check printing software

Factual Questions
1

i just bought some check printing software which seems to be able to print an entire check for me, all i have to do is feed it some checkblanks. my question is: 1) can i use standard printer paper and cut it down? 2) can i put any dorky image on it that i choose? i know that i CAN do these things. i just want to know if the bank will honor the checks if i do.

2

I print my own checks using plain old MSWORD. AS background I use a graphic with my name written a billion times in tiny print and faint blue ink but I have used a sailboat and other motives in the past. Never had a problem. I even used to print them in my old dot matrix printer and they looked like no one would take them seriously and yet they were all cashed without incident.

3
      • A check is not an official document, there are no legal standards as to how it must be printed. Only the bank routing number, account number, payee and amount is required – technically, the check (you write to someone else) doesn’t even need to have your signature on it. Witness corporate checks, where the “signature” is printed by machine along with the rest of the check.
  • If you do buy special paper, the reason it’s special is the anti-conterfeiting features on it: microprinting, coloring, watermarking and the red thermal ink seals on the reverse that disappear if you hold your thumb on them for a few seconds. None of this is required by any bank, though.
    ~
4

sailor, thats interesting. <hijack>Do you use any special paper? What kind of printer do you use? I might just give this a try.</hijack>

5

I use plain paper although I will use a slightly heavier stock if I have it. I used a dot matrix for years (even writing the font for the routing numbers myself) and now I am using a plain inkjet.

6

My advice: Ask your bank. Sure, they would legally have to accept it if it meets all the “official” requirements, but your bank may have additional guidelines that they prefer and, if they’re a good bank, you don’t want to make their job harder (and if they’re a bad bank, they’ll make your life miserable).