If you company needs to order custom blank laser checks that feature company logo, color scheme and have multiple security features, you need to know options that make paper secure and fraud resistant. You may also work for a business that sells checks to other companies, offering security features, color combinations, sizes and formats. This custom blank laser checks guide will help you to identify the best

1. Is your company looking to order custom laser checks with company logo, color scheme and multiple security features?
Or are you in the business of selling checks to companies, offering different features, color combinations, sizes and formats?
In any case this laser check paper guide will help you identify the best solution for your business
or valuable service to your customers, both US and international.
Quantity of laser checks
The first thing that we ask our clients is the check volume: how many checks do they print on a
yearly, monthly or weekly basis. This helps to determine the optimal order amount. Most
printing plants will charge a large amount of money based on per-check basis when the
quantity is low. The price goes down significantly when the laser check order reaches above
7,500 – 10,000 pieces.
Paper size.
Custom laser check stock can come in 8-1/2″ x 11″ standard size or 8-1/2″ x 14″ legal size.
Paper weight.
The standard weight for laser checks is 24#. Sometimes due to the special toner grip coating, the paper weights close to 25#.
Visible and Invisible Fibers
Visible fibers are randomly embedded within the paper stock on both sides to make duplication difficult. They can be seen with
the naked eye and sometimes referred to as “hairy paper”.
Invisible fibers fluoresce under the UV black light. They provide
authentication for the custom laser checks that cannot be duplicated by
electronic publishing techniques. They cannot be scanned or
photocopied and that makes them fraud resistant.
Watermark: true / artificial
True watermark is considered one of the highest levels of laser check security available. It is created during the printing process
by embedding security images in the paper. The images can be viewed when holding documents against the light source.
Artificial watermark is applied after the paper manufacturing process. It can be applied by the paper manufacturer or by the
printer. The cost of the paper with artificial watermark is usually less expensive than the same paper with true watermark.
Artificial watermark can be seen from one side only at an angle and is usually applied at the back on the check. Another name
for the artificial watermark is ghost printing technique. The image is printed in opaque white ink or transparent ink.
Color process.
The cost of checks will vary depending on how many colors are used to print custom laser checks. It may be 2, 3 or 4 color
process. When printing logo it is important to have vector EPS files and color separated artwork, so the graphics have good
quality.
Back Printing.
Checks may come with the endorsement on the back or without. There are many country specific regulations that cover the
backer / endorsement sections. For example, for Canadian checks the Canadian Payment Association specifies three elements
that must be printed on the back of cheques:

2. 1) teller stamp box with the phrase “Teller Stamp Here”
2) endorsement line with the phrase “Endorsement – Signature or Stamp” below it
3) the Verification Phrase (“BACK/VERSO”; “VERSO/BACK”; “BACK/ENDOS”; “ENDOS/BACK”; “BACK” or “VERSO”).
Pantograph
In security check printing, void pantograph refers to a method of making
copy-evident and tamper-resistant patterns in the background of a
document. It is also referred to as a hidden message technology, VOID
pantograph or VOID background.
Normally these are invisible to an eye, but when copied or scanned they
show “VOID” , “NULL”, “UNAUTHORIZED COPY”, “COPY”.
The signature area and amount line can be printed with pantographs that
are different from background of the check. Copier’s density settings
produce various VOIDs in different parts of the check.
Perforations.
It is important to find out how many perforations are needed on a check. What is the position of perforations; how many checks
per page and what is the location of the check (top, middle, bottom)? The requirements may vary depending on the country
where checks will be used. Usually banks can provide this information in details.
Some standard perforations are noted in the chart below:
Perforations can be vertical, horizontal or partial.
Micro-printing.
Micro-printing is used to print recognizable patterns on checks that require magnification to be read. To a naked eye the
characters may appear as a solid line. When someone tries to photocopy or scan the image, the micro-printed line appears as
dotted or solid line because reproduction machine is not able to read or recreate the pattern. The technique adds security
features to the company checks. Some digital fonts known as microtext are designed specifically for the purpose of micro-

