Peruskuvaa

Peruskuvaa is a Finnish term used in media production, design, and digital asset management to refer to the basic or reference image that serves as a standard depiction within a template, layout, or catalog. The word combines perus- meaning base or fundamental and kuva meaning image. In practice, peruskuvaa acts as a placeholder or starting point when a specific image is not yet available, or when a consistent visual baseline is required across multiple items or pages.

Usage and characteristics

A peruskuva is typically selected for its neutral subject matter and simple composition. Common features include even lighting, minimal or plain backgrounds, and a stable aspect ratio that aligns with the layout's grid. The image is used to ensure uniform cropping, color balance, and visual rhythm across a set of pages, products, or sections before final photography or artwork is produced. Peruskuvat are often accompanied by metadata that describes the intended final content, dimensions, and usage restrictions.

Purpose and best practices

The primary purpose of a peruskuvaa is to maintain design consistency and workflow efficiency. It can reduce production delays by providing a ready-made reference while awaiting final imagery. Best practices include labeling peruskuvat clearly as placeholders, ensuring they do not mislead viewers about the content, and replacing them with finalized images once they become available.

Relation to related terms

Peruskuva is related to terms such as mallikuva (template image) and referenssikuva (reference image); all describe images used to guide layout and style, though usage and emphasis may vary by organization.