ANSI-X9.7-1999.pdf

ANS X9.7-1999 American National Standard for Financial Services X9.7 -1999 Bank Check Background and Convenience Amount Field Specification Secretariat: American Bankers Association Approved: May 6, 1999 American National Standards Institute Copyright American National Standards Institute Provided by IHS under license with ANSI Licensee=IHS Employees/1111111001, User=O'Connor, Maurice Not for Resale, 04/29/2007 14:04:35 MDTNo reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS -,-,- American National Standard Approval of an American National Standard requires verification by ANSI that the requirements for due process, consensus, and other criteria for approval have been met by the standards developer. Consensus is established when, in the judgment of the ANSI Board of Standards Review, substantial agreement has been reached by directly and materially affected interests. Substantial agreement means much more than a simple majority, but not necessarily unanimity. Consensus requires that all views and objections be considered, and that a concerted effort be made toward their resolution. The use of American National Standards is completely voluntary; their existence does not in any respect preclude anyone, whether he has approved the standards or not from manufacturing, marketing, purchasing, or using products, processes, or procedures not conforming to the standards. The American National Standards Institute does not develop standards and will in no circumstances give an interpretation of any American National Standard. Moreover, no person shall have the right or authority to issue an interpretation of an American National Standard in the name of the American National Standards Institute. Requests for interpretations should be addressed to the secretariat or sponsor whose name appears on the title page of this standard. CAUTION NOTICE: This American National Standard may be revised or withdrawn at any time. The procedures of the American National Standards Institute require that action be taken to reaffirm, revise, or withdraw this standard no later than five years from the date of approval. Published by American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 11 West 42nd St., New York, NY 10036 Customer Service (212) 642-4900 Fax (212) 302-1286, E-mail quoteansi.org www.ansi.org or http:/webstore.ansi.org Copyright 2000 by American Bankers Association All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, in an electronic retrieval system or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher. Printed in the United States of America Copyright American National Standards Institute Provided by IHS under license with ANSI Licensee=IHS Employees/1111111001, User=O'Connor, Maurice Not for Resale, 04/29/2007 14:04:35 MDTNo reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS -,-,- ANSI X9.7 - 1999 ? ?ABA i Table of Contents PART I - SPECIFICATIONS1 1 SCOPE1 1.1 SCOPE1 1.2 PURPOSE1 1.3 INTRODUCTION2 2 REFERENCES3 3 DEFINITIONS.3 4 DATA ELEMENTS - CHECK DOCUMENT DESIGN7 4.1 CONVENIENCE AMOUNT AREA DATA ELEMENTS FOR MINIMUM SIZE CHECK (PERSONAL) FORMAT7 4.1.1 Convenience Amount Scan Area (Personal Sized Checks) .7 4.1.2 Convenience Amount Rectangle (Personal Sized Checks)7 4.1.3 Convenience Amount Clear Area (Personal Sized Checks)10 4.1.4 Dollar Symbol (Personal Sized Checks)12 4.1.5 Convenience Amount Data (Personal Sized Checks)12 4.2 CONVENIENCE AMOUNT AREA DATA ELEMENTS FOR LARGE SIZE CHECK (BUSINESS) FORMAT14 4.2.1 Convenience Amount Scan Area (Business Size Checks)14 4.2.2 Convenience Amount Rectangle (Business Size Checks) 14 4.2.3 Convenience Amount Clear Area (Business Size Checks).17 4.2.4 Preprinted Dollar Symbol (Business Size Checks)19 4.2.5 Machine Printed Dollar Symbol (Business Size Checks)20 4.2.6 Machine Printed Convenience Amount (Business Size Checks)20 4.3 AREAS OF INTEREST (ALL CHECKS) 20 4.3.1 Amount In Words.20 .21 4.3.2 Date.21 4.3.3 Payee Line.22 4.3.4 Signature(s).22 4.4 MICR CLEAR BAND AND OPTICAL CLEAR BAND22 4.5 BANK NAME23 4.6 OTHER DATA ELEMENTS.23 4.7 PRINTED BORDERS23 4.8 ENDORSEMENT DATA24 5 REFLECTANCE, PCS, AND DCR REQUIREMENTS24 5.1 GENERAL.24 5.2 BACKGROUND REFLECTANCE AND PCS VS. AVERAGE AREA REFLECTANCE AND PAXEL COUNT25 5.2.1 Backgrounds on Plain, Safety Tinted, Patterned, and Scenic Checks.26 5.3 BACKGROUND REFLECTANCE AND PCS SPECIFICATIONS FOR ALL CHECKS.28 5.4 AVERAGE AREA REFLECTANCE AND PAXEL COUNT FOR ALL CHECKS.28 5.5 PRE-PRINTED AND PRINTED DATA SPECIFICATIONS29 5.5.1 General30 5.5.2 Pre-printed Data Specification.30 Copyright American National Standards Institute Provided by IHS under license with ANSI Licensee=IHS Employees/1111111001, User=O'Connor, Maurice Not for Resale, 04/29/2007 14:04:35 MDTNo reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS -,-,- ANSI X9.7 - 1999 ? ?ABA ii 5.5.3 Printed Data Guideline30 6 SECURITY AND FRAUD CONSIDERATIONS30 PART II - CONFORMANCE TESTING32 1 PURPOSE.32 2 REFERENCES.32 3 DEFINITIONS.32 4 ACCEPTANCE SAMPLING METHODS (INFORMATIONAL).32 5 CONFORMANCE TESTING FOR MECHANICAL REQUIREMENTS - DATA ELEMENTS AND PRINTED BORDERS OF THE PAYMENT DOCUMENT (PART I, CLAUSE 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.5 AND 5.6).33 5.1 TEST EQUIPMENT AND ITS APPLICATION33 5.2 CONVENIENCE AMOUNT SCAN AREA (PART I, CLAUSE 4.1.1 AND 4.2.1) 33 5.3 CONVENIENCE AMOUNT RECTANGLE (PART I, CLAUSE 4.1.2 AND 4.2.2)40 5.4 CONVENIENCE AMOUNT CLEAR AREA (PART I, CLAUSE 4.1.3 AND 4.2.3).40 5.5 DOLLAR SYMBOL (PART I, CLAUSE 4.1.4, 4.2.4, AND 4.2.5)40 5.6 AMOUNT IN WORDS (PART I, CLAUSE 4.3.1) .42 5.7 BANK NAME (PART I, CLAUSE 4.3.2).42 5.8 DATE (PART I, CLAUSE 4.3.3)42 5.9 MICR CLEAR BAND (PART I, CLAUSE 4.3.4).42 5.10 PAYEE LINE RESTRAINT (PART I, CLAUSE 4.3.5).42 5.11 SIGNATURE(S) AND MEMO LINES (PART I, CLAUSE 4.3.6 AND 4.3.7).42 5.12 PAYOR DATA (PART I, CLAUSE 4.3.7).42 5.13 PRINTED BORDERS (PART I, CLAUSE 5.6) .42 5.14 ENDORSEMENT DATA (PART I, CLAUSE 4.5).43 6 CONFORMANCE TESTING FOR OPTICAL REQUIREMENTS - REFLECTANCE, PRINT CONTRAST SIGNAL (PCS), AND PAXEL COUNT (PART I, CLAUSE 5)44 6.1 TEST EQUIPMENT AND ITS APPLICATION44 6.2 REFLECTANCE, PCS AND PAXEL COUNT MEASUREMENTS (PART 1, SECTION 5).44 6.3 PRE-PRINTED AND PRINTED DATA SPECIFICATIONS (PART I, CLAUSE 5.5)49 6.4 PRINTED BORDERS (PART I, CLAUSE 5.6)49 7 AREAS OF INTEREST.49 7.1 DATE AREA OF INTEREST.49 7.2 PAYEE AREA OF INTEREST.50 7.3 LEGAL AMOUNT AREA OF INTEREST50 7.4 SIGNATURE AREA OF INTEREST50 A1 COLOR MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS52 A1.1 MEASUREMENT SYSTEM FOR COLORS.52 A1.2 REFLECTANCE.53 A1.3 PRINT CONTRAST SIGNAL53 A2 COLORS OF PRINTED DATA, CONVENIENCE AMOUNT RECTANGLE AND BACKGROUND A2.1 BACKGROUND COLORS.54 Copyright American National Standards Institute Provided by IHS under license with ANSI Licensee=IHS Employees/1111111001, User=O'Connor, Maurice Not for Resale, 04/29/2007 14:04:35 MDTNo reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS -,-,- ANSI X9.7 - 1999 ? ?ABA iii A2.2 CONVENIENCE AMOUNT RECTANGLE PCS.54 A2.3 DOLLAR SYMBOL54 A3 DROPOUT INK COLORS55 A4 APPLICATION PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS55 B1 RDM IMAGE QUALIFIER 9759 B1.1 INTRODUCTION.59 IMAGE READINESS EXPLAINED 59 MEASUREMENT BASICS60 B1.2 AUTOMATIC ANS X9.7 LEGIBILITY MEASUREMENT USING A DC IMAGE.60 