3. printing. You can customize micro-printed information on custom laser checks. They can ready the name of your company, the
words like “ORIGINAL DOCUMENT”, “MICROPRINT SECURITY”, “AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE” as well as actual check amount.
The letters MP next to the signature line of the check represent micro-print warning that the item employs micro printing
technology.
Numbering.
Arabic numbering in front of the check is used to print the check numbers. The position may vary depending on the check
printing software used but check number is usually located in the top right corner of the check.
Control number in the back of the check. Some companies are required to have pre-printed control numbers on the back of each
check that is used for inventory purposes according to internal policy. When a new check stock is received, the company
management needs to verify the first and the last stock control numbers.
MICR Printing.
MICR that stands for Magnetic Ink Character Recognition makes the MICR line in the bottom of the check. The characters in
the MICR line provide information about the account the check is drawn on as well as check number.
The routing number consisting of nine digits, is the first set of numbers in the MICR line. Every bank has its own routing number
and by looking at the check you can identify the bank that hosts the account the check is made from. The routing number in the
MICR line is surrounded by two identical symbols that look like this: "|:" — a vertical line followed by a colon.
The second set of numbers in the MICR line represents the account number of the business or individual that issued the check.
Account number can comprise of any number of digits starting from 5. Banks have their own policies in numbering of the
accounts to comply with country regulations.
The third group of digits in the MICR line is the check number. It matches the number in the front of the check located in the
right-hand corner.
MICR line is printed using special magnetized inks. MICR toner contains iron oxide, which is required by the Federal Reserve to
make the check-clearing process more efficient. Automated equipment at the financial institutions can read the MICR line and
identify where the money to pay the check will come from.

4. MICR line placement on the check is critical and needs to be in an area at the bottom of the document called the clear band.
ANSI specifications “Understanding and Designing Checks – ANSI X9/TG-2” state that the clear band must be a minimum of 5/8"
(0.625") high (measured from the bottom of the check). The MICR line must be positioned within the clear band area, so that
machines can read and process the information on the check correctly. Otherwise the check will be rejected.
Depending on the amount of information pre-printed on the checks, the check printing software can fill-in the blanks and print
routing and account number only or routing, account and check numbers dynamically.
Different Ink.
Thermochromatic ink makes paper heat sensitive. If you touch or blow on image printed with this ink, it will fade and disappear.
The image will be visible again after the temperature becomes normal. The reactivity of paper to temperature changes cannot
be replicated on a color copier or scanner.
White opaque ink is used with artificial watermarks. The image can be viewed when held at an angle.
Warning band.
Warning band is located on the top of the check. It serves as a reminder to the person cashing the check that they need to pay
attention to security features on the back of the check to verify authenticity.
Check Delivery and packaging.
Depending on the type of checks, there may be different ways to pack them. Three-whole punching can be requested for check
books or commercial / business checks.
If checks are numbered, it is important to know if they should be packed with numbers going up or down, face up or face down,
so that the client doesn’t need to repack them after delivery.
Padlock.

5. The padlock icon on the check indicates that extra security measures have been taken in designing and
production of the checks or the material being used adheres to the industry standard. These steps make
fraudulent check reproduction difficult.
Padlock can be pre-printed on the checks during the printing process at the plant. It can be also printed on the
checks with software that was authorized to use the icon.
Formats.
It is important to get check format requirements from the authorized financial institution in the country where checks will be
used. This will assure that checks will be accepted and cleared with no issues or delay.
The most common check formats include:
- US
- Canadian
- Eastern Caribbean
- Haiti
- European
Many companies can provide check samples, so that you can see colors, sizes, check position and other elements before placing
a large order. When creating custom checks it is advisable to order prepress proof and true color proof in full-size format. Color
proof serves as a guideline for a printing press operator.