Secure Check Stock Features Compared: Microprint, VOID Pantograph, Chemical-Reactive Paper and More
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Microprint and a void pantograph make copies look wrong, and chemical-reactive paper and toner-grip treatments push back on washing. Fluorescent fibers and watermarks only help when a person checks them. No single feature covers every attack, so compare stock by the problems it addresses and not by the length of the feature list.
Sort features by the attack they answer
Names are easy to collect, so start with what each feature is for. A void pantograph, microprinting and a colored or prismatic background all try to make a photocopy or scan look wrong. Solvent-sensitive dyes, chlorine-eradicator stains and toner-grip paper treatments go after washing and erasing. Fluorescent fibers, watermarks and a warning band give a teller or a vendor something to check by eye.
A feature built for one attack does nothing for another. A pantograph will not reveal a washed payee, and a chemical stain will not stop someone photocopying a check onto a color copier.
What each feature does
The descriptions below paraphrase the feature lists on ACOM's product pages, which in turn are the manufacturer's descriptions. Where the U.S. Treasury publishes its own description of the same idea, that is noted.
| Feature | What it does | Job |
|---|---|---|
| Copy-void pantograph | The word VOID appears repeatedly on a copy or scan | Stops copying |
| Micro printing | Line borders made of text too small to photocopy. Treasury notes that on a counterfeit it often shows up as a solid line or a row of dots | Stops copying |
| Prismatic or colored background | Graduated colors that are hard to photocopy accurately | Stops copying |
| Solvent dye reaction | Stains appear if someone tries to alter the check chemically | Shows alteration |
| Chlorine-eradicator stain (Brownstain, Check Protect) | Reacts to chlorine-based eradicators and ruins the check or shows a VOID | Shows alteration |
| Toner Grip+ | Paper treatment that makes toner hard to remove from a laser-printed check | Resists alteration |
| Fluorescent fibers | Visible only under ultraviolet light and cannot be copied or scanned | Helps verify |
| Watermark | Pattern in the paper itself. Treasury says its watermark shows from both sides when held to a light and cannot be reproduced by a copier | Helps verify |
| Warning band or security features box | Lists the features so the receiver knows what to look for | Helps verify |
How government checks layer them
The U.S. Treasury's check security features sheet is a good picture of layering. A U.S. Treasury check combines an ultraviolet overprint pattern, bleeding ink in the seal, microprinting in three areas and a watermark in the paper. The UV pattern is designed so that a shaved or altered amount box leaves a visible gap under a black light. Each layer answers a different attack, and the sheet tells check cashers where to look.
Two ACOM check stocks side by side
Feature lists vary by product, so read the page for the exact stock you plan to buy.
- The Blue-Green Top Check, 1 perforation is on 24 lb Safety Bond paper. The page lists 12 features, including the pantograph, microprinting, solvent dye reaction, Toner Grip+, a chlorine-eradicator stain and a non-negotiable stub backer.
- The Z-Fold Blue Pressure Seal Check is on 28 lb paper with a watermark. The page lists 11 features, including security blockouts that hide sensitive information once the check is folded and sealed.
They are built for different mailing methods. Browse the full range of secure blank check stock and pressure seal checks.
The printer and toner count too
Stock is only half of the picture. TROY describes its MICR Toner Secure as containing a red dye that stains through the document if someone tries to alter it chemically, and ACOM's TROY MICR toner pages carry the same description. On the envelope side, ACOM's double window envelopes are listed with an inside security tint, so the account and routing numbers on a check inside cannot be read through the envelope.
Features that need a person to check
Fluorescent fibers do nothing unless someone has a UV light. A warning band does nothing if the receiver never reads it. That is why a bank control such as Positive Pay belongs next to the paper. It checks every item whether or not a human looked.
Frequently asked questions
Does a longer feature list mean safer checks?
Not by itself. Look for features that answer both copying and alteration, then match them to how you pay people. Mailed checks face washing and theft. Checks handed over in person face copying.
What does Toner Grip do?
It is a paper treatment the manufacturer says makes toner difficult to remove from laser-printed documents. It is aimed at someone trying to lift printed payee or amount text off the check.
Can I see these features on a check I receive?
Some, yes. Hold the check to a light to look for a watermark, and use a magnifier on the borders for microprint. A pantograph only shows on a copy, so photocopy the check and look for VOID. Fluorescent fibers need a UV light.
Do security features replace Positive Pay?
No. Features make fraud harder or easier to spot. Positive Pay is a separate bank control that matches items to your issued list.
Talk to us
Questions about check stock, MICR toner or printers? Call ACOM Business Solutions at 800-891-7899 or use the contact page.