Source Technologies 1352 MICR 40 MICR Check Stock, Quality, Layout, Weight, Stiffness, Smoothness

Section 4: Quality Issues

MICR Check Stock

Check stock has a large impact on the resulting quality and security of your MICR document. Here are a few features that should be considered when selecting a check stock. Please see Chapter 4 for more information on check stock security features.

Quality

Quality MICR check printing with your ST Secure MICR Printer requires check stock that matches the printer’s requirements. Source Technologies can supply paper specifically made for our printers. If you wish to order check stock from other suppliers, please show the following requirements to your sales representative. We will test other suppliers’ paper for a nominal fee.

Layout

Layout your check design before any paper is purchased or layout your design to existing check stock. Keep in mind, perforations, orientation, special logos and any color elements. The printer can print just about anything as long as it is black.

Weight

We recommend 24 lb. - 29 lb. paper.

Stiffness

We recommend taber M.D. 2.5 and C.D. 1.1 minimum.

Smoothness

For best toner fusing, we recommend rougher surfaces within the base printers’ specifications and the Paper Specifications for Checks X9.18. We recommend a smoothness range of 150 to 200 - Sheffield.

Paper Grain Direction

When using 24 lb. - 29 lb. bond paper we generally support either long or short paper grain. Overall performance in the banks reader/sorters is best when the resultant grain direction is left to right when viewing the check.

Perforations

All perforations in the stock should be Micro-Perfs (20 or more cuts per inch). Larger perforations can produce excessive paper chaff and result in damage to the toner cartridge. Perforations should be ironed by the paper supplier to reduce nesting and potential double feeding.

Secure MICR Printer User’s Guide July 2003

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