Security printing is the field of the printing industry that deals with the printing of items such as banknotes , cheques , passports , tamper-evident labels , security tapes , product authentication , stock certificates , postage stamps , and identity cards . The main goal of security printing is to prevent forgery , tampering, or counterfeiting . More recently many of the techniques used to protect these high-value documents have become more available to commercial printers, whether they are using the more traditional offset and flexographic presses or the newer digital platforms. Businesses are protecting their lesser-value documents such as transcripts, coupons and prescription pads by incorporating some of the features listed below to ensure that they cannot be forged or that alteration of the data cannot occur undetected.
56-752: The Canadian Bank Note Company ( CBNC ) is a Canadian security printing company. It is best known for holding the contract with the Bank of Canada to supply it with Canada's banknotes since 1935. The company's other clients include private businesses, national and sub-national governments, central banks , and postal services from around the world. In addition to banknotes, the company produces passports , driver's licences , birth certificates , postage stamps , coupons, and many other security-conscious document-related products. It also prints and provides document reading systems for identification cards , lottery tickets , stamps, and banknotes. From 1897 until 1923, CBN
112-479: A basically transparent substrate easily provide clear areas by sparing the white coating . This window may be overprinted by patterns. Initially this was the main human security feature for polymer banknotes which cannot use watermark or security threads. It attracted counterfeiting of large volumes when printing technology for polymer substrate became commonly available. Therefore new designs additionally laminate this window with an ultra-thin security foil, e.g., on
168-409: A continuous pattern. Watermarks were nearly universal on stamps in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but generally fell out of use, but some countries continue to use them. Some types of embossing , such as that used to make the "cross on oval" design on early stamps of Switzerland , resemble a watermark in that the paper is thinner, but can be distinguished by having sharper edges than is usual for
224-516: A dotted metallic line running across it, but when viewed through transmitted light, the metal strip is dark and solid. Duplicating this was thought to be difficult, but a criminal gang was able to reproduce it quickly. They used a cheap hot-stamping process to lay down a metal strip on the surface of the paper, then printed a pattern of solid bars over it using white ink to leave the expected metal pattern visible. At their trial, they were found to have forged tens of millions of pounds’ worth of notes over
280-491: A light from behind the paper, due to paper density variations. A watermark is made by impressing a water coated metal stamp or dandy roll onto the paper during manufacturing. Watermarks were first introduced in Bologna, Italy in 1282; as well as their use in security printing, they have also been used by paper makers to identify their product. For proofing the authenticity, the thinner part of the watermark will shine brighter with
336-534: A light source in the background and darker with a dark background. The watermark is a proven anti-counterfeit technology because most counterfeits only simulate its appearance by using a printing pattern. Simulated watermark Printed with white ink, simulated watermarks have a different reflectance than the base paper and can be seen at an angle. Because the ink is white, it cannot be photocopied or scanned. A similar effect can be achieved by iriodin varnish which creates reflections under certain viewing angles only and
392-423: A normal watermark. Stamp paper watermarks also show various designs, letters, numbers and pictorial elements. The process of bringing out the stamp watermark is fairly simple. Sometimes a watermark in stamp paper can be seen just by looking at the unprinted back side of a stamp. More often, the collector must use a few basic items to get a good look at the watermark. For example, watermark fluid may be applied to
448-433: A period of years. The use of colour can greatly assist the prevention of forgeries. By including a colour on a document a colour photocopier must be used in the attempt to make a copy however the use of these machines also tends to enhance the effectiveness of other technologies such as Void Pantographs and Verification Grids (see Copy-evident below). By using two or more colours in the background and blending them together
504-439: A prismatic effect can be created. This can be done on either a traditional or a digital press. When a document using this technique is attempted to be photocopied the scanning and re-creation by a colour copier is inexact usually resulting in banding or blotching and thereby immediate recognition of the document as being a copy. A frequent example of prismatic colouring is on checks where it is combined with other techniques such as
