ANSI X9.7-1999 pdf download Bank Check Background and Convenience Amount Field Specification
1 Scope
1.1 Scope
This standard specifies the location and background design of essential check data fields and is intended for all business size and personal size checks.
1.2 Purpose
The intent of this standard is to:
a) establish the specific location for the convenience amount (amount in numerics)
b) standardize the design of the background for four essential data fields as well as the Convenience Amount Area and the MICR Clear Area.
This revision of the standard has been expanded to include the entire front of the payment document and to meet the current requirements for electronic imaging of checks. These new requirements have an incorporation date of December 31, 2000 to allow the industry participants time to prepare for implementation.
This revised standard maintains the previous specifications for the design, location, reflectance and PCS of the dollar amount field. Adherence to this standard has become more important as more payments are automatically scanned and amount recognition is performed by machine. It is important that the design and location of the dollar amount field be standardized to allow recognition algorithms to efficiently locate the amount and the background of the amount field should not contribute to any errors in the reading of the dollar amount.
New to this revision of the standard are background requirements for other essential data fields on the check. The processes of electronic scanning and imaging of checks as well as microfilming necessitate the use of adequate information contrast with respect to the check background:
1) to assure that data elements are legible
2) to assure that data elements are not obscured by background clutter
This standard is intended to be compatible with existing check specifications and does not alter requirements for paper or MICR specifications. It is anticipated that all payment documents will adhere to applicable American National Standards as referenced in Clause 2.0 of this standard.
1.3 Introduction Check imaging and microfilming eliminates color in the conversion of a paper document to a captured image. Accordingly, printing a check adds some unique requirements over and above those normally required for human viewing to preserve reliable recognition of data elements. Since color is lost, detection and recognition of information is highly dependent on the contrast between the written information and the printed background. In image processing a technology known as dynamic thresholding is often used to retain check data and discard background. This specification provides measurement methodologies to predict the outcome of this technology and assure legibility and efficient processing of the check image.