To always print an MICR character having a high recognition rate without being influenced by the deterioration of a printer by setting a printing direction in the case of printing the MICR character reverse to a reading direction by a reader for reading the MICR character printed on a recording medium.

A reverse landscape printing method for printing the MICR character from a left side to a right side (in a direction shown by an arrow W') with respect to the recording medium 2 such as a check or the like is applied. The reading direction R where the MICR character printed on the recording medium 2 such as the check or the like is read is a direction going from the right side to the left side with respect to an MICR character string. In the case of applying the reverse landscape printing method, a peak value is fluctuated at a part P2 which is not largely concerned in the recognition of the MICR character even when the developing device of an electrophotographic printer is deteriorated, and the reference peak value P1 is always made approximate to ideal magnetic signal waveform. As a result, the MICR character is surely recognized.