To print a sharp plain-paper check, use bright white paper that is 24 lb or heavier, set your printer to its best quality at 100% scale, print in color if you have a color printer so the design comes out, run a free Test Print first, cut along the dashed guide with a ruler or trimmer, let the ink dry, and sign in pen. In Check Writer 123, plain-paper mode prints one complete check at the top of a letter-size sheet.
Start with the right paper
- Bright white, matte paper. It takes ink cleanly and takes a pen well when you sign.
- 24 lb to 32 lb weight. Heavier paper feels more like a real check, shows less through the back and cuts cleaner than thin 20 lb copy paper.
- Not glossy photo paper. Ink stays wet on it, smears and will not take a pen.
- Flat, clean sheets. Curled or damp paper feeds badly and prints crooked.
Pick a check design that suits your printer
Check Writer 123 offers six plain-paper designs: Blue and Rose, Marble Green, Marble Gold, Marble Blue, Blue Linen and Plain White. The color and texture belong to each design. Plain White has no tint and uses the least ink, which makes it the best choice for a black-and-white printer or when you are saving ink.
Tips for a color printer
| Setting | What to choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Color mode | Color (not grayscale) | The tint and border colors are part of the design |
| Print quality | Best or High | Keeps the small text and the bank number line crisp |
| Paper type | Plain paper or Bright white | Matches how much ink the printer lays down |
| Scale | 100% or Default (not Fit to page) | Fit to page shrinks the check and moves every line |
| Headers and footers | Off | They add stray text near the edges |
| Borderless | Off | A normal margin keeps the edges from stretching |
- Inkjet: let the sheet dry for a minute or two before you handle or cut it, and do not stack fresh prints.
- Color laser: the toner is dry as it comes out, so you can cut and sign straight away.
- Streaks or faint bands: run your printer's head-cleaning or alignment routine and print again.
Tips for a black-and-white printer
- Choose the Plain White design. It prints crisp dark text with no tint to turn gray.
- Turn off any ink-saver or toner-saver mode so the text stays solid.
- Use a text or standard quality setting, and a fresh cartridge if the print looks pale.
Run a Test Print first
Every plan includes a free Test Print that is watermarked and never counts toward your monthly checks. Print it on ordinary paper and check that the check sits at the top of the page, the edges are not cut off and the text is dark enough. If anything is off, adjust the alignment and print again. See how to fix check printing alignment.
Cut the check cleanly
- Cut along the dashed guide so every edge is straight. A paper trimmer gives the cleanest edge, and a ruler and craft knife also work.
- Keep the border intact. Do not trim inside the printed outline.
- Cut the sheet after the ink has dried.
Sign and endorse
- Sign the signature line in black or blue ballpoint or gel pen. Skip felt-tip markers, which bleed.
- If you saved a signature image, it prints for you. If you left the signature blank, sign by hand after printing.
- Use the optional back page when you want a printed endorsement area on the reverse of the check.
Photographing a plain-paper check for mobile deposit
- Lay the check flat on a dark, plain surface in bright, even light, with no shadow across it.
- Fill the frame so all four corners are visible, and hold the phone steady and square above the check.
- Endorse the back as your bank's app asks, then photograph the back too.
- Check that the amount, date and bank number line are sharp in the preview before you submit.
- Keep the paper check until the deposit shows as complete.
Quick quality checklist
- Test Print looked right and the alignment is saved for the bank account.
- Bright white, matte, 24 lb or heavier paper.
- Best quality, 100% scale, color on (or Plain White for black-and-white).
- Ink fully dry, edges cut straight, signature in pen.
For a more detailed walk-through of the whole process, see how to print checks online, and for paper choices compare what kind of paper you need to print checks. Ready to try it? Start the free 14-day trial, no card needed.