# Can I print my own checks? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 27, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-print-my-own-checks/215640 "2003-11-27T23:39:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-print-my-own-checks/215640/1 "2003-11-27T23:39:32Z")
Well, it’s time at _casa_ **rjung** to order another batch of bank checks. Unfortunately, I’ve never really enjoyed this process, since most of the check designs available don’t do anything for me – my interests, apparently, are too kooky for the folks who do bank checks to bother with. There are a few firms who will put a photo on checks, but the prices are outrageous. So, being a geek-kind-a-guy, I figure, why not just print them myself? I’ve got a scanner, I’ve got a printer, as long as my check numbers aren’t duplicates and I have the right bank routing information, why not? Is there a technical or legal reason why I can’t just pop up Photoshop, whip up a bunch of checks, and get something I really like? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-print-my-own-checks/215640/2 "2003-11-27T23:43:05Z")
You absoutely can. Have fun. Haj ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-print-my-own-checks/215640/3 "2003-11-28T00:02:55Z")
My only cite is the novel _Hotel_, where it is alleged that you can write a check on a bannana peel if you like, and that the bank will honor it as long as it has reason to belive it to be authentic. ---
**Author:** ![Fritz\_The\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f17d59/32.png) [@Fritz\_The\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz_The_Cat)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-print-my-own-checks/215640/4 "2003-11-28T00:12:49Z")
Problem is with the ink you use. Most banks now use magnetic ink readers, if your checks are not printed with the routing numbers in magnetic ink, they may charge a fee for each check they have to manually process. Call and check before you start printing. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-print-my-own-checks/215640/5 "2003-11-28T08:03:51Z")
[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=195246](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=195246) ---
**Author:** ![KP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a9adbd/32.png) [@KP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KP)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-print-my-own-checks/215640/6 "2003-11-28T14:43:31Z")
J. Spencer Love, an MIT grad student, once cashed a check written on a blackboard at a Kendall Square (Cambridge, MA) bank, just to prove this point. He was saddled with a special handling fee, but the check did, indeed, clear. It was reported in the MIT Campus Daily (The Tech) and in the Boston newspapers, but I was unable to find a complete copy of any of them online. The Best I could find was a first person guest column (The Tech, Friday, Feb 6, 1981, page 4) which was used as a test fror a ‘machine reading’ system. Unfortunately, the article “continued on next page”, which was not used as test data. I knew J. Spencer back then, and it was my impression that the event took place in the late 70s (when I encountered him more often - I left MIT in May 1980), though the article says it was Jan 1981. I accept the article’s date, because a) It was reported by Love himself; and b) I was still in the Boston area, and still sometimes read the Tech and hung out with mutual friends in Jan '81. ---
**Author:** ![Indefatigable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9d8465/32.png) [@Indefatigable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indefatigable)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-print-my-own-checks/215640/7 "2003-11-28T14:51:12Z")
My dad prints his own cheques for his business. I forget what software he uses, though. ---
**Author:** ![NoGoodNamesLeft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8797f3/32.png) [@NoGoodNamesLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoGoodNamesLeft)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-print-my-own-checks/215640/8 "2003-11-28T16:58:47Z")
Some paper companies (Avery, maybe?) now make ‘cheque’ paper for your laser & inkjet printers. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-print-my-own-checks/215640/9 "2003-11-28T17:10:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KP \* > \*\*J. Spencer Love, an MIT grad student, once cashed a check written on a blackboard at a Kendall Square (Cambridge, MA) bank, just to prove this point. \*\* There are other stories like this too. One is the guy who wrote a check on shirt and sent it to the IRS (taking the shirt off of my back). Haj ---
**Author:** ![glilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/48db29/32.png) [@glilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glilly)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-print-my-own-checks/215640/10 "2003-11-28T17:27:40Z")
You can print checks from within Microsoft Money 2002 (and probably other edtions): > [@](#): > > On the Accounts & Bills menu, click Account List . > Click the account you want to open. > Enter a new transaction or edit an existing one. > In the Number box, click Print this transaction , and then click Enter . > In the left pane, click Print checks . > Set the options you want, and then click Print . ---
**Author:** ![Cillasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@Cillasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cillasi)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-print-my-own-checks/215640/11 "2003-11-28T17:33:27Z")
Fritz, I don’t think the magnetic ink is necessary any longer. That used to be a consideration however today’s technology has made magnetic ink obsolete. Banks most likely use optical reading technology now. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-print-my-own-checks/215640/12 "2003-11-28T17:34:45Z")
Rattling around in my head somewhere is an instance of a “publicity stunt” check being inked on the torso of a bikini-clad woman, attended by various ribaldries about how it would get cancelled. I wonder if anybody remembers what this one was done for. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-print-my-own-checks/215640/13 "2003-11-28T17:53:16Z")
For the bank, I’m sure you can. If you’re talking about going shopping with them, well, most stores won’t accept them, I would imagine. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-print-my-own-checks/215640/14 "2003-11-28T19:00:17Z")
Speaking as someone who worked in Accounts Payable for a company… You can print them yourself if you so desire. You may to get special permission from the bank, and you’re definately going to need the magnetic toner that **Fritz The Cat** spoke about. ---
**Author:** ![Fritz\_The\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f17d59/32.png) [@Fritz\_The\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz_The_Cat)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-print-my-own-checks/215640/15 "2003-11-28T19:59:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cillasi \* > \*\*Fritz, I don’t think the magnetic ink is necessary any longer. That used to be a consideration however today’s technology has made magnetic ink obsolete. Banks most likely use optical reading technology now. \*\* My bank still uses magnetic. It was in the “Conditions of Use” statement sent to me at the beginning of this year, stating the additional fee for processing. Thats why I suggested calling the bank before printing. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-print-my-own-checks/215640/16 "2003-11-28T20:46:31Z")
**rjung** : I use an early version of a program called VersaCheck. Bought it for $12 on sale at Office Depot, I believe. It contains the software and three different colors of check-stock (for 100 checks or so…) You can customize the checks how you please. I have an icon of a Bee on mine. You should be able to find this software for cheap; Pricewatch has VersaCheck 2001 for $15. The ink or toner has never been a problem for me. I find the crucial item is the alignment of the code at the bottom of the check. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-print-my-own-checks/215640/17 "2003-11-28T22:10:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by yabob \* > Rattling around in my head somewhere is an instance of a “publicity stunt” check being inked on the torso of a bikini-clad woman, attended by various ribaldries about how it would get cancelled. I wonder if anybody remembers what this one was done for. It must have been done more than once. I it done on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, probably from the late 60s. They wrote the check on a model’s back. I remember she was wearing blue bikini bottoms and strapless bikini cups glued to her. I don’t remember what the check was for or any other details. Hey, at the time that was still pretty racy and I was a teenager. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-print-my-own-checks/215640/18 "2003-11-30T03:36:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. B \* > I find the crucial item is the alignment of the code at the bottom of the check. You mean the special routing codes/symbols? Or the specific position of the codes themselves? ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-print-my-own-checks/215640/19 "2003-11-30T04:02:52Z")
The little colon-dot symbol and the routing numbers are typically the touchiest. You have to have a very reliable form-feeder with limited skew. My Epson will print reliably while my HP sometimes botches it. In the case that the scanner spits it back out, the cashier uses his keyboard, a moderate delay. Just don’t try it at Von’s on a Saturday afternoon unless you’re dead certain about your alignment. 😉