560-460: A program . In another instance, identifying codes can be encoded as a digital watermark for a music , video , picture , or other file . Or an artist adding their identifying digital Signature, graphic, logo in their digital artworks as an identifier or anti-counterfeit measure . Watermarks were first introduced in Fabriano , Italy, in 1282. At the time, watermarks were created by changing
616-421: A security feature because duplicates of an existing serial number are not easily detectable, except for a series of identical counterfeits. To support correct identification serial numbers normally have a check digit to verify the correct reading of the serial number. In banknote printing the unique serial number provides effective means for the monitoring and verification of the production volume. In some cases
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#1732773089231672-557: A security foil with holographic elements. All of this makes it difficult to reproduce using common counterfeiting techniques. Some countries, including Canada , Nigeria , Romania , Mexico , Hong Kong , New Zealand , Israel , Singapore , Malaysia , United Kingdom , and Australia , produce polymer (plastic) banknotes , to improve longevity and to make counterfeiting more difficult. Polymer can include transparent windows, diffraction grating, and raised printing. Most currencies use different dimensions of length, width, or both for
728-418: Is a technique in which the image is incised into a surface. Normally, copper or zinc plates are used, and the incisions are created by etching or engraving the image, but one may also use mezzotint . In printing, the surface is covered in ink, and then rubbed vigorously with tarlatan cloth or newspaper to remove the ink from the surface, leaving it in the incisions. A damp piece of paper is placed on top, and
784-431: Is an important anti-counterfeiting measure. In philately , the watermark is a key feature of a stamp, and often constitutes the difference between a common and a rare stamp. Collectors who encounter two otherwise identical stamps with different watermarks consider each stamp to be a separate identifiable issue. The "classic" stamp watermark is a small crown or other national symbol, appearing either once on each stamp or
840-433: Is applied even in thin offset coats. Some magnetic pigment are best suited for coloured magnetizable inks due to their lower blackness. Homogeneous magnetization (no preferred orientation) is easily obtained on pigment made of spherical particles. Best results are achieved when remanence and coercive field strength are very low and the saturating magnetization is high. When pearlescent pigments are viewed at different angles
896-502: Is created by areas of relief on the roll's own surface. Once dry, the paper may then be rolled again to produce a watermark of even thickness but with varying density. The resulting watermark is generally much clearer and more detailed than those made by the Dandy Roll process, and as such, Cylinder Mould Watermark Paper is the preferred type of watermarked paper for banknotes, passports, motor vehicle titles, and other documents where it
952-401: Is embedded in the security paper as banknote or passport paper. The other kind of security thread is the single or multicolour sewing thread made from cotton or synthetic fibers, mostly UV fluorescent, for the bookbinding of passport booklets. In recent designs the security thread was enhanced with other security features such as holograms or three-dimensional effects when tilted. On occasion,
1008-413: Is embossed with a pattern. Faint lines are made by laid wires that run parallel to the axis of the dandy roll, and the bold lines are made by chain wires that run around the circumference to secure the laid wires to the roll from the outside. Because the chain wires are located on the outside of the laid wires, they have a greater influence on the impression in the pulp, hence their bolder appearance than
1064-421: Is lost. A known implementation is Scrambled Indicia . Halo can be printed on traditional or digital presses. The advantage of traditional presses is that multiple images can be overlaid in the same location and become visible in turn as the lens is rotated. Halo is used as a technique to authenticate the originality of the document and may be used to verify critical information within the document. For example,
1120-401: Is most often done on security paper , but it can also occur on plastic materials. Secured documents, such as banknotes, use visible and tactile features to allow humans to verify their authenticity without tools. The European Central Bank (ECB) recommends feel, look, and tilt: First check the tactility of the banknote (including the substrate), then look at the optical design and finally
1176-464: Is no color change on newsprint – is often used in the retail trade for reasons of cost and time. Carefully created images can be hidden in the background or in a picture on a document. These images cannot be seen without the help of an inexpensive lens of a specific line screening. When placed over the location of the image and rotated the image becomes visible. If the document is photocopied the Halo image
