Security paper

This substrate is used for security prints with special features.  The paper itself, its properties and production technology may be a perfect security feature.  PWPW experts have designed and implemented new types of paper, including, among others, antibacterial paper and paper of increased resistance to soil (anti-soiling paper).  Security elements intended for paper substrate (watermark, chemical security features, security thread, security fibres) may be applied in these products.  The new substrate types allow for using any printing and personalisation technique applied for production of documents. 

• antibacterial paper – banknote paper with antibacterial features, certified by ISEGA Biochemical Institute.  The work on this type of paper was inspired by the fact that banknotes in circulation go through the hands of an uncountable number of people. 
• anti-soiling paper – coated paper of increased resistance to soil, which may be used, among others, for production of banknotes.  The tests showed that the use of this type of paper increases resistance to soil by approximately 30 percent as compared with an ordinary banknote paper.   
• paper intended for ink-jet personalisation – special-purpose paper.  A unique coating solution improves the quality and durability of ink-jet personalisation.   
• semi-synthetic paper – highly secured paper of specific organoleptic properties.  It is PWPW's author solution.   
• LEAP^® (Laser Engravable Anti-Counterfeiting Paper) – a highly secured paper which offers a possibility of applying data with all available techniques, including laser engraving technique.  This paper has special ingredients of the pulp and a coating solution thanks to which a clear and legible laser engraved image may be produced without the need to laminate the paper with plastic foil.  The new composition of such paper makes it possible to leave an engraving trail not only on the paper surface, but also within the paper pulp.  This produces an effect consisting in reinforcement of an image viewed against the transmitting light (similar to watermark effect).  Records made with this method may be detected by touch.  PWPW has submitted this solution to the Patent Attorney's Office for registration.     
• chemically secured paper – paper produced at PWPW and containing chemical compounds securing it from counterfeiting and forgery attempts consisting in unauthorised change of data with the use of chemical reagents/solvents.

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  LEAP^®

   

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  chemically secured paper

   

• watermark – an image in paper visible in transmitting light and produced during the process of forming the paper web.  It is created by thickness or density variations in selected places.  Watermarks are one of the oldest and most efficient security features in paper.  Watermarks may be divided into running and localised and into single-tone and multi-tone, depending on their location and structure.  A filigree is a special type of watermark with an increased contrast.
• security thread – a security element of various physical and chemical properties, visible in transmitting light and introduced during the process of forming the paper web.  PWPW uses various types of threads, for example, wholly immersed in paper structure or window security threads, UV active, magnetic and holographic threads.  The security thread may include an additional security feature in the form of microprint.  
• security fibres – fibres of various physical and chemical properties placed in the paper structure.  They may be single-colour, multicolour, visible in daylight and UV active. 
• planchettes – small elements of various geometric shapes and distinct physical and chemical properties.   

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  watermark

  Obraz widoczny w świetle przechodzącym, uzyskiwany w trakcie formowania wstęgi papieru. Powstaje dzięki zróżnicowanej grubości jego warstw lub zagęszczenia włókien w wybranych miejscach. To jedna z najstarszych i najskuteczniejszych form zabezpieczeń w papierze. Znaki wodne można podzielić na bieżące i umiejscowione oraz na jednotonowe i wielotonowe, w zależności od ich umiejscowienia i budowy. Szczególnym rodzajem znaku wodnego jest filigran, charakteryzujący się zwiększonym kontrastem.

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  security thread

  Widoczny w świetle przechodzącym element zabezpieczający podłoże papierowe o różnych właściwościach fizykochemicznych, wprowadzany w czasie formowania się wstęgi papieru. W PWPW stosujemy różne rodzaje nitek np. ciągłe i okienkowe, świecące w świetle UV, magnetyczne i holograficzne. Nitka może zawierać dodatkowe zabezpieczenie w postaci mikrotekstu.

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  security fibres

  Włókna o różnych właściwościach fizykochemicznych znajdujące się w strukturze papieru. Mogą być jednokolorowe i wielokolorowe, widoczne w świetle dziennym, a także świecące w świetle UV.

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  planchettes

  Małe elementy o różnych kształtach geometrycznych i właściwościach fizykochemicznych.

Security features in graphic design

PWPW experts prepare graphic designs and propose the most efficient security solutions tailored to the planned function of the document.  The security features in graphic design used by PWPW in security prints include, among others:

• steel engraving (intaglio print) – an unique technique available exclusively to the producers of banknotes and important State documents (including, among others, passports); elements produced with this technique may be detected by touch thanks to the "tactile print effect".
• recto-verso – an image visible against light, made of complementary graphical elements applied with an offset technique on either side of the print;
• iris – a gradual shift from one colour to another along one line of guilloche background, a specific technique of offset printing which increases the level of document security.
• guilloche – very thin inter-crossing lines which compose complicated graphic motifs, a specific technique of offset printing which increases the level of document security.
• latent image effect – a graphic element hidden in an image, appearing in light when viewed from a specified angle.  It is an optically variable element. 
• micro text and microprint – a miniaturised text or sequence of characters visible under magnifying glass.  This solution is used in banknotes, documents and security prints.  It may be a negative or positive image.  
• relief background – a graphic image giving the impression of tri-dimensional space.
• typographic numbering – made using a typographic technique, often with the use of special inks (such as UV active inks), used for numbering security prints. 
• Special inks:
  • optically variable ink (OVI) – graphic elements made with this ink visibly change colour depending on the viewing angle;
  • metallic ink – ink containing a metallic pigment with anti-copying properties;
  • termochromic ink – graphic elements made with this ink disappear or change colour upon change of temperature;
  • iridescent ink – transparent ink with metallised and pearl gloss.  A graphic element made with this ink changes its intensity depending on the viewing angle;
  • UV active ink – graphic elements made with this ink become active in ultraviolet light;
  • metameric effect – an image made with the use of a pair of chemically different inks which are nearly the same in ordinary light but their colour varies upon change of light (often in infrared or under red optical filter);
• hologram – a type of optically variable diffractive security element.  When viewed from different angles, the optical variability may concern, for example, colour and/or image;

• markers – secret security features in the form of elements characteristic of the given security print.  They are known exclusively to the issuer and the producer.

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  steel engraving (intaglio print)

   

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  recto-verso

   

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  iris

   

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  guilloche

   

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  latent image effect

   

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  micro text and microprint

   

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  relief background

   

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  typographic numbering

   

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  optically variable ink (OVI)

   

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  iridescent ink

   

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  UV active ink

   

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  hologram

   

Many contemporary documents are produced on plastic substrate. For many years now, PWPW has been using this type of substrate for production of identity documents (including, among others, identity cards, driving licences, various types of business IDs).  We use such materials as PVC and polycarbonate.  The security features for this type of substrate include: 

• laser engraving technique – a marking of the substrate used in plastic cards – the blackening effect created through carbonisation of layers sensitive to laser beams.  The blackening may also be accompanied by a palpable raised element.
• PCP^® (Polycarbonate Colour Personalisation) – a technology of colour personalisation of polycarbonate cards inside their structure.  It increases the production process safety.  This solution (patented by PWPW) makes any attempts to change data in the document impossible and increases document durability.    
• Extreme ID – a personalised non-flammable element in the form of a metal plate with engraved or cut-out markings.  This solution may be used, for example, in ID badges for professional groups whose duties trigger the risk of loss of life.  It is an author's solution of PWPW.
• MLI/CLI (Multiple Laser Image/Changeable Laser Image) – a complex image produced with laser technique, incorporating graphic elements that change depending on the viewing angle.  It may be placed in a transparent window.  
• TLE^® (Transparent Laser Engraving) – a palpable marking produced with laser technique on polymer substrate.  It is in the form of transparent raised signs on external surface of the substrate.  It increases document safety without reducing its legibility.  It is an author's solution of PWPW.
• embossing – palpable lines, graphic and text elements pressed on the card surface.
• NIR (Near-infrared) – a personalised element made with the use of ink visible in infrared only and invisible in daylight – it is an innovative ink invented by PWPW and submitted for registration to the European Patent Attorney's Office.  This ink makes it possible to place personalised elements for machine reading, such as time stamping, barcodes, OR codes, without any impact on the visible graphic design of the document.

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  laser engraving technique

   

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  PCP^®

   

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  Extreme ID

   

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  MLI/CLI

   

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  TLE^®

   

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  embossing

   

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  NIR (Near-infrared)

   

Security features in graphic design

PWPW experts prepare graphic designs and propose the most efficient security solutions that are tailored to the planned function of the document.  The security features in graphic design used by PWPW in security prints include, among others:

• recto-verso – an image visible against light, made of complementary graphical elements applied with an offset technique on either side of the print.
• iris - a gradual shift from one colour to another along one line of guilloche background, a specific technique of offset printing which increases the level of document security.
• guilloche – very thin inter-crossing lines which compose complicated graphic motifs, a specific technique of offset printing which increases the level of document security.
• latent image effect – a graphic element hidden in an image, appearing in light when viewed from a specified angle.  It is an optically variable element. 
• micro text and microprint – a miniaturised text or sequence of characters visible under magnifying glass.  This solution is used in banknotes, documents and security prints.  It may be a negative or positive image. 
• relief – a graphic image giving the impression of tri-dimensional space.
• Special inks:
  • optically variable ink (OVI) – graphic elements made with this ink visibly change colour depending on the viewing angle;
  • metallic ink – ink containing a metallic pigment with anti-copying properties;
  • termochromic ink – graphic elements made with this ink disappear or change colour upon change of temperature;
  • iridescent ink – transparent ink with metallised and pearl gloss.  A graphic element made with this ink changes its intensity depending on the viewing angle;
  • UV active ink – graphic elements made with this ink become active in ultraviolet light;
  • metameric effect – an image made with the use of a pair of chemically different inks which are nearly the same in ordinary light but their colour varies upon change of light (often in infrared or under red optical filter).
• hologram – a type of optically variable diffractive security element.  When viewed from different angles, the optical variability may concern, for example, colour and/or image;
• markers – secret security features in the form of elements characteristic of the given security print.  They are known exclusively to the issuer and the producer.

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  recto-verso

   

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  iris

   

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  guilloche

   

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  latent image effect

   

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  micro text and microprint

   

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  relief

   

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  optically variable ink (OVI)

   

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  termochromic ink

   

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  iridescent ink

   

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  UV active ink

   

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  hologram

   

Polymer substrate is a special type of plastic substrate used for production of banknotes

Polymer substrate – specialist substrate of high durability, used for production of banknotes.  PWPW holds Guardian Printer Accreditation certificate which proves that the firm has met all requirements in the area of machine park, processes and skills required for production of banknotes on Guardian ^® polymer substrate.

Bookbinding thread – an element connecting the components of a document.  The thread may have various physical and chemical properties (it may be luminescent, may conduct power, etc.).

A stiff polycarbonate personalised page is an example of security feature which binds paper substrate with polymer substrate simultaneously using the bookbinding thread solution – it is a patented solution of PWPW.

It is a personalisation page with one interior layer extending beyond other layers to form a stretchable polyester hinge.  A secure seam binds the hinge layer with the RFID insert, containing a contactless microchip with antenna, and the remaining polycarbonate layers.  The stitching is made with UV activated bookbinding thread which may also contain other security features, such as IR light active security features.  The stitching becomes irreversibly combined with polycarbonate in high temperature.  Any manipulation attempts leave visible traces on the document.

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  bookbinding thread

   

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  stiff polycarbonate personalised page