SwiftCheckPrint product guide
Fix Check-Printing Alignment
If a check looks right in the preview but lands in the wrong place on paper, check the page settings first. Then adjust the horizontal or vertical offset one step at a time.
Start with the paper size and print dialog
SwiftCheckPrint's current PDF output is a top check with two stubs on a US Letter page. Use Letter paper (8.5 × 11 inches), portrait orientation and 100% / Actual Size. Turn off Fit to Page and Shrink to Fit. Disable headers and footers if those options appear.
Keep the printer, tray and margin settings the same for every test. None or Minimum margins may be available, but they do not remove a printer's physical non-printable edge. A4 and Letter are different page sizes; automatic resizing between them can shift or shrink the output.
The v1.16.2 PDF generator does not apply the middle/bottom Check Position choices or the app's Scale value. Use the top-check layout and leave app Scale at 1.000. Do not rely on those controls to fix a stock mismatch.
If this is your first check, use the first-print checklist to confirm your stock and bank requirements before adjusting offsets.
Move the content with horizontal and vertical offsets
Open Print Settings and find Print Calibration Offsets. Both offsets are measured in inches.
| What you see on paper | Adjustment to try |
|---|---|
| Everything is too far left | Increase Horizontal Offset (X). |
| Everything is too far right | Decrease Horizontal Offset (X). |
| Everything is too high | Increase Vertical Offset (Y). |
| Everything is too low | Decrease Vertical Offset (Y). |
For example, if content is 0.10 inches too high and Y is currently 0.00, try Y = 0.10. If Y is already 0.05, try 0.15. These are examples of direction and arithmetic, not recommended settings for every printer.
Click Save Calibration. Change one axis at a time, use small measured adjustments and generate a fresh preview after saving. Keep a note of the previous values so you can undo an adjustment.
Use the alignment sheet as a reference
Print Alignment Test creates a reference sheet with crosshairs and check/stub boundaries. Print it on plain paper at 100% and compare it with your stock.
Download the fictional alignment-test PDF
The downloadable sheet uses fictional bank and payee data, has no signature, and says NOT A VALID CHECK. Print it only on plain paper for alignment testing.
In this version, the reference sheet is a fixed top-check layout; it does not move when you change the calibration offsets. To verify an offset change, review a newly generated check PDF and compare a safe test print. Do not keep changing offsets because the reference sheet itself stays in the same place.
Use test details you are authorized to use, leave test output unsigned and do not issue it as a payment. Never post a completed check or an unredacted bank-detail screenshot to a public help forum.
When an offset is not the right fix
- The whole check is too small or large: check the print dialog's scale and paper size. Shifting X or Y will not resize it.
- The top aligns but the bottom does not: check for Fit to Page, the actual check height and a stock/layout mismatch before adding more offset.
- Only one field is misplaced: a global offset moves other content too. Capture a redacted description of the field and contact support.
- It worked on another printer: repeat the test on this device. Printer drivers, paper feeds and printable areas differ.
- The MICR line looks different: stop before issuing the check. Review the font/output setup and confirm the bank's requirements; moving the page does not fix a font or ink problem.
Before issuing the final check
Review the physical output, including the payee, amount, bank details and signature area. A successful alignment test does not verify available funds or bank acceptance. If you are unsure about your stock or printer setup, confirm it with your bank before relying on it for a payment.