ISO 1004-1-2013 PDF

Full title and description

Information processing — Magnetic ink character recognition — Part 1: Print specifications for E13B. This part of ISO 1004 defines the printed form of the E-13B MICR character set (ten numerals plus four special symbols) and gives the print geometry, magnetic signal levels and tolerances required for reliable machine recognition when characters are produced in magnetic ink or toner.

Abstract

ISO 1004-1:2013 specifies the shape, dimensions, magnetic signal level and tolerances for the E‑13B characters used in magnetic ink character recognition (MICR). The document describes known printing defects and other printing considerations and sets permissible tolerances and test requirements to ensure consistent machine readability of E‑13B codelines printed on financial documents and similar media.

General information

• Status: Published.
• Publication date: June 2013 (2013-06).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 35.240.40 (Information processing — Magnetic ink character recognition).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (ISO 1004-1:2013).
• Number of pages: 45 pages.

Scope

ISO 1004-1:2013 is limited to print specifications for the E‑13B MICR character set: it defines character outlines and dimensions, the magnetic signal level and waveform characteristics expected from properly printed characters, permitted tolerances for geometry and placement, and common printing defects and their allowable limits. The standard is intended to ensure interoperability between printed MICR codelines and reading/sorting equipment used in banking and other document-processing applications.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition of the E‑13B character set (digits 0–9 and four special symbols) and nominal character cell geometry.
• Precise dimensions, strokes and positional tolerances for printable glyphs to ensure consistent optical and magnetic readback.
• Magnetic signal level and waveform requirements for characters printed in magnetic ink or with magnetic toner.
• Permitted printing defects and guidance on defects that impair read accuracy (e.g., ink dropout, smearing, partial characters).
• Recommended printing materials and processes, plus calibration/test patterns or procedures for verifying conformance.
• Conformance objectives to support reliable MICR reader/sorter performance in financial processing environments.

Typical use and users

Primary users are banks and payment processors, cheque and deposit slip printers, MICR toner and paper suppliers, equipment manufacturers (readers/sorters and ATMs), and testing/calibration laboratories. The standard is used when printing MICR codelines for cheque clearing, deposit tickets and other financial documents where automated MICR reading is required.

Related standards

Relevant related documents include ISO 1004‑2:2013 (Part 2: print specifications for the CMC‑7 MICR font) and earlier ISO 1004 editions (ISO 1004:1995 was withdrawn and the partized 2013 editions replaced previous single‑document versions). National and industry equivalents such as ANSI/ASC X9 (e.g., ANSI X9.100‑20 series for MICR/print and test specifications) and ABA MICR guidance are also commonly referenced for regional check‑printing and positioning rules.

Keywords

MICR, E‑13B, magnetic ink character recognition, E13B, cheque codeline, magnetic toner, MICR font, print specifications, banking, ANSI X9, CMC7.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 1004-1:2013 is the international print‑specification standard that defines the E‑13B MICR character shapes, dimensions, magnetic signal requirements and tolerances for characters printed in magnetic ink or magnetic toner for machine recognition.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the visual and magnetic properties of E‑13B characters (ten numerals and four special symbols), accepted printing defects, dimensional and placement tolerances, and conformance/testing guidance to ensure reliable reading by MICR equipment.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Banks, payment processors, check and deposit slip printers, MICR equipment manufacturers, toner and substrate suppliers, and conformity test laboratories use the standard to produce and verify MICR‑readable documents.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 1004‑1:2013 is the published partized edition for E‑13B (published June 2013). It supersedes the earlier consolidated ISO 1004 editions (for example ISO 1004:1995) for the E‑13B print specification; users should check for any later amendments or newer editions from ISO or equivalent national bodies for the most recent status.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — ISO 1004 is a multi‑part series addressing MICR print specifications; notable companion parts include ISO 1004‑2:2013 which specifies print requirements for the CMC‑7 MICR font. National/industry documents (ANSI/ASC X9 series, ABA publications) provide complementary positioning and testing guidance in some regions.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: E‑13B, MICR, magnetic ink, magnetic toner, cheque codeline, print tolerances, character geometry, readback signal, ANSI X9, CMC7.