B1.3 AUTOMATIC CAR (CONVENIENCE AMOUNT RECTANGLE) PCS AND REFLECTANCE EVALUATION:.62 B1.4 MANUAL SPOT REFLECTANCE, SPOT PCS AND PCS MAPPING.63 B1.4 CAUTIONARY NOTE FOR SPOT PCS AND PCS MAPPING.64 B2 PROCEDURE FOR SPOT AND AUTOMATIC AVERAGING MEASUREMENTS OF REFLECTANCE AND PCS USING THE CLEARWAVE O82 SERIES OF OPTICAL CHARACTER TESTERS.65 B2.1 INTRODUCTION.65 B2.2 APPLICATION65 B2.3 PCS SPOT MEASUREMENT.65 B2.4 REF SPOT MEASUREMENT.65 B2.5 SCAN AVERAGING66 B3 PROCEDURES FOR USING THE MACBETH PCM II.66 B3.1 GENERAL66 B3.2 CALIBRATION CHECKS66 B3.2.1 Daily Calibration Check.66 B3.2.2 Factory Calibration 67 B3.3 REFLECTANCE MEASUREMENTS.67 B3.4 PCS COMPUTATION68 C SPECIFICATION FOR AN IMAGE BASED DOCUMENT ANALYSIS SYSTEM .69 C1 GENERIC SPECIFICATION FOR AN ANS X9.7 IMAGE BASED DOCUMENT ANALYSIS SYSTEM FOR DETERMINATION OF LEGIBILITY, INCLUDING AVERAGE REFLECTANCE, DC IMAGE AND PAXEL COUNT FUNCTIONALITY69 C1.1 SCANNING SYSTEM SPECIFICATION.69 C1.2 DYNAMIC CONTRAST IMAGE SPECIFICATION69 C1.3 AVERAGE REFLECTANCE SPECIFICATION (RB)70 C1.4 PAXEL SPECIFICATION70 C1.5 PAXEL COUNT SPECIFICATION70 D1 CONVERSION TABLE.73 Copyright American National Standards Institute Provided by IHS under license with ANSI Licensee=IHS Employees/1111111001, User=O'Connor, Maurice Not for Resale, 04/29/2007 14:04:35 MDTNo reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS -,-,- ANSI X9.7 - 1999 ? ?ABA iv Table of Figures PART 1 FIGURE 1A SCAN AREA LOCATION-PERSONAL SIZE CHECK.8 FIGURE 2A CONVENIENCE AMOUNT RECTANGLE AND CLEAR AREA-PERSONAL SIZE CHECK 8 FIGURE 3A EXAMPLES OF AMOUNT RECTANGLE LOCATION INSIDE AREA-PERSONAL SIZE CHECK.9 FIGURE 4A ACCEPTABLE DESIGN VARIATIONS FOR THE AMOUNT RECTANGLE- PERSONAL SIZE CHECK11 FIGURE 5 PRE-PRINTED DOLLAR SIGN LOCATION TOLERANCES .13 FIGURE 6 PRE-PRINTED DOLLAR SIGN DESIGN13 FIGURE 1B SCAN AREA LOCATION-BUSINESS SIZE CHECK15 FIGURE 2B CONVENIENCE AMOUNT RECTANGLE AND CLEAR AREA- BUSINESS SIZE CHECK 15 FIGURE 3B EXAMPLES OF AMOUNT RECTANGLE LOCATION INSIDE SCAN AREA16 FIGURE 4B ACCEPTABLE DESIGN VARIATIONS FOR THE AMOUNT RECTANGLE- BUSINESS SIZE CHECK 18 FIGURE 7 CHECK AREAS OF INTEREST.21 FIGURE 8 PAYEE LINE RESTRAINT22 FIGURE 9 LIMITS FOR NON-MAGNETIC PRINTING WITHIN THE MICR CLEAR BAND.24 FIGURE 10 EXAMPLE OF A PLAIN COLORED DOCUMENT.26 FIGURE 11 EXAMPLE OF A SAFETY TINTED/PATTERENED DOCUMENT26 FIGURE 12 EXAMPLE OF A SCENIC CHECK27 PART 2 FIGURE 1 MICR POSITION AND DIMENSION GAUGE.34 FIGURE 2 CONVENIENCE AMOUNT SCAN AREA.35 Copyright American National Standards Institute Provided by IHS under license with ANSI Licensee=IHS Employees/1111111001, User=O'Connor, Maurice Not for Resale, 04/29/2007 14:04:35 MDTNo reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS -,-,- ANSI X9.7 - 1999 ? ?ABA v FIGURE 3 CONVENIENCE AMOUNT RECTANGLE 36 FIGURE 4 EXAMPLES OF AMOUNT RECTANGLE LOCATION INSIDE SCAN AREA 37 FIGURE 5 ACCEPTABLE DESIGN VARIATIONS FOR THE AMOUNT RECTANGLE38 FIGURE 6 CONVENIENCE AMOUNT CLEAR AREA.39 FIGURE 7 LIMITS FOR NON-MAGNETIC PRINTING WITHIN THE MICR CLEAR BAND43 FIGURE 8 MEASUREMENT OF REFLECTANCE AND PCS46 ANNEX A FIGURE A1 RELATIVE SPECTRAL LUMINANCE RESPONSE FOR PHOTOPIC VISION.57 ANNEX C FIGURE C1 DYNAMIC THRESHOLDING FROM A BIT MAP71 FIGURE C2 PIXELS, PAXELS AND PAXEL STRINGS DEFINED .72 Copyright American National Standards Institute Provided by IHS under license with ANSI Licensee=IHS Employees/1111111001, User=O'Connor, Maurice Not for Resale, 04/29/2007 14:04:35 MDTNo reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS -,-,- ANSI X9.7 - 1999 ? ?ABA vi List of Tables PART 1 TABLE 1 SPECIFICATIONS29 TABLE 2 REFLECTANCE OF BACKGROUND VS. REFLECTANCE OF PRINTED