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#17327730892311232-525: Is transparent otherwise. Watermarks are sometimes simulated on polymer currency by printing an according pattern, but with little anti-counterfeiting effect. For example, the Australian dollar has its coat of arms watermarked on all its plastic bills. A Diffractive Optical Element (DOE) within the transparent window can create a comparable effect but requires a laser beam for its verification. See-through registers are based on complementary patterns on
1288-548: The Caribbean Community bloc of countries. The majority of the new CARICOM passports as they are called serve the union as a centerpiece of promoting easy travel within the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME). Samples of items printed by Canadian Bank Note Company: Security printing A number of technical methods are used in the security printing industry. Security printing
1344-683: The Frontier series of the Canadian dollar which was issued from 2011, and the Australian dollar (2nd series) issued from 2016. A very similar security feature is achieved with banknotes on paper substrate. For this an area of up to 300 mm² is punched out and sealed with a partially transparent security foil. The ES2 series of euro banknotes is using this feature for the higher denominations (EUR 20 and above) and calls it portrait window . The European Central Bank (ECB) recommends to look at
1400-418: The void pantograph to increase the difficulty of successful counterfeiting. Sometimes only the original document has value. An original, signed cheque for example has value but a photocopy of it does not. An original prescription script can be filled but a photocopy of it should not be. Copy-evident technologies provide security to hard copy documents by helping distinguish between the original document and
1456-456: The angle of the light as it's perceived makes the colour appear to change as the magnetic fields within the particles shift direction. A hologram may be embedded either via hot-stamping foil, wherein an extremely thin layer of only a few micrometers of depth is bonded into the paper or a plastic substrate by means of a hot-melt adhesive (called a size coat) and heat from a metal die, or it may be directly embossed as holographic paper, or onto
1512-550: The back of a stamp to temporarily reveal the watermark. Even using the simple watermarking method described, it can be difficult to distinguish some watermarks. Watermarks on stamps printed in yellow and orange can be particularly difficult to see. A few mechanical devices are also used by collectors to detect watermarks on stamps such as the Morley-Bright watermark detector and the more expensive Safe Signoscope . Such devices can be very useful for they can be used without
1568-515: The banknote against the light – the window in the hologram becomes transparent and reveals a portrait of Europa on both sides of the note . Micro- perforation is used as Microperf in the Swiss franc and the Romanian leu . Very small holes are punched or laser-engraved into the substrate or a foil application without generating a crater . In backlight illumination, the holes form a pattern, e.g.,
1624-468: The banknote designers succumb to the Titanic effect (excess belief in the latest technology), and place too much faith in some particular trick. An example is the forgery of British banknotes in the 1990s. British banknotes in the 1990s featured a "windowed" metal strip through the paper about 1 mm wide that comes to the paper surface every 8 mm. When examined in reflected light, it appears to have
1680-539: The camera of a mobile device to explain the features of a presented banknote. As they do not support the direct verification of authenticity they also work with simple printouts or screen displays. The substrate of most banknotes is made of paper , almost always from cotton fibres for strength and durability; in some cases linen or specially coloured or forensic fibres are added to give the paper added individuality and protect against counterfeiting. Paper substrate may also include windows based on laser-cut holes covered by
1736-416: The characteristics of certain optical features when tilting the banknote in relation to the incident light. In general, the introduction of a new banknote series is accompanied by information campaigns describing the design and the security features. Several central banks also provide mobile apps explaining the characteristics by interactive methods and enrich them by animated effects. In general, they use
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1792-461: The copy. The most common technology to help differentiate originals from copies is the void pantograph . Void pantographs are essentially invisible to the untrained, naked eye on an original but when scanned or copied the layout of lines, dots and dashes will reveal a word (frequently VOID and hence the name) or symbol that clearly allows the copy to be identified. This technology is available on both traditional presses (offset and flexographic) and on
