abbyy-software formreader User Guide
Requirements for geometric field parameters
Raster dot size
If the field borders are raster dots, the thickness of the raster line (i.e. the raster size) must be 0.4 pt. The optimal
distance between the raster dots is five times their size. However, if you have an editor that does not allow you to
specify the distance between each raster dot, you must choose a line style which has dots located at sufficient
distance from each other to prevent them from becoming glued together on the scanned image, and from remaining
on the image after image despeckling, as big dots are not interpreted by the OCR system as garbage and are not
cleaned from the image during despeckling.
Note. The dots most liable to be glued together are character space corner dots.
If the field borders are raster dots, the thickness of the raster line (i.e. the raster size) must be 0.4 pt. The optimal
distance between the raster dots is five times their size. However, if you have an editor that does not allow you to
specify the distance between each raster dot, you must choose a line style which has dots located at sufficient
distance from each other to prevent them from becoming glued together on the scanned image, and from remaining
on the image after image despeckling, as big dots are not interpreted by the OCR system as garbage and are not
cleaned from the image during despeckling.
Note. The dots most liable to be glued together are character space corner dots.
Character space size
The recommended size of character space is 4 х 5 mm; the use of smaller sizes requires a greater degree of accuracy
from those completing the form, and this is very difficult to achieve. Large character spaces are also not advisable as
this encourages the use of abnormally large letters. Ideally the character space size should reflect the average letter
size.
The distance between field lines should be no less than 2.5 – 3 mm, and the distance between two adjacent character
spaces in the same line no less than 1-1.2 mm.
These requirements apply to all form types.
The recommended size of character space is 4 х 5 mm; the use of smaller sizes requires a greater degree of accuracy
from those completing the form, and this is very difficult to achieve. Large character spaces are also not advisable as
this encourages the use of abnormally large letters. Ideally the character space size should reflect the average letter
size.
The distance between field lines should be no less than 2.5 – 3 mm, and the distance between two adjacent character
spaces in the same line no less than 1-1.2 mm.
These requirements apply to all form types.
Line thickness
If the borders are black lines (“underlined text”, “text in a frame”, “letters in separate frames” or “letters in frames”),
the line thickness should be 1 pt.
If the borders are black lines (“underlined text”, “text in a frame”, “letters in separate frames” or “letters in frames”),
the line thickness should be 1 pt.
If the borders are comb-notches or frames with comb-notches, the thickness of both the notches and frame should
also be 1 pt. The recommended distance between the notches in a single form field is 5 mm. In the case of a simple
comb-notch, the distance between two lines with notches should be no less than 7.5 – 8 mm, with notch height
around 0.9 – 1.2 mm. If a frame with comb-notches is used, the minimum distance between field lines should be 2.5
- 3 mm.
also be 1 pt. The recommended distance between the notches in a single form field is 5 mm. In the case of a simple
comb-notch, the distance between two lines with notches should be no less than 7.5 – 8 mm, with notch height
around 0.9 – 1.2 mm. If a frame with comb-notches is used, the minimum distance between field lines should be 2.5
- 3 mm.
Print quality requirements
When you print blank forms, keep in mind the following requirements:
1. The forms must be printed either professionally or using a printer. We recommend that color forms be printed
When you print blank forms, keep in mind the following requirements:
1. The forms must be printed either professionally or using a printer. We recommend that color forms be printed
professionally. If this is impossible, test the form color on a scanner before starting your print run.
2. All the copies of the form must be printed using the same source document, as the field location on each form
must be identical.
3. The minimum margin size (i.e. the distance between the edge of the page and the nearest form element) should
be at least 8 mm (12 mm margins are recommended).
4. The permitted linear deviation of form elements must be no more than 0.15% ( i.e. 0.5 mm for an А4-size
page).