ISO/IEC 7811-1:2014

Identification cards — Recording technique — Part 1: Embossing

ISO/IEC 7811-1:2014 is one of a series of International Standards describing the parameters for identification cards as defined in the definitions clause and the use of such cards for international interchange. It specifies requirements for embossed characters on identification cards. The embossed characters are intended for transfer of data either by use of imprinters or by visual or machine reading. It takes into consideration both human and machine aspects and states minimum requirements. It is the purpose of ISO/IEC 7811-1:2014 to provide criteria to which cards shall perform. No consideration is given to the amount of use, if any, experienced by the card prior to test. Failure to conform to specified criteria should be negotiated between the involved parties. ISO/IEC 10373 1 specifies the test procedures used to check cards against the parameters specified in ISO/IEC 7811-1:2014.

Cartes d'identification — Technique d'enregistrement — Partie 1: Estampage

General Information

• Status: Withdrawn
• Publication Date: 24-Aug-2014
• Withdrawal Date: 24-Aug-2014
• ICS: 35.240.15 - Identification cards. Chip cards. Biometrics
• Technical Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 17 - Cards and security devices for personal identification
• Drafting Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 17/WG 1 - Physical characteristics and test methods for ID-cards
• Current Stage: 9599 - Withdrawal of International Standard
• Completion Date: 07-Aug-2018

Relations

• Revised: ISO/IEC 7811-1:2018 - Identification cards — Recording technique — Part 1: Embossing
• Effective Date: 29-Apr-2017
• Revises: ISO/IEC 7811-1:2002 - Identification cards — Recording technique — Part 1: Embossing
• Effective Date: 10-May-2012

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 7811-1
Fourth edition
2014-09-01
Identification cards — Recording
technique —
Part 1:
Embossing
Cartes d’identification — Technique d’enregistrement —
Partie 1: Estampage
Reference number
ISO/IEC 7811-1:2014(E)
©
ISO/IEC 2014

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ISO/IEC 7811-1:2014(E)

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT
© ISO/IEC 2014
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior
written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of
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Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO/IEC 2014 – All rights reserved

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ISO/IEC 7811-1:2014(E)

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope .1
2 Conformance .1
3 Normative references .1
4 Terms and definitions . 2
5 Card characteristics . 2
5.1 Card warpage . 2
5.2 Surface distortions . 2
5.3 Card width and height . 3
6 Machine readable characters .3
6.1 Character set and type font . 3
6.2 Character spacing . 4
6.3 Character height. 4
6.4 Relief height of embossed characters . 4
7 Visually readable characters. 4
7.1 Character set and type font . 4
7.2 Character spacing . 4
7.3 Relief height of embossed characters . 4
8 Assigned embossing areas .5
8.1 Identification number line . 6
8.2 Name and address area . 6
Annex A (informative) Pictorial representation of numeric data .7
Annex B (normative) 7 B Print specifications .8
Annex C (informative) Impact resistance test .20
Annex D (normative) Embossing with contactless integrated circuit cards .22
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ISO/IEC 7811-1:2014(E)