1848-501: The different denominations , with smaller formats for the lower denominations and larger formats for the higher denominations, to hinder reuse of the substrate with embedded security features for counterfeiting higher denominations. Blind and visually impaired people may also rely on the format for distinguishing between the denominations. True watermark A true watermark is a recognizable image or pattern in paper that appears lighter or darker than surrounding paper when viewed with
1904-409: The euro series ES2 has different pattern of lines at the short edges of the banknote to support blind people in distinguishing the denominations . A counterfeit banknote detection pen can be used to quickly determine the starch in wood-based paper substrate. While genuine banknotes hardly change color at all, counterfeits turn black or blue immediately. This method, which is not very reliable – there
1960-408: The intaglio printing of euro banknotes printed on paper substrate. It is available for iOS devices and takes a picture of the banknote. Within a few seconds it determines abnormality by a message "not successful" but cannot finally identify counterfeits . The substrate may be embossed to create raised designs as tactile security feature. It may be combined with intaglio printing. As an example,
2016-497: The inverse reaction of the void pantograph. The most common examples of this technology are on the fine lines at the edge of a cheque which will disappear when copied or on a coupon when a symbol, such as a shopping cart, disappears when an unauthorized copy is made. Verification Grid is available for either traditional or digital presses. Together the void pantograph and the Verification Grid complement each other because
2072-401: The laid wire lines. This embossing is transferred to the pulp fibres , compressing and reducing their thickness in that area. Because the patterned portion of the page is thinner, it transmits more light through and therefore has a lighter appearance than the surrounding paper. If these lines are distinct and parallel, and/or there is a watermark, then the paper is termed laid paper . If
2128-411: The laminate of a card itself. When incorporated with a custom design pattern or logo, hologram hot stamping foils become security foils that protect credit cards, passports, bank notes and value documents from counterfeiting. Holograms help in curtailing forging, and duplication of products hence are very essential for security purposes. Once stamped on a product, they cannot be removed or forged, enhancing
2184-477: The light that moves up and down. The number also changes colour from emerald green to deep blue. The EUR 100 and EUR 200 banknotes also show € symbols inside the number. Colouured magnetizable inks are prepared by including chromatic pigments of high colour strength. The magnetic pigments’ strong inherent colour generally reduces the spectrum of achievable shades. Generally, pigments should be used at high concentrations to ensure that sufficient magnetizable material
2240-412: The lines appear as a mesh or are indiscernible, and/or there is no watermark, then it is called wove paper . This method is called line drawing watermarks. Another type of watermark is called the cylinder mould watermark . It is a shaded watermark first used in 1848 that incorporates tonal depth and creates a greyscale image. Instead of using a wire covering for the dandy roll, the shaded watermark
2296-413: The newer digital platforms. The advantage of a digital press is that in a single pass through the printer a void pantograph with all the variable data can be printed on plain paper. Copy-evident paper, sometimes marketed as ‘ security paper ’, is pre-printed void pantograph paper that was usually produced on an offset or flexographic press. The quality of the void pantograph is usually quite good because it
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2352-511: The obverse and reverse of the banknote and constitute a complete pattern under backlight conditions. Examples are the D of the Deutsche Mark (1989 series, BBk III) and the value number of the first series of euro banknotes (ES1). Counterfeiting is difficult because the printing registration requires an extremely high printing accuracy on both sides and minor deviations are easily detectable. Polymer banknotes which are printed on
2408-459: The paper without damaging it. A watermark is very useful in the examination of paper because it can be used for dating documents and artworks, identifying sizes, mill trademarks and locations, and determining the quality of a sheet of paper. The word is also used for digital practices that share similarities with physical watermarks. In one case, overprint on computer-printed output may be used to identify output from an unlicensed trial version of
2464-465: The paper. Watermarks have been used on postage stamps , currency , and other government documents to discourage counterfeiting . There are two main ways of producing watermarks in paper; the dandy roll process , and the more complex cylinder mould process . Watermarks vary greatly in their visibility; while some are obvious on casual inspection, others require some study to pick out. Various aids have been developed, such as watermark fluid that wets
