SIST ISO 12635:2022

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 12635
Third edition
2021-06
Graphic technology — Plates for offset
printing — Dimensions
Technologie graphique — Plaques pour impression offset —
Dimensions
Reference number
©
ISO 2021
© ISO 2021
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 © ISO 2021 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Requirements . 2
4.1 Measurement conditions . . 2
4.2 Plate dimensions . 2
4.3 Rectangularity . 3
4.4 Edge waviness for CtP plates . 3
4.5 Cutting burrs for CtP plates . 3
4.6 Plate edge straightness for CtP plates . 4
Annex A (informative) Test method for edge waviness . 5
Annex B (informative) Test methods for the height of cutting burrs . 7
Annex C (informative) Test method for plate straightness . 9
Annex D (informative) Preferred plate sizes .11
Bibliography .12
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 130, Graphic technology.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 12635:2008), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— referred plate sizes have been introduced.
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 2021 – All rights reserved

Introduction
This document stipulates dimensional properties of printing plates for offset printing. While not all
present plate dimensions will conform to this document, the specifications for dimensions serve as an
effort to reduce the multitude of possible formats to a reasonable level that simplifies manufacture and
communications between plate, platesetter and press manufacturers, and the printer.
In this revision, preferred plate sizes are introduced. These represent the most widely used plate sizes
and should be selected where possible. It is recognised that for some printing work, other sizes are
required.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 12635:2021(E)
Graphic technology — Plates for offset printing —
Dimensions
1 Scope
This document specifies the width, length and thickness of metal lithographic printing plates (referred
to hereafter as “plates”). For plates to be used in computer to plate (CtP) applications, flatness,
edge straightness and burr requirements are also included. These requirements are applicable to
unprocessed plates.
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 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 https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
cutting burr
ridge along the edge of a plate produced by cutting, especially with a blunt knife
3.2
plate width
W
dimension of a printing plate parallel to the cylinder axis (clamping edge)
3.3
plate thickness
s
caliper of a coated plate
3.4
edge waviness
degree to which a plate edge conforms to a measurement plane
3.5
plate edge straightness
maximum deviation of the plate edge parallel to the cylinder axis (clamping edge) from a straight line,
drawn from the corners of the plate
3.6
unprocessed plates
plates as received from the manufacturer
4 Requirements
4.1 Measurement conditions
Measurements shall be conducted when both measurement equipment and plates have reached a
stabilized temperature of 21 °C ± 1 °C.
4.2 Plate dimensions
Commonly used plate widths and heights identified by plate and press manufacturers are specified in
Annex D. When selecting plate width and height, these preferred plate sizes should be used.
Where these plate sizes cannot be used, plates for sheet-fed lithographic use may be of any length, L, or
width, W, but shall be specified in multiples of 5 mm where the last whole number digit is 0 or 5. Plates
for web lithographic use may be of any length or width but shall have their width specified in multiples
of 5 mm where the last whole number digit is 0 or 5 and their length specified in multiples of 2 mm
where the last whole number digit is 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8. These requirements are summarized in Table 1.
Except where preferred plate sizes are being used, the tolerances for length and width shall be as shown
in Table 1, the measurement conditions of 4.1 shall apply.
The preferred thicknesses and their tolerances shall be as shown in Table 2.
Table 1 — Plate widths, lengths and their tolerances
Dimensions in millimetres
Process Width Width tolerance Length Length tolerance
W L
W < 1 500: ±1,0 L < 1 500: ±1,0
Sheet-fed litho-
Last digit 0 or 5 Last digit 0 or 5
graphic offset
W ≥ 1 500: ±1,5 L ≥ 1 500: ±1,5
W < 1 500: ±0,8 L < 1 500: ±0,8
Web lithographic
Last digit 0 or 5 Last digit 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8
offset
W ≥ 1 500: ±1,5 L ≥ 1 500: ±1,5
NOTE Except where otherwise specified by the plate manufacturer, plates for web offset printing have the
machine direction parallel to the length.
Table 2 — Plate thickness
Dimensions in millimetres
Preferred thickness Tolerance
0,100
0,120
0,145
0,190 ±0,010
a
0,230
b
0,270
c
0,280
0,375
±0,015
0,480
a
Plates of this thickness are commonly referred to as “class 0,24 mm plates” in Japan.
b
Plates of this thickness are commonly used in China.
c
Plates of this thickness are commonly referred to as “class 0,3 mm plates”.
2 © ISO 2021 – All rights reserved

