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Using a MICR Gauge
The following measurements are made by positioning
the document in the gauge so that its bottom and right edges
align with the bottom and right edges of the gauge.
- MICR CLEAR BAND: This area, extending the length of
the document and 0.625" (1.59 cm) upward from the bottom
aligning edge must be free of all magnetic ink other than
E13-B information.
- MICR ENCODING BAND: The MICR characters should be printed
in the encoding band located centrally within the clear
band. Positions #1 through #65 locate the position of the
fields as well as the individual characters and symbols
within those fields. The AMOUNT FIELD must begin at position
#1 and stop at position #12 and the TRANSIT FIELD must begin
at position #33 and stop at position #43 unless a floating
field is required, +/- 0.0625" (0.16cm). Both the ON
US and AUXILIARY ON US FIELDS are floating fields and may
begin and end anywhere within their respective boundaries.
The EXTERNAL PROCESSING CODE field (EPC), is located between
the transit field and the auxiliary on us field. In all
cases field location and content as supplied by the financial
institution must be followed.
CPA 006 update 06/30/06: The new allowance for the maximum
number of characters in the serial number field is twelve
(12) digits and two (2) on-us symbols. This field must now
end in position 58. PLEASE NOTE: positions 63, 64, & 65
are not to be occupied (U.S ONLY).
- OPTICAL CLEAR BAND: This area, surrounding the MICR encoding
band and extending the length of the document, must be free
of all background printing exceeding the optical specification
of 0.30 Print Contrast Signal (PCS). Refer to the specifications
for related border allowances.
- CONVENIENCE AMOUNT SCAN AREA (CASA): This rectangle contains
the convenience amount clear area (CACA) and the convenience
amount rectangle (CAR). Refer to the specifications for
related position and size variations.
- HORIZONTAL CHARACTER TO CHARACTER SPACING: Within individual
fields all characters must have their right edges touching
the right edges of the rectangular boxes they are located
in, 0.125" (0.317 cm) +/- 0.010" (0.025 cm), right
edge to right edge. The document may be shifted horizontally
to positions #14 and #15 where suspect spacing errors may
be measured.
- CHARACTER SKEW: Position the document horizontally so
that the suspect character is in position #54 or #55. If
the character is tilted to the extent that it falls outside
of either slanted line the vertical character skew specification
of 1.5 degrees has been exceeded.
The following measurements require moving the document
to different areas of the gauge.
- LINE SKEW: Position the document so that the top edges
of the MICR characters, excluding the dash and on us symbols,
touch the solid horizontal line marking the upper boundary
of the clear band. The bottom edge of the document will
then bisect the vertical scales, marked in 0.5 degree increments,
located at positions #6 and #46. The difference in readings
between the two scales is the degree of line skew, the maximum
line skew is 1.5 degrees.
- MICR FONT - NOMINAL SIZE: Position the character under
the matching character and if it fits inside the inner dashed
outline it is too narrow/short and if outside the outer
dashed outline it is too wide/high.
- DIMENSION GRID: This grid is composed of 0.010"
x 0.010" (0.025 x 0.025 cm) squares with adjacent channels
measuring 0.003" (0.007 cm). MICR characters are composed
of 0.013" (0.033 cm) horizontal and vertical zones;
to measure the stroke width of the character "0"
align it under the grid. If a stroke covers a row of squares
and its edges bisect both adjacent channels the width of
that stroke is 0.010" + 2 x 0.0015" = 0.013"
(0.025 cm + 2 x 0.004 cm = 0.033 cm). If the edges just
fill the squares the stroke is at the minimum permissible
width, if the edges fill adjacent channels the stroke is
at the maximum permissible width. To measure the overall
dimension of any character and again using the "0"
as an example , note it is 7 zones wide and 9 zones high,
meeting the specifications for the width and height of a
"0".
- VOIDS: Position the document so the void is contained
within one of the voids/extraneous ink squares. Refer to
the specifications for related size variations.
- EXTRANEUS INK: Position the document so the spot is contained
within one of the voids/extraneous ink squares. Refer to
the specifications for related size variations.
- VERTICAL CHARACTER TO CHARACTER ALIGNMENT: Position the
document so the field to be measured is located over the
correct country area. The bottom edges of the characters
must be contained within the dashed boundary lines above
and below the solid base line.
- DOCUMENT DIMENSIONS: The maximum/minimum length and width
are illustrated along the top edge with dimensional differences
between U.S., Canada and foreign illustrated. The tolerance
is +/- 0.062" (0.157 cm) except for the trailing edge
where dimensions are required minimums.
Please see the Layout
Gauge page for a full description and key benefits
of our gauge.
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