DATA FOR PCS OF 0.60.31 PART 2 TABLE 5-1 DOLLAR SIGN CHARACTERISTICS.41 ANNEX A TABLE A1 PCS VS. INK AND BACKGROUND REFLECTANCE.58 ANNEX D TABLE D1 CONVERSION TABLE .73 Copyright American National Standards Institute Provided by IHS under license with ANSI Licensee=IHS Employees/1111111001, User=O'Connor, Maurice Not for Resale, 04/29/2007 14:04:35 MDTNo reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS -,-,- ANSI X9.7 - 1999 ? ?ABA vii Foreword (This foreword is not part of American National Standard, X9.7-1999, Bank Check Background and Convenience Amount Field Specification, but is provided to note the working group history and concerns.) It has been approximately eighteen years since the first publication of this standard. New commercial technologies for printing checks have emerged over that time period. In addition to the older technologies of letterpress, offset lithography and impact printing, newer technologies involving non-impact printing based on electro-photography, electron beam imaging printing, and thermal transfer printing are currently used to print checks or selected fields on checks. Furthermore, a change is well underway to expand the use of an electronic check image in place of the paper check that then can be truncated as early as possible in the payment cycle. Electronic imaging of checks places new requirements on the design of checks and the measurement of reflectance, Print Contrast Signal (PCS), and Dynamic Contrast Ratio (DCR) so that they are readily legible when viewing the image of a document rather than the document itself. Checks properly designed for imaging assure that all vital information will be captured by the imaging process, that the images will be usable and legible, and that the file sizes of images will be low enough so that they can be stored and moved in a cost efficient manner. This revision of X9.7 maintains the requirements and specifications that have been established for the background of the MICR Clear Area, and for the location and background of the numerical convenience amount field, for any document used in the paper based payment transfer system. New to this revision of the standard are requirements for the background of other data elements that appear elsewhere on the front of the document to ensure that the data elements are legible when using electronic images or microfilm. Also new is a revision to the standard for the location of certain borders that pass through the MICR Clear Area. The specifications for the background of the areas of interest, and the change to the border specification are given an implementation date of December 31, 2000, or sooner, to allow check printers to bring their designs into full compliance and financial institutions time to implement these changes into their systems. This standard is the result of an extensive cooperative effort by representatives from financial institutions, check printers, business form manufacturers, software suppliers, and manufacturers of various types of processing and test equipment for the financial industry. Suggestions for improvements to this standard are welcome. They should be sent to the X9 Secretariat, American Bankers Association, Standards Department, 1120 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20036. This Standard was processed and approved for submittal to ANSI by the Accredited Standards Committee on Financial Services, X9. Copyright American National Standards Institute Provided by IHS under license with ANSI Licensee=IHS Employees/1111111001, User=O'Connor, Maurice Not for Resale, 04/29/2007 14:04:35 MDTNo reproduction or networking permitted without lice