4.3 Rectangularity
The length and width tolerances shown in Table 1 are based on a perfectly rectangular plate. Figure 1
shows the nominal dimensions of a plate (solid line) together with rectangles corresponding to the
maximum and minimum allowed size (dashed lines) based on the tolerances of Table 1. The actual
contour of the plate including deviations from rectangularity shall cover the smaller rectangle at all
points but shall not extend beyond the larger rectangle of Figure 1.
Key
1 outer tolerance contour, dashed
2 actual plate contour, dotted
3 nominal plate contour, solid
4 inner tolerance contour, dashed
L length
W width
Figure 1 — Plate contour with tolerance rectangles
4.4 Edge waviness for CtP plates
The plate is placed coated side up on a measurement table, such as a polished stone plate, whose
upper surface conforms to a horizontal plane to within ±0,5 mm. Plate edges with a length of less than
1 200 mm shall have a maximum wave height of 3,0 mm and should have a maximum wave height of
1,5 mm and plate edges with a length of more than 1 200 mm shall have a maximum wave height of
3,0 mm and should have a maximum wave height of 2,5 mm.
NOTE Measurement procedures are given in Annex A.
The edge waviness of non-CTP plates should also meet the requirements of 4.4.
4.5 Cutting burrs for CtP plates
Cutting burrs shall not protrude more than 45 µm and should not protrude more than 30 µm on each
side. Burrs shall be measured on each side and edge of the plate.
NOTE Measurement procedures are given in Annex B.
Non-CtP plates should also meet the requirements of 4.5.
4.6 Plate edge straightness for CtP plates
The plate edge parallel to the cylinder axis (clamping edge) should not deviate from a straight line by
more than 200 µm in an interval of 1 000 mm. Three measurements are taken, one from the left corner
of the plate, one from the right corner and one ±500 mm around the centre of the edge. In case of plate
widths of less than 1 000 mm, only one measurement is taken between the plate corners.
Dimensions in millimetres
Key
1 plate
a
Maximum deviation of 200 µm.
Figure 2 — Plate edge straightness
The plate edge shall not be damaged in any way.
NOTE Measurement procedures are given in Annex C.
4 © ISO 2021 – All rights reserved

Annex A
(informative)
Test method for edge waviness
A.1 Apparatus
A.1.1 Rectangular metal or stone table, with less than 0,5 mm planarity deviation of size that exceeds
that of the largest plate to be evaluated.
A.1.2 Taper gauge, with a thickness range from 0,5 mm to 3,5 mm or height measurement apparatus
according to B.1 or B.2.
A.2 Procedure
A.2.1 Place the entire plate on the table (A.1.1), coated side up.
A.2.2 Determine the height of the lowest parts of the plate surface above the table surface at points
where the plate is in close contact with the table surface.
A.2.3 Determine the difference of the heights of the most prominent bulges or waves (see Figure A.1)
and the height determined in A.2.2. Alternatively, for the most prominent bulges or waves, use a taper
gauge (A.1.2) to determine the width of the gap between the table and the lower plate surfaces, see
Figure A.2.
Key
1 plate
2 measurement table
3 bulge or wave
4 height of bulge o
...

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 12635
Third edition
2021-06
Graphic technology — Plates for offset
printing — Dimensions
Technologie graphique — Plaques pour impression offset —
Dimensions
Reference number
©
ISO 2021
© ISO 2021
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 © ISO 2021 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Requirements . 2
4.1 Measurement conditions . . 2
4.2 Plate dimensions . 2
4.3 Rectangularity . 3
4.4 Edge waviness for CtP plates . 3
4.5 Cutting burrs for CtP plates . 3
4.6 Plate edge straightness for CtP plates . 4
Annex A (informative) Test method for edge waviness . 5
Annex B (informative) Test methods for the height of cutting burrs . 7
Annex C (informative) Test method for plate straightness . 9
Annex D (informative) Preferred plate sizes .11
Bibliography .12
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 130, Graphic technology.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 12635:2008), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— referred plate sizes have been introduced.
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 2021 – All rights reserved

Introduction
This document stipulates dimensional properties of printing plates for offset printing. While not all
present plate dimensions will conform to this document, the specifications for dimensions serve as an
effort to reduce the multitude of possible formats to a reasonable level that simplifies manufacture and
communications between plate, platesetter and press manufacturers, and the printer.
In this revision, preferred plate sizes are introduced. These represent the most widely used plate sizes
and should be selected where possible. It is recognised that for some printing work, other sizes are
required.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 12635:2021(E)
Graphic technology — Plates for offset printing —
Dimensions
1 Scope
This document specifies the width, length and thickness of metal lithographic printing plates (referred
to hereafter as “plates”). For plates to be used in computer to plate (CtP) applications, flatness,
edge straightness and burr requirements are also included. These requirements are applicable to
unprocessed plates.
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 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 https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
cutting burr
ridge along the edge of a plate produced by cutting, especially with a blunt knife
3.2
plate width
W
dimension of a printing plate parallel to the cylinder axis (clamping edge)
3.3
plate thickness
s
caliper of a coated plate
3.4
edge waviness
degree to which a plate edge conforms to a measurement plane
3.5
plate edge straightness
maximum deviation of the plate edge parallel to the cylinder axis (clamping edge) from a straight line,
drawn from the corners of the plate
3.6
unprocessed plates
plates as received from the manufacturer
4 Requirements
4.1 Measurement conditions
Measurements shall be conducted when both measurement equipment and plates have reached a
stabilized temperature of 21 °C ± 1 °C.
4.2 Plate dimensions
Commonly used plate widths and heights identified by plate and press manufacturers are specified in
Annex D. When selecting plate width and height, these preferred plate sizes should be used.
Where these plate sizes cannot be used, plates for sheet-fed lithographic use may be of any length, L, or
width, W, but shall be specified in multiples of 5 mm where the last whole number digit is 0 or 5. Plates
for web lithographic use may be of any length or width but shall have their width specified in multiples
of 5 mm where the last whole number digit is 0 or 5 and their length specified in multiples of 2 mm
where the last whole number digit is 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8. These requirements are summarized in Table 1.
Except where preferred plate sizes are being used, the tolerances for length and width shall be as shown
in Table 1, the measurement conditions of 4.1 shall apply.
The preferred thicknesses and their tolerances shall be as shown in Table 2.
Table 1 — Plate widths, lengths and their tolerances
Dimensions in millimetres
Process Width Width tolerance Length Length tolerance
W L
W < 1 500: ±1,0 L < 1 500: ±1,0
Sheet-fed litho-
Last digit 0 or 5 Last digit 0 or 5
graphic offset
W ≥ 1 500: ±1,5 L ≥ 1 500: ±1,5
W < 1 500: ±0,8 L < 1 500: ±0,8
Web lithographic
Last digit 0 or 5 Last digit 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8
offset
W ≥ 1 500: ±1,5 L ≥ 1 500: ±1,5
NOTE Except where otherwise specified by the plate manufacturer, plates for web offset printing have the
machine direction parallel to the length.
Table 2 — Plate thickness
Dimensions in millimetres
Preferred thickness Tolerance
0,100
0,120
0,145
0,190 ±0,010
a
0,230
b
0,270
c
0,280
0,375
±0,015
0,480
a
Plates of this thickness are commonly referred to as “class 0,24 mm plates” in Japan.
b
Plates of this thickness are commonly used in China.
c
Plates of this thickness are commonly referred to as “class 0,3 mm plates”.
2 © ISO 2021 – All rights reserved

4.3 Rectangularity
The length and width tolerances shown in Table 1 are based on a perfectly rectangular plate. Figure 1
shows the nominal dimensions of a plate (solid line) together with rectangles corresponding to the
maximum and minimum allowed size (dashed lines) based on the tolerances of Table 1. The actual
contour of the plate including deviations from rectangularity shall cover the smaller rectangle at all
points but shall not extend beyond the larger rectangle of Figure 1.
Key
1 outer tolerance contour, dashed
2 actual plate contour, dotted
3 nominal plate contour, solid
4 inner tolerance contour, dashed
L length
W width
Figure 1 — Plate contour with tolerance rectangles
4.4 Edge waviness for CtP plates
The plate is placed coated side up on a measurement table, such as a polished stone plate, whose
upper surface conforms to a horizontal plane to within ±0,5 mm. Plate edges with a length of less than
1 200 mm shall have a maximum wave height of 3,0 mm and should have a maximum wave height of
1,5 mm and plate edges with a length of more than 1 200 mm shall have a maximum wave height of
3,0 mm and should have a maximum wave height of 2,5 mm.
NOTE Measurement procedures are given in Annex A.
The edge waviness of non-CTP plates should also meet the requirements of 4.4.
4.5 Cutting burrs for CtP plates
Cutting burrs shall not protrude more than 45 µm and should not protrude more than 30 µm on each
side. Burrs shall be measured on each side and edge of the plate.
NOTE Measurement procedures are given in Annex B.
Non-CtP plates should also meet the requirements of 4.5.
4.6 Plate edge straightness for CtP plates
The plate edge parallel to the cylinder axis (clamping edge) should not deviate from a straight line by
more than 200 µm in an interval of 1 000 mm. Three measurements are taken, one from the left corner
of the plate, one from the right corner and one ±500 mm around the centre of the edge. In case of plate
widths of less than 1 000 mm, only one measurement is taken between the plate corners.
Dimensions in millimetres
Key
1 plate
a
Maximum deviation of 200 µm.
Figure 2 — Plate edge straightness
The plate edge shall not be damaged in any way.
NOTE Measurement procedures are given in Annex C.
4 © ISO 2021 – All rights reserved

Annex A
(informative)
Test method for edge waviness
A.1 Apparatus
A.1.1 Rectangular metal or stone table, with less than 0,5 mm planarity deviation of size that exceeds
that of the largest plate to be evaluated.
A.1.2 Taper gauge, with a thickness range from 0,5 mm to 3,5 mm or height measurement apparatus
according to B.1 or B.2.
A.2 Procedure
A.2.1 Place the entire plate on the table (A.1.1), coated side up.
A.2.2 Determine the height of the lowest parts of the plate surface above the table surface at points
where the plate is in close contact with the table surface.
A.2.3 Determine the difference of the heights of the most prominent bulges or waves (see Figure A.1)
and the height determined in A.2.2. Alternatively, for the most prominent bulges or waves, use a taper
gauge (A.1.2) to determine the width of the gap between the table and the lower plate surfaces, see
Figure A.2.
Key
1 plate
2 measurement table
3 bulge or wave
4 height of bulge o
...