| Have you ever wondered why your checks have | | | | The MICR reading process works using what is |
| a line of characters printed on its bottom side and | | | | called the waveform theory. To put it simply, the |
| why these characters look different? This line is | | | | signals emitted by the magnetized characters |
| called the MICR line. It is printed using a specific | | | | printed with MICR toners on the MICR line create |
| font type and with a special kind of ink. This ink is | | | | corresponding waves. The peaks of these waves, |
| called the MICR toner. | | | | both positive and negative, must be of the right |
| MICR toners are necessary to make the | | | | height or depth in order for the reader-sorter |
| processing of checks easier and faster. They | | | | machine to make the correct reading. The position |
| enable the reader-sorter machines that banks use | | | | of these waves must also be in the correct grid. |
| to recognize the information that MICR lines carry; | | | | This is why accuracy is so important when it |
| they are the reason why automation in check | | | | comes to printing checks with MICR toners. The |
| processing is possible. | | | | correct percentage of iron oxide additives in the |
| How do MICR toners make automation of check | | | | MICR toner itself contributes to the signal |
| processing possible? | | | | strength of the reading. If the signals are too |
| The Nature of MICR Toners and the MICR | | | | weak or too strong, errors will occur in the |
| Reading Process | | | | peaking of the waves. The position of the waves |
| MICR is short for magnetic ink character | | | | allows the machine to anticipate the signals and |
| recognition. As its name suggests, MICR toners | | | | thus recognize the character being read. If the |
| have magnetic components in the form of iron | | | | printed character is skewed or is not in the |
| oxide additives. These iron oxide additives are the | | | | correct size, the machine would get the wrong |
| reason why reader-sorter machines can read | | | | signals and fail to read the printout. |
| checks. | | | | There cannot be any variations in the peaks or in |
| When a check is fed into the reader-sorter | | | | the position of the characters printed with MICR |
| machine, the MICR line passes across a check to | | | | toners. The reader-sorter machine would find |
| make the iron oxide magnetized and emit a signal. | | | | them impossible to read. |
| Afterwards, the check is read by a magnetic | | | | The Importance of Choosing the Right MICR |
| read head. The contact between the magnetized | | | | Toner |
| MICR line and the magnetic read head creates an | | | | Given the way reader-sorter machines process |
| electromagnetic field, also called a flux pattern. | | | | checks, it is important that you use a good quality |
| The flux pattern in turn creates a current in the | | | | MICR printer and a good quality MICR toner when |
| read head. This allows the characters in the MICR | | | | you do your check printing. If the printer does not |
| line to be recognized by the machine. The | | | | print it correctly, where there are voids, spotting, |
| strength of the flux pattern and the timing of the | | | | clipped edges or blurred lines on the MICR line, the |
| line's passage under the read head are essential in | | | | machine would not be able to read the printout. |
| determining the accuracy of the character | | | | The same goes if the MICR toner is not of the |
| recognition. | | | | correct formula or does not have the right |
| The Waveform Theory | | | | amount of iron oxide additives. |