Xerox 6100BD - Phaser Color Laser Printer, Fundamentals

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Document processing
5-2 Generic MICR Fundamentals Guide
Proofing checks
All checks start automated processing in the Proof of Deposit
department. Check processing relies on a series of debits and
credits throughout the process to identify errors as close to the
source as possible.
The first step is to prove that the deposit is valid. A deposit slip is
balanced against the value of the items deposited with it. Errors
in MICR amount encoding or deposit ticket completion show up
as a failure to balance.
Amount determination errors
To encode the amount, an operator may read the check and
manually enter the amount, or an automated scanner may
capture and analyze an image of the check to determine the
correct MICR Amount field content. Poorly designed checks may
interfere with amount determination in the following ways:
• Non-standard amount location
• Amount value written too small or too large
• Interference of check background design elements with
amount field identification
• Lightly written check amounts
• Use of colored inks that do not provide sufficient contrast
Whenever the value of the check cannot be quickly and
accurately determined, the cost of processing the item
increases. The balancing process continues throughout payment
processing, but the impact of check design most critical here.
Proofing equipment errors
Another potential problem in proof encoding is compatibility of
the laser printed check with the encoding equipment. For many
years, all proofing equipment used impact ribbon technology,
which proved to be stressful for matrix head reader sorters (see
next section).