Where should the level be on the dip stick when the car is running?

Between the cut outs on the dip stick that looks like it is marked HOT or on the "x"ed area above the HOT area? This dip stick makes it hard to understand.

 

I've found the easiest way to measure is when the car is cold. If you measure while the car is hot you'll get different results because you have no idea how hot the trans fluid is without a temperature probe.

I'd measure it in the morning. Start the car up and check the fluid... Make sure you check the opposite side of the dipstick, that's what you use to measure when it's cold.

 

Good idea. When I check it when my car is very hot, like after a long highway ride with A/C running, the level is over the "HOT" crossmark area on the dip stick.

When I check it when I just start the car, it is at the top of the 2 cut out marks towards the bottom of the dip stick. (I assume this is the cold area)

Is this OK?