Relating Security Printing to Emerging Digital Printing Solutions

Abstract

Today all documents that carry intrinsic value contain one or more security design features. Applications of security printing range from banknotes, passports and ID documents, to checks, lottery tickets and gift vouchers. Dramatic growth in product counterfeiting has also lead to more attention to the packaging of fraud -sensitive goods. It is clear that these markets have different demands, yet they share a common goal: to make life difficult for the counterfeiter through design complexity and authenticity verification features.Today, we also notice an ever-increasing interest from the security printing industry in the developing technologies for digital printing. This interest includes both opportunity as well as risk-assessment. An overview of existing and emerging technologies will be placed in comparison with the current practices for the production of security documents and brand protection. The various parameters (ink, substrate, and design) of digital printing and their relationship to the specific needs and concerns of the security printing industry will be discussed.