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are
members of ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical
committees established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical
activity. ISO and IEC technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the
work. In the field of information technology, ISO and IEC have established a joint technical committee,
ISO/IEC JTC 1.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for
the different types of document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject
of patent rights. ISO and IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Details of any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction
and/or on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity
assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the WTO principles in the Technical Barriers
to Trade (TBT) see the following URL: Foreword - Supplementary information
The committee responsible for this document is Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information
technology, SC 17, Cards and personal identification.
This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition (ISO/IEC 7811-1:2002), which has been
technically revised. Major changes from the first edition are as follows:
— Annex D added to define the minimum spacing from embossing and IC components.
— Title of Clause 6 was changed to avoid confusion. Formerly, the title was “Visually and machine
readable characters” which could be interpreted to include characters in the following clause.
Reference in Table 1 was also changed.
ISO/IEC 7811 consists of the following parts, under the general title Identification cards — Recording
technique:
— Part 1: Embossing
— Part 2: Magnetic stripe — Low coercivity
— Part 6: Magnetic stripe — High coercivity
— Part 7: Magnetic stripe — High coercivity, high density
— Part 8: Magnetic stripe — Coercivity of 51,7 kA/m (650 Oe)
— Part 9: Tactile identifier mark
Notes in this part of ISO/IEC 7811 are only used for giving additional information intended to assist in
the understanding or use of the standard and do not contain provisions or requirements to which it is
necessary to conform in order to be able to claim compliance to this part of ISO/IEC 7811.
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 7811-1:2014(E)
Identification cards — Recording technique —
Part 1:
Embossing
1 Scope
This part of ISO/IEC 7811 is one of a series of International Standards describing the parameters for
identification cards as defined in the definitions clause and the use of such cards for international
interchange.
This part of ISO/IEC 7811 specifies requirements for embossed characters on identification cards.
The embossed characters are intended for transfer of data either by use of imprinters or by visual or
machine reading. It takes into consideration both human and machine aspects and states minimum
requirements.
It is the purpose of this International Standards to provide criteria to which cards shall perform. No
consideration is given within these International Standards to the amount of use, if any, experienced by
the card prior to test. Failure to conform to specified criteria should be negotiated between the involved
parties.
ISO/IEC 10373-1 specifies the test procedures used to check cards against the parameters specified in
this part of ISO/IEC 7811.
NOTE 1 Numeric values in the SI and/or Imperial measurement system in this part of ISO/IEC 7811 might
have been rounded off and therefore are consistent with, but not exactly equal to, each other. Either system can
be used, but the two is not intended to be intermixed or reconverted. The original design was made using the
Imperial measurement system
NOTE 2 TIM (Tactile Identifier Mark) defined by ISO/IEC 7811-9 can be located in the name and address area
of this part of ISO/IEC 7811. The layout of embossed characters in this area is not intended to interfere with TIM.
2 Conformance
A prerequisite for conformance with this part of ISO/IEC 7811 is conformance with ISO/IEC 7810 for
the ID-1 size card. An identification card is in conformance with this part of ISO/IEC 7811 if it meets all
mandatory requirements specified herein. Default values apply if no others are specified.
3 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 1831, Printing specifications for optical character recognition
ISO/IEC 1073-1, Alphanumeric character sets for optical recognition − Part 1: Character set OCR-A−Shapes
and dimensions of the printed image
ISO/IEC 1073-2, Alphanumeric character sets for optical recognition− Part 2: Character set OCR-B−Shapes
and dimensions of the printed image
ISO/IEC 7810, Identification cards — Physical characteristics
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ISO/IEC 7811-1:2014(E)

ISO/IEC 7811-9, Identification cards — Recording technique — Part 9: Tactile identifier mark
ISO/IEC 7812-1, Identification cards — Identification of issuers — Part 1: Numbering system
ISO/IEC 7812-2, Identification cards — Identification of issuers — Part 2: Application and registration
procedures
ISO/IEC 10373-1, Identification cards — Test methods — Part 1: General characteristics
4 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO/IEC 7810 and the following
apply.
4.1
embossing
to raise characters in relief from the front surface of the card
4.2
unused card
card which has been embossed with all the characters required for its intended purpose but has not
been issued
4.3
returned card
embossed card after it has been issued to the card holder and returned for the purpose of testing
4.4
identification number
number that identifies the card holder
5 Card characteristics
Special attention shall be paid to the characteristics of the material affecting its suitability for this
purpose, particularly in respect to its ability to resist crushing and collapsing of the embossed parts
when operating in imprinters.
Cards shall be made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and/or PVCA (vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer)
or materials having equal or better performance such as polyesters, polyethylenes and polycarbonates.
NOTE Refer to machine manufacturer instructions regarding card construction requirements for achieving
embossed character relief heights in compliance with this part of ISO/IEC 7811. At the time of publication there
was no agreed on test method for verifying the suitability of card structures for embossing. See Informative
Annex C.
5.1 Card warpage
When lying convex side up on a flat rigid surface, the maximum distance from the flat surface to any
non-embossed portion of the convex side of an embossed card immediately prior to issue shall not be
greater than 2,5 mm (0.10 in) including the card thickness.
NOTE The amount of card warpage depends on the card material and the embossing technique used.
5.2 Surface distortions
No raised area shall exceed 0,51 mm (0.020 in) on the front of the card in the area A as shown in Figure 1.
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ISO/IEC 7811-1:2014(E)

Dimensions in millimetres (inches)
fron t of ca rd
to p re fe re nce edge
24,03
(0 ,946)
height
Ar ea
A
2,54
(0 ,100)
width
Width Height
maximumminimum maximumminimum
85,90 (3,382)85,47 (3,365)54,18 (2,133)53,92 (2,123)
Figure 1 — Embossed card dimensions
5.3 Card width and height
All points on the edges of the embossed card in the finished state, except for the rounded corners, shall
fall between two concentric, similarly aligned rectangles as defined in Figure 1 for maximum height and
width, and minimum height and width.
NOTE 1 Card width and height tolerances given here are different than those in ISO/IEC 7810 to account for
changes in card size due to embossing.
NOTE 2 All identification card standards use the top edge of the card as the reference edge for dimensions,
except for this embossing standard which, for historical reasons, uses the bottom edge of the card as the reference.
6 Machine readable characters
6.1 Character set and type font
The numeric characters of one of the following type fonts shall be used for embossed characters intended
for machine reading, either directly from the card or from card imprints (see Annex A):
— ISO/IEC 1073-1, OCR-A, Sizes I and IV;
— ISO/IEC 1073-2, OCR-B, Sizes I and IV;
— Type font Farrington 7B as described in Annex B.
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ISO/IEC 7811-1:2014(E)

NOTE To ensure system compatibility in the choice of font, the attention of intending users is drawn to the
necessity of agreement with their potential interchange partners.
Print specifications are given in ISO 1831.
6.2 Character spacing
The centreline to centreline character spacing shall be 3,63 mm ± 0,15 mm (0,143 in ± 0,006 in).
6.3 Character height
Maximum height at the printing surface of the embossed characters, encompassing centreline skew, and
character misalignment shall be 4,32 mm (0.170 in).
6.4 Relief height of embossed characters
Relief height of imprinting character surfaces above the card surface as measured from the non-
embossed surface of the card to the highest point on the embossed character is shown in Table 1 for
unused cards and for returned cards.
7 Visually readable characters
7.1 Character set and type font
A type font such as the alphanumeric, upper case characters described in ISO/IEC 1073-2, OCR-B, Size
I, should be used for embossed characters intended for visually reading directly from the card or from
card imprints.
7.2 Character spacing
The centreline to centreline character spacing shall be 2,54 mm ± 0,15 mm (0,100 in ± 0,006 in).
7.3 Relief height of embossed characters
Relief height of imprinting character surfaces above the card surface as measured from the non-
embossed surface of the card to the highest point on the embossed character is shown in Table 1 for
unused cards and for returned cards.
Table 1 — Relief height of embossed characters
Dimensions in millimetres (inches)
Type of card Machine readable characters Visually readable characters
Maximum Minimum Maximum Minimum
Unused card 0,48 0,40 0,46 0,36
(0,019) (0,016) (0,018) (0,014)
Returned cards 0,48 0,30 0,46 0,26
(0,019) (0,012) (0,018) (0,010)
NOTE Values in the table show only the limits within which cards will function normally, and do not imply
any guarantee of relief height during the valid term for issued cards.
4 © ISO/IEC 2014 – All rights reserved

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