SecurityGeneric MICR Fundamentals Guide 8-13MicroprintMicroprint is extremely small text that, unmagnified, looks likepart of the check design. When magnified, it is a readable textmessage. Microprints are very effective in preventing checkduplication because of their small image size.Like safety patterns, microprints are usually applied usingconventional wet ink technologies before the stock is used in theMICR printing system.Microprints are typically used as check borders, signature ormemo lines, or as part of the endorsement control areas on theback of the check.WatermarksWatermarks are images that appear to be part of the paper andwhich are visible only under special viewing conditions. Truewatermarks are paper structure deformations that are built intothe paper stock during the manufacturing process. They aremost easily seen when the paper is held up to the light. Artificialwatermarks are light colored inks that look like part of the paperunless viewed at an angle. True watermarks are expensive andfrequently make MICR encoding difficult. Artificial watermarksare commonly used on the back side of the check, in theendorsement area.Drop-out printDrop-out print is an imagewise pattern printed with light gray inkand a very light halftone screen. The image is visible under closeinspection, and it can not be copied.Drop-out print is frequently applied to the back of the check withthe words “genuine document” spelled out in reversal script.When held at arms length, the words appear as light areas on aslightly dark background. Drop-out print can also be used on theface of the check as part of a check border or in place of a VOIDpantograph (refer to “VOID pantograph,” later in this chapter).
