- Imaging and reproduction concepts: bit-mapped images, half-tone and half-tone dots, continuous tone, dot percentage, halftone screening, dot fringe, aliasing, dithering, gamma.
- Quality control and measurement: density, control patch/strip, colour characterization target, colourimeter, characterization and characterized printing condition.
- Colour conversion and optimisation: gamut mapping, grey component replacement (GCR), colour correction, device link profiles.
- Typography and layout: glyph, glyph metrics, font, em/en measures.
- Auxiliary terms: bleed, choke/trapping, control strips, extended gamut.
Definitions are written to avoid language-specific ambiguities and to facilitate translation into multiple languages.
Practical applications and users
ISO 12637-2 is used to:
- Standardize vocabulary in technical standards, tender documents and contracts for print production.
- Improve clarity in colour management workflows (proofing, soft proof, ICC profiles, device characterization).
- Support interoperability among software vendors (RIPs, prepress tools), hardware manufacturers (scanners, platesetters, proofers) and print service providers.
- Serve as a reference for prepress technicians, colour specialists, print production managers, standards authors, translators and educators in graphic technology.
Using consistent terminology reduces miscommunication, streamlines quality control and aids international collaboration.
Related standards
Relevant references and companion documents include:
Keywords: ISO 12637-2, prepress terms, graphic technology vocabulary, colour management, ICC profile, CIELAB, CtP, halftone, bleed, imposition.
