Signal level: All MICR characters must be within 50-200%
nominal.
Character to character spacing: Nominal character-to-character
spacing tolerance is 0.125. The minimum and maximum
spacing tolerance is + or - 0.010.
Document format: Amount field 1-12 contains amount of check
and is a fixed field. Onus field 14-31 content determined
by individual bank, generally contains account number, and
may optionally extend to include position #32. Transit field
33-43 is a fixed field contains the financial institution
information where the check will be drawn on. Aux-On-Us field
45-65 content determined by individual bank generally contains
numbering, transaction codes, and other internal codes, may
optionally begin at position 46 or higher. The maximum format
tolerance for all fields is 1/16 from right to left.
Voids: The maximum tolerance for a void within a MICR is
0.008 for a single stroke width, 0.010 for a double
width.
Extraneous ink: Spots are permissible provided that they
are under 0.003 no more than one spot per character
position, no more than five spots per field. Any spots that
measure over 0.004 maximum are not permissible.
Character stroke width: The nominal stroke width tolerance
is 0.013 the maximum stroke width tolerance is 0.015.
The minimum stroke width tolerance is 0.011.
Check sizes length & width: The minimum length of a check
is 6.00 inches; the maximum length of a check is 8.75 inches.
The minimum width of a check is 2.75 inches and the maximum
width of a check is 3.66 inches.
The 5/8 MICR clear band: The entire clear band must
be free of all printing with the exception of the MICR characters;
unless otherwise stated by the financial institution. The
MICR characters must be printed within the ¼
encoding band area.
Debossment: All MICR characters must not exceed the maximum
tolerance of 0.001. Please note: the only way to measure
debossment is to run your index finger and thumb along the
back of a document behind the MICR line area; if the back
of this area feels like brail then the debossment is to excessive.
This type of print quality error usually occurs when documents
are printed using a letterpress or numbering machine where
the hammer energy is set to tightly.
Embossment: All MICR characters must not exceed the maximum
tolerance of 0.003. Please note: the only way to measure
embossment is by laying the document on a flat surface and
running your finger along the MICR line; if it feels like
brail it is to excessive. This type of print quality error
occurs when using a Xerography printing method and setting
the toner density level to high; trying to achieve a higher
signal level within the MICR characters.
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