Magnetic Ink & MICR Ink: What Is It and How Does It Work?
What Is Magnetic Ink?
Magnetic ink is a printing material containing magnetic particles that can be detected by specialized reading equipment. One of its best-known uses is MICR, or Magnetic Ink Character Recognition, the technology associated with the numbers and symbols printed along the bottom of checks.
The term MICR ink dates back to printing methods that used magnetic ink to create machine-readable characters. Today, businesses using compatible laser printers can produce the MICR line with specially formulated MICR toner instead of liquid magnetic ink.
If you use a laser printer for business check printing, visit our MICR toner page to find cartridges by printer brand.
What Does MICR Stand For?
MICR stands for Magnetic Ink Character Recognition. MICR technology is commonly used for the routing number, account number, check number, and special symbols that make up the MICR line along the bottom of a check.
The characters are designed to be recognized by compatible check-processing equipment. The magnetic properties of MICR ink or toner provide an additional way for compatible equipment to identify the printed characters.
What Is the Difference Between MICR Ink and MICR Toner?
The biggest difference between MICR ink and MICR toner is the type of printer they are designed for. Ink is a liquid printing material, while toner is a powder used by laser printers.
Traditional commercial MICR printing used magnetic ink. Modern businesses that print checks with compatible laser printers can instead use a MICR toner cartridge formulated for their specific printer.
This distinction is important when shopping for check printing supplies. If you have a laser printer, you should look for the appropriate MICR toner cartridge rather than an ink cartridge.
For more information about MICR technology, the MICR line, fonts, and check printing, visit our MICR guide and check printing FAQ.
How Does Magnetic Ink Character Recognition Work?
MICR combines specially shaped characters with magnetic printing material. When a check is processed by compatible equipment, the information in the MICR line can be recognized and used during check processing.
The MICR line typically contains important banking information such as the routing number and account number. Because these characters must be printed clearly and positioned correctly, businesses printing checks in-house should use the appropriate printer, MICR toner, MICR font, and check stock.
Can Magnetic Ink Be Read by a Magnetic Reader?
Yes. The magnetic material used in MICR printing allows compatible equipment to detect the magnetic properties of the printed MICR characters. This is one of the features that distinguishes MICR printing from ordinary document printing.
MICR characters are also designed with distinctive shapes so they can be recognized during check processing. Both the printed characters and their placement are important to a properly produced MICR line.
Do Laser Printers Use Magnetic Ink?
Laser printers do not use liquid magnetic ink. They use toner, which is a powder-based printing material. For MICR check printing, a compatible laser printer uses specially formulated magnetic toner, commonly called MICR toner.
This explains some of the confusing terminology surrounding MICR. The acronym still stands for Magnetic Ink Character Recognition even when the actual printing material being used is MICR toner.
What Is Magnetic Toner?
Magnetic toner is toner formulated with magnetic material for MICR printing. It is used in compatible laser printers to produce the MICR characters found along the bottom of checks.
MICR toner cartridges are printer-specific. A cartridge designed for one printer model should not be assumed to work with another, even when both printers are made by the same manufacturer.
HP LaserJet users can browse our HP MICR toner collection to find MICR toner by cartridge number or compatible printer model.
Can I Use Regular Toner Instead of MICR Toner?
Regular laser toner is designed for ordinary document printing and should not be treated as a substitute for MICR toner when producing the magnetic MICR line on checks.
MICR toner is specially formulated to provide the magnetic properties associated with MICR check processing. Businesses printing their own checks should use the correct MICR toner cartridge for the compatible laser printer being used.
Should I Use an Inkjet or Laser Printer for MICR Check Printing?
Laser Cartridge Plus specializes in MICR toner for compatible laser printers. For businesses printing checks in-house, we recommend using a compatible monochrome laser printer with a MICR toner cartridge designed specifically for that printer.
A new laser printer normally comes with an ordinary toner cartridge, not a MICR cartridge. If you are setting up a printer for check printing, you will need to purchase the appropriate MICR toner separately.
HP LaserJet users can also use our HP LaserJet MICR toner chart to match a printer with the appropriate cartridge.
Why Is MICR Used on Checks?
MICR technology was developed to help financial institutions process and sort checks efficiently. The standardized characters along the bottom of a check provide information used during check processing, including routing and account information.
For businesses, printing checks in-house can also reduce the need to store large quantities of checks that are preprinted with banking information. Businesses can instead combine compatible check printing software, a laser printer, MICR toner, and secure blank check stock.
What Is the MICR Line on a Check?
The MICR line is the row of specially formatted numbers and symbols printed along the bottom of a check. Depending on the check layout, it can contain the routing number, account number, check number, and related banking information.
When printing the MICR line in-house, the characters should be clear, properly positioned, and produced with the appropriate MICR printing supplies.
What Do I Need to Print Business Checks?
A typical laser check printing setup includes a compatible monochrome laser printer, the correct MICR toner cartridge, check printing software, a MICR font, and appropriate blank check stock.
Laser Cartridge Plus carries blank check stock for businesses that print checks in-house, along with MICR toner cartridges for supported laser printers.
The History of Magnetic Ink and MICR
MICR technology was developed during the growth of automated check processing in the mid-20th century. Financial institutions needed a faster and more reliable way to identify, process, and sort the large number of checks moving through the banking system.
Magnetic Ink Character Recognition provided a standardized method of printing machine-readable banking information on checks. Although printing technology has changed considerably since then, the term MICR remains in use today.
One of the biggest changes has been the move from specialized commercial printing equipment to laser printers that businesses can operate in their own offices. Instead of traditional liquid magnetic ink, compatible laser printers can use MICR toner cartridges to produce the MICR line.
Magnetic Ink, MICR Ink and MICR Toner Today
Magnetic ink, MICR ink, and MICR toner are closely related terms, but they do not all describe the same printing material. Magnetic ink and MICR ink generally refer to liquid or traditional magnetic printing materials, while MICR toner is the powder-based alternative used with compatible laser printers.
If your business uses a laser printer for check printing, start with our MICR toner cartridges page to find the correct cartridge for your printer. For more detailed information about MICR characters, MICR fonts, the MICR line, and printing checks, see our MICR guide and FAQ.