2520-427: The plate and paper are run through a printing press that, through pressure, transfers the ink to the paper. The very sharp printing obtained from the intaglio process is hard to imitate by other means. Intaglio also allows for the creation of latent images which are only visible when the document is viewed at a very shallow angle. The mobile app ValiCash from Koenig & Bauer evaluates specific characteristics of
2576-493: The printing. Again, this is difficult to imitate accurately enough in most print shops. Several types of ink are available which change colour with temperature. Security ink with a normal "trigger" temperature of 88 °F (31 °C), which will either disappear or change colours when the ink is rubbed, usually by the fingertips. This is based on a thermochromatic effect. Serial numbers help make legitimate documents easier to track and audit. However, they are barely useful as
2632-473: The product at the same time. Also from a security perspective, if stamped, a hologram is a superior security device as it is virtually impossible to remove from its substrate. Metal threads and foils, from simple iridescent features to foil colour copying to foils with additional optically variable effects are often used. There are two kinds of security threads. One is a thin aluminum coated and partly de-metallized polyester film thread with microprinting which
2688-411: The reactions to copying are inverse, resulting in a higher degree of assurance that a hard copy document is an original. Banknotes are typically printed with fine alignment (so-called see-through registration window ) between the offset printing on each side of the note. This allows the note to be examined for this feature, and provides opportunities to unambiguously align other features of the note with
2744-402: The recording of serial numbers may help to track and identify banknotes from blackmail or robbery . In most currencies the serial number is printed on two edges of the banknotes to aggravate the making of so-called composed banknotes by combining parts of different banknotes. Even if made from genuine banknotes, most central banks consider such items as manipulated banknotes without value if
2800-477: The serial numbers do not match. Security paper for banknotes is different from standard paper due to special ingredients like fibers from cotton , linen or abaca . Together with intaglio printing crisp feeling provides an excellent tactile perception (crisp feeling) to reject counterfeits which are based on standard paper with cellulose fibers . Polymer substrates and limp banknotes on paper substrate do not offer this tactile characteristic. Intaglio printing
2856-449: The thickness of paper during a stage in the manufacturing process when it was still wet. Traditionally, a watermark was made by impressing a water-coated metal stamp onto the paper during manufacturing. The invention of the dandy roll in 1826 by John Marshall revolutionised the watermark process and made it easier for producers to watermark their paper. The dandy roll is a light roller covered by material similar to window screen that
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#17327730892312912-476: The use of a magnifying glass. Cheques, for example, use microprint as the signature line. Optically Variable Ink (OVI) displays different colours depending on the angle at which it is viewed. It uses mica -based glitter. As an example, the euro banknotes use this feature as emerald number on the ES2 series. The ECB recommends to "tilt the banknote". The shiny number in the bottom left corner displays an effect of
2968-470: The value numeral like in the SFR 20 (eighth series). A guilloché is an ornamental pattern formed of two or more curved bands that interlace to repeat a circular design. They are made with a geometric lathe . This involves the use of extremely small text, and is most often used on currency and bank checks. The text is generally small enough to be indiscernible to the naked eye without either close inspection or
3024-433: The value of a coupon might be encoded as a Halo image that could be verified at the time of redemption or similarly the seat number on a sporting event ticket. Watermark A watermark is an identifying image or pattern in paper that appears as various shades of lightness/darkness when viewed by transmitted light (or when viewed by reflected light, atop a dark background), caused by thickness or density variations in
3080-636: Was a unit of the New York–based American Bank Note Company (now known as ABCorp). It was later a privately held company when it was acquired by Ottawa businessman Charles Worthen; beginning in 1976 Douglas Arends slowly acquired control of the company. It has since been based in Ottawa , Ontario . Since 2014, the Canadian Bank Note Company has been the chief provider for machine-readable passports used within
3136-479: Was produced on a press with a very high resolution, and, when only a small number of originals are to be printed, it can be a cost-effective solution; however, the advent of the digital printer has rapidly eroded this benefit. A second technology which complements and enhances the effectiveness of the void pantograph is the Verification Grid. This technology is visible on the original, usually as fine lines or symbols but when photocopied these lines and images disappear;
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