1 - EMBOSSING

The shape or design in relief obtained by deforming the paper as it passes through an in-line finishing bench on the press. Easy to check by touch. The embossing can be identified with a particular print. Cannot be reproduced by scanning or photocopying. Requires very specific know-how and equipment for a printer.

2 - ERASABLE INK

Offset ink that fades or disappears under the action of an eraser. Mainly used for
bank cheques Impossible to reproduce by scan or photocopy.

3 - DELEBILE INK

Ink applied in letterpress or dry offset printing, which fades or disappears with water. Also sensitive to various chemical agents (fading or colour change), it is mainly used for bank cheques, cheque-letters, etc. Impossible to reproduce by scan or photocopy.

4 - VISIBLE FLUORESCENT INK

Ink used in offset printing. Highly visible, becomes ‘flashy’ under ultra-violet light (black light, counterfeit detector). Changes colour when colour copied. For example, fluorescent orange ink becomes bistre-brown on a colour copy. Preferably applied to a non-blue background for best results. Impossible to reproduce by scan or photocopy.

5 - INVISIBLE FLUORESCENT INK

Ink used in offset printing. Invisible to the naked eye, reveals itself under ultra-violet light (black light, counterfeit detector). Impossible to reproduce by scan or photocopy. Please note: it is essential to print on non-azure paper in order to obtain a reading that does not interact with the reverberation caused by the paper's brighteners.

6 - THERMOREACTIVE INK

Ink applied in offset or flexography (more effective). The colour disappears under the action of heat (breath, finger heat or rubbing) and then reappears. Pink is the most reactive. There are several temperature ranges. Can be used to reveal a hidden word. Impossible to reproduce by scan or photocopy. Cannot be used on carbonless paper.

7 - IRIDESCENT INK

Flexographic ink. Contains brilliant reflections depending on the direction of the light. This effect is also known as the ‘flip-flop’ effect, i.e. the product has a coloured reflection at a certain viewing angle and an effect of a different shade at another angle. To achieve the maximum effect, it is preferable to observe the product in daylight, as artificial light can counteract the effect of certain colours. Impossible to reproduce by scan or photocopy.

8 - BLACK PAINT

Series of inks applied in letterpress or dry offset printing, visually black in colour, intended for the production of different shades of grey. Once moistened with a little water or simply a wet finger, they become coloured (several shades available). A printed document can be changed from black to colour simply by wetting it, making it easy to authenticate. Impossible to reproduce by scan or photocopy. The colour reaction only occurs once.

9 - RUBBING INK

Ink deposited in offset. After depositing and drying these inks which are invisible, the impression is made to appear by rubbing using a coin, preferably made of brass. A slightly off-white support will be preferable to any support that is too blue. Otherwise, drowned in a frame of gray, the ink is completely invisible. It is then revealed through friction. Impossible to reproduce by scan or photocopy.

10 - WATERMARKING INK

Ink deposited in letterpress or dry offset which aims to replace the watermark of certain papers with an impression which makes the paper transparent. Once dry, the print, which is still uncolored, can be overprinted with traditional inks, but it is preferable to maintain transparency not to overprint on the watermarking ink. Impossible to reproduce by scan or photocopy.

11 - PHOTOCHROMIC INK

Ink deposited in offset or flexography (more efficient). These very particular inks have the ability to change color under the influence of relatively intense UV radiation (sunlight, photographic flash, black light, etc.). Thus, a transparent lacquer changes very quickly from invisible to blue or from invisible to purple, and retains this color for at least thirty seconds. All combinations based on standard shades are possible: yellow becomes green, red becomes purple, etc. Impossible to reproduce by scan or photocopy.

12 - MICROENGRAVING WITH FILIGREE EFFECT

Effect obtained by pressing a relief shape onto the paper. It is produced in line with the print. The watermark effect is more pronounced than with watermarking ink. Cannot be reproduced by scanning or photocopying. Requires very specific know-how and equipment for a printer. 

13 - MIRROR EFFECT INK

Silver-effect ink that looks like hot foil but can be printed at high speed. Cannot be reproduced by scanning or photocopying. Requires very specific know-how and equipment for a printer. 

14 - IRIDESCENT PRINTING ON GUILLOCHE

Several offset colours are applied in the same printing unit. The lines of the guilloche background move from one colour to another in perfect register. This is an anti-counterfeiting printing technique requiring very specific know-how and equipment. It is also difficult to reproduce by scan or photocopy.

15 - LATENT WORDS

A set of screens invisible to the naked eye, but revealing hidden messages "Copy" "False" "Void"... in photocopying and scanning. Requires very specific know-how and equipment for a printer. 

16 - COPYBLOCK

Discreetly integrated into a page background, the COPYBLOCK system is identified by the vast majority of copiers and scanners on the market, which refuse to copy it by issuing an "unauthorized copy" message.
Combined with Copy block’s latent word embedding makes digital copying impossible.

17 - DIFFRACTIVE IMAGE

Diffractive image consists of a printed image in iridescent varnish on a silver background with a mirror effect. The image is visible or not depending on the light and the angle of vision. Impossible to reproduce by scan or photocopy. Requires very specific know-how and equipment for a printer.

18 - IRIS CONTRAST

Iris contrast covers the sensitive areas of a document without impairing their legibility. It is only visible under certain light conditions and viewing angles.

19 - HOLOGRAM

The principle of the hologram is a three-dimensional photograph that is reproduced on a medium (paper, PVC, etc.).

  • The 2D hologram:

Hologram based on a 2-dimensional graphic image. All elements appear in a single plane.

  • The 2D/3D hologram:

These holograms show images in two or three dimensions, in superimposed, parallel planes, offering a perspective effect and showing an impression of depth (parallax).

  • 3D holograms:

The hologram shows a very realistic image in relief and requires strong direct light to make it stand out.

  • Dot Matrix:

These are computer-generated images. The dots can give different animations depending on the viewing angle. In addition to the various holographic creation techniques, a number of components can be incorporated to increase the security of a hologram and enhance the optical effects: the two-channel image, colour separation, prismatic effects, micro-text and hidden information.

Holograms are available as hot stamping films, lamination films, self-adhesive labels, etc. They can be either standard (geometrical shapes, ironwork, etc.) or customized (customer logo, etc.).
It should be noted that there is a demetallization process that allows a standard hologram to be personalized with a white reserve.