Xerox 6180N Generic MICR Fundamentals Guide  - Page 139

Security Safety papers Safety papers have a background that makes alteration easily visible. Scenic backgrounds or a repetitive pattern, such as a logo, are some examples. Safety papers that consist only of a patterned background are not foolproof. Many financial documents are produced on a base paper, on which a safety pattern is printed using stable inks. These inks do not have the same sensitivity to chemical or mechanical erasure as true safety inks. They are used because they look better and are easier to print with. However, documents printed on these papers are much easier to alter than those printed on true safety paper. Overprints Overprints consist of a pattern or a scene that is printed over all or parts of a printed document. Overprinting may be combined with a texturing process. The varied colors and the texture make it very difficult to modify the characters under the overprint without affecting the overprint itself. However, overprinting adds a step, which can make the check production process much slower. Textures Textures can be printed on a form before the data is printed, or applied with an overprint afterwards. One type of preprinted texture is called "intaglio." An intaglio surface is created using a "male and female" die set. The engraving is usually fine and the production cost of the final documents can be high. Intaglio is a popular method used for travelers' checks. A problem with intaglio is that the surface is abrasive and can cause problems for the reader sorter manufacturers. In addition, attempts to place a dry ink image on a textured surface can result in image deletions and distortions. Generic MICR Fundamentals Guide 8-11