Overview
ISO/TR 12231-2:2022 - "Photography - Electronic still picture imaging terminology - Part 2: Other defined terms" is a Technical Report from ISO/TC 42 that compiles a consolidated list of terminology used across ISO standards, technical specifications and technical reports relevant to electronic still-picture imaging. Rather than defining terms itself, this TR maps terms to their original definition sources so users can find authoritative definitions across the ISO 12231 series and related ISO/TC 42 publications. It is intended to be used together with the listed definition sources and online terminological resources (ISO OBP, IEC Electropedia).
Key topics and technical scope
- Terminology consolidation: A comprehensive table (Table 1) listing electronic still-picture imaging terms and the ISO documents that define them.
- Scope and structure: Includes Scope, Normative references (none), Terms and definitions (none defined here), the term-to-source mapping, introduction, bibliography and foreword.
- Cross-referenced concepts: Covers a wide range of imaging vocabulary such as colour spaces, OECF (opto‑electronic conversion function), image sensor, MTF/OTF, noise, image quality, metadata, image compression, exposure index, image stabilization, and more - with each term linked to its originating ISO standard (for example ISO 12233, ISO 12232, ISO 22028, ISO 15739, ISO 14524).
- Standards governance note: First edition (2022) supersedes ISO 12231:2012 when used alongside ISO 12231-1:2020; it centralizes terms maintained by ISO/TC 42 working groups.
Practical applications and users
- Standards writers and technical committees: Ensures consistent vocabulary across new ISO/TC 42 standards and revisions.
- Product designers and manufacturers (cameras, sensors, scanners, imaging software): Use the TR to align device specifications, test methods and manuals with authoritative ISO terminology.
- Test labs and QA teams: Map test reports and measurement procedures to standardized terms to improve repeatability and traceability.
- Software and colour-management engineers: Reference exact definitions for colour encoding, ICC profiles, gamut mapping and image-state terminology.
- Educators, translators and technical authors: Maintain consistent, internationally accepted terminology in documentation and training.
- Procurement and compliance: Use consistent term references when specifying requirements or verifying conformity.
Related standards
Using ISO/TR 12231-2:2022 helps teams across digital imaging, photography, camera manufacturing and colour-management ecosystems maintain consistent, searchable and interoperable terminology - essential for accurate specifications, testing, documentation and international collaboration.