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can also use forms with such a background color with low saturation. In this case you should find the
proper color and it’s saturation manually, depending on the scanner model used.
proper color and it’s saturation manually, depending on the scanner model used.
Choosing the form color
Red-orange colors are preferable to green as a form color. This is because it represents the greatest possible contrast
to blue, and consequently results in enhanced scanning and recognition quality if the forms are completed using blue
ink.
Appendix III lists the recommended colors for form processing i.e. those most likely to disappear during scanning
with almost any scanner.. A “dropout” color list for a particular scanner (in Pantone or any other format) can also be
obtained from your scanner manufacturer/dealer.
It is up to you which color you choose, however, keep in mind that the form color chosen should be pleasant for
those required to complete it.
Red-orange colors are preferable to green as a form color. This is because it represents the greatest possible contrast
to blue, and consequently results in enhanced scanning and recognition quality if the forms are completed using blue
ink.
Appendix III lists the recommended colors for form processing i.e. those most likely to disappear during scanning
with almost any scanner.. A “dropout” color list for a particular scanner (in Pantone or any other format) can also be
obtained from your scanner manufacturer/dealer.
It is up to you which color you choose, however, keep in mind that the form color chosen should be pleasant for
those required to complete it.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
Drawing field borders on a color background form results in the highest possible recognition quality because:
1. Only the text image is subject to recognition; all garbage and field borders are removed.
2. Letters/digits overlapping field borders is less of a problem, as the borders themselves are simply
2. Letters/digits overlapping field borders is less of a problem, as the borders themselves are simply
backgrounds which drop out during scanning, leaving only the field contents for recognition.
3. Printing explanatory information in the same color as the background increases recognition quality, as the
information “drops out” from the form image during scanning, and, consequently, does not interfere with
field contents.
field contents.
4. Printing explanatory information in the same color as the background saves disk space, as the form image
file is smaller; and form processing speed increases.
Disadvantages
1. Creating a color form is complicated. A graphics editor is needed, and color forms have to be printed either
professionally or by using a color Xerox machine. Note that Xerox machines do not guarantee identical
field locations nor can black/color levels be altered.
field locations nor can black/color levels be altered.
2. Printing explanatory information in the same color as the form background reduces form readability
significantly, as the contrast between background and explanatory text is poor. This can lead to incorrect
form completion.
form completion.
Gray forms
Gray forms are a subclass of color dropout forms. Gray forms are those with a shade of gray as a background color,
which again disappears during scanning. A gray background is achieved by printing the field borders in black using
the following parameters:
Gray forms are a subclass of color dropout forms. Gray forms are those with a shade of gray as a background color,
which again disappears during scanning. A gray background is achieved by printing the field borders in black using
the following parameters:
•
saturation of no more than 10%,
•
RGB parameters of 222,221,221
The resulting color is light gray due to low color saturation (i.e. black dots are rarefied).
Both field border variants depicted below may be used:
Both field border variants depicted below may be used:
(a)
(b)
Scanning
Forms may be scanned using any white lamp scanner. However, in order for the background to drop out, the correct
scanning parameters (contrast and brightness) must be chosen. If the brightness is very low and the contrast is very
high, the gray background may still remain on the image after scanning. The scanning parameters must be set
individually for each scanner.
Forms may be scanned using any white lamp scanner. However, in order for the background to drop out, the correct
scanning parameters (contrast and brightness) must be chosen. If the brightness is very low and the contrast is very
high, the gray background may still remain on the image after scanning. The scanning parameters must be set
individually for each scanner.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
1. The forms are very easy to develop using any graphics editor or word processing application e.g. MS
Word. See: "Developing forms using Microsoft Word" (Page 22).
Disadvantages
1. Scanning parameters (brightness and contrast) can only be altered to a slight degree. This can prove
problematic when scanning forms completed using a very light ink, as decreasing brightness to increase