Nehlig, Ph. W.Duce, D. A.2014-10-212014-10-2119941467-8659https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8659.1330381This paper describes an approach to the formal definition of the design primitive introduced in the revision of the ISO/IEC computer graphics standard, GKS. The paper starts with a general description of the design primitive and then describes the specification (which is given in the Z notation) and the motivation for the approach taken in some detail. The paper concludes with a reflection on the contribution of this work, and the descriptive style adopted an the GKS revision, to the role of formal description in the presentation of graphics standards.10.1111/1467-8659.1330381381-392