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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Two arrested in connection with theft of Brammo racing bike ... Rollover crash kills Prospect man ... Room for improvement ... Two arrested in connection with theft of Brammo racing bike ... Rollover crash kills Prospect man ... Room for improvement ... SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: Modern copiers can tell when there's money on the glass Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jan. 10, 2015 at 2:00 AM Posted Jan. 10, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Social News I had an odd experience recently. I mistakenly took a friend's jacket after a party. He jokingly said that he had $500 in his pocket, and that it had better be there when he got it back. I thought for a joke that I would copy a $50 bill and doctor it up to look like $500. In my first attempt to copy I got about half an inch and then it stopped. I put a color ad in the printer and it worked fine. I tried once more with the fifty and got the same results as the first time. Do manufacturers put a chip inside to prevent counterfeiters? — Roland, Medford It appears you've stumbled across one of the weapons in the fight against counterfeiters during your jacket prank. Modern digital copiers and imaging software such as Adobe Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro are equipped with a Counterfeit Deterrence System that can detect US dollars and many other world currencies. The technology is developed in cooperation with the Central Bank Counterfeit Deterrence Group, a group of 32 central banks and note printing authorities, according to its website. How do they do that? The process is simple... just kidding, it's actually rather technical. In simplest terms a machine can detect currency based on certain patterns printed on it. For example, a particular pattern of yellow, orange or green circles is hidden in most currently issued US bills greater than $5, as well as the Euro, Japanese yen, British pound sterling and Indian rupee to name a few. Those circles are often called "Omron rings" named after the Japanese imaging company that's believed to have developed the technology seen on bank notes around the world beginning about 1996. The rings are visible on the back of the $20 and the $5 bill we had handy (a $50 bill being somewhat out of some journalists' reach in time for deadline). The seemingly random assortment of yellow 20s and 05s tip off computers that someone could be up to no good with the machine — even if it's just a prank — and stops the process. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jan. 10, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501