TROY Group MICR Basics Handbook - Manual (Page 18)

Section 4 Selecting Check Paper and MICR Toner
MICR Basics Handbook -- Document #50-70300-001 Rev. C
4-2
Basis Weight
ANSI Standard X9.18 specifies that the minimum weight paper is to be 20-pound long grain. However,
due to the rigors of the check clearing process, TROY strongly recommends 24-pound paper minimum.
Stiffness
Taber stiffness must be M.D. 2.5 and C.D. 1.1 minimum. Gurley stiffness must be M.D. 200.0 and 88.0.
Grain Direction
Figure 4-1 illustrates grain short or grain long as it applies to checks.
Figure 4-1: Grain Direction
If the grain is in the direction of (A), it would be grain long - as it relates to the 8.5" X 11.0" sheet of
paper. But in relationship to the check, it is considered grain short. This would most likely result in
mechanical failure of the check if it were subjected to more than eight to ten passes in direction (C) of a
reader/sorter.
If the grain is in the direction of (B), it would be grain short as it relates to the 8.5" X 11.0" sheet of paper.
But it would yield a grain long check, which would hold up far better than the other example (up to and
exceeding 30 passes in direction (C) of a reader/sorter). Keep in mind, if you are printing in the
landscape mode, that the grain long direction in relationship to the check should always be in the same
direction that the check moves through the reader/sorter.