Image Quality Assurance (or IQA) is a digital process of assessing scanned cheque images and ensuring that they are of a high quality and able to be used as a substitute for the original paper item. With the introduction of cheque truncation, IQA has become essential in order to ensure that up to standard images are lifted from physical instruments in order that a paying bank can do verification of the item without the presence of the original. IQA assesses various parameters on a scanned image which ensure quality and the ability to detect the cloning of a cheque via the presence of an MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) line.

IQA assesses various parameters on a scanned image which ensure quality and the ability to detect the cloning of a cheque via the presence of an MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) line.

Image Quality Assurance METRICS

According to the ANSI X9.37 standards (adopted in US Check 21), there are 16 metrics used to ensure overall image quality. They allow for assessment of the image quality to determine ability to use and are as follows:

1. Undersized image
2. Folded or torn document corners
3. Folded or torn document edges
4. Document framing error
5. Excessive document skew
6. Oversized image
7. Piggyback document
8. Image too light
9. Image too dark
10. Horizontal streaks present in image
11. Below minimum compressed image size
12. Above maximum compressed image size
13. Excessive spot noise in image
14. Front-Rear image dimension mismatch
15. Carbon strip detected
16. Image out-of-focus

In countries which are exchanging images of cheques, there are normally pre-defined specifications for cheques, which determine parameters such as size, of item, where the various features of the cheques are and what the requirements for up to standard items are. These are able to be configured within the IQA component of the Finteq FWS system and allow for early identification of exceptions and their handling. This also assists with reduction in processing costs when exceptions are handled at point of origination. Exceptions are able to be handled faster and more efficiently either via a re-scan or removal of an item from a proof-set.

IQA is a standard feature in the Finteq FWS solution