What is ISO 12635 about?
ISO 12635 specifies dimensions of printing plate which are widely used in offset printing. Plates that are used in computers to plate applications are unprocessed plates where flatness, edge straightness and blur requirements of the plates are also required.
ISO 12635 stipulates dimensional properties like the width, length and thickness of metal lithographic printing plates (referred to hereafter as “plates”).
Who is ISO 12635 for?
ISO 12635 on dimensions for plates used for offset printing is relevant to:
- Graphic technology industry
- Printer and printing plate manufacturers
- Product designers
Why should you use ISO 12635 ?
Dimensional properties of printing plates affect offset printing. The specification for dimensions reduces the multitude of possible formats which simplifies manufacture and communication between plates, press manufacturers and the printer.
Plate sizes mentioned in ISO 12635 helps you in selecting size of the plates for your press and printers in your organization. Having a perfect sized plate can help you in increasing the quality standard of your printers.
ISO 12635 specifies the width, length and thickness of plates which helps you in having the exact required measurements of your plates and aims in preventing any wastage.
Overall, if you are a manufacturer, ISO 12635 can help deliver products that offer high level of accuracy, precision and quality while also avoiding any distortions with regards to transferring image and texts onto surfaces. Moreover, you can build reliability and cater to printing plate needs across various platemaking requirements. Adhering to the standardized dimensions can enhance value, thereby fostering global acceptance for your products and services.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS ISO 12635:2021 supersedes BS ISO 12635:2008, which is withdrawn. The main change is:
- Addition of referred plate sizes.

