What is Security Paper

Security Paper is used to help prevent Unauthorized Document Duplication.

Document Security Paper CAN:
Help the viewer or recipient identify and original document.
Act as a deterrent against unauthorized duplication.
Be manufactured with features that are impossible to accurately duplicate.

Document Security Paper CANNOT:
Cause the copy to print black, rendering it useless.
Distort the image thus rendering the copy useless.
Cause damage to or in any way change the original document when copied or scanned
To secure a document it is very important to use multiple security features.

A document that contains only one security feature, a VOID background for example may be easily duplicated on
some photo copiers without the word VOID showing up on the copy. However add a ghost watermark to the back
of the sheet, color change ink and micro printing to the front of the sheet now you have created a document that is
virtually impossible to accurately duplicate using a photo copier or scanner.

There are TWO CATAGORIES for security features:

Active (Overt) Features and Passive (Covert) Features
"A" - ACTIVE FEATURES - Used to identify an original document by sight and/or touch.
"P" - PASSIVE FEATURES - Feature becomes apparent when a document is photocopied or scanned. Additional
action is required to activate this feature.

FIBER SECURITY ~ "P"
Invisible fluorescent fibers that can only be seen under UV blacklight and chemical protection inclusions that
activate if an alteration attempt is made with chemical fluids. To verify original certificate - add bleach and paper
will change color.

Secure Rub COLOR CHANGE TECHNOLOGY ~ "A"
The Background Color, Color Panel or a Colored Icon changes color briefly when rubbed briskly.

COIN ACTIVATED SECURITY BACK PRINT ~ "A"
The "Anti Copy Symbols and Words are hidden on the back of the sheet. Rub a coin over the back of the sheet to
activate this feature.

VISIBLE FIBER SECURITY ~ "A"
Red and a Blue Fiber are visible within the security paper.

PAPER TONER FUSION ~ "A"
The paper surface is treated to fuse with inks and laser toner in an effort to prevent copy alterations.

CHEMICAL STAIN PROTECTION ~ "P"
Sensitivity to high and low polarity solvents, oxidants, acids and alkali.

LENTICULAR HOLOGRAMS ~ "A"
An optical variable hologram with words or letters engraved as a latent image. To verify original - tip to light

ERASURE PROTECTION ~ "A"
A Colored Background caused ink to be removed when document has been erased.

GHOST WATERMARK ~ "A"
Verify the document is an original by tipping towards light, marking with a dark high lighter, or rubbing with
edge of coin

SECURITY WATERMARKED PAPER ~ "A"
To Verify the document is an original, hold up to light to view watermark in the paper

HIDDEN MESSAGE PANTOGRAPH ~ "P"
Words such as "UNAUTHORIZED COPY" - "VOID" - "COPY" appear on copy when document is photocopied or
scanned

SECURITY PHANTOM ~ "P"
A distinctive icon disappears when rubbed and when photocopied

ODT Security ~ "P"
Message such as "UNAUTHORIZED COPY" appears on copy when document is photocopied or scanned

Other OVERT features - "A"
Warning Bands
Micro Printing
Security Backgrounds
Security Notification Padlock Icon
Security Features Warning Box

Other COVERT features - "P"

-Out" Micro Printed lines


Paper

Important Notes about UV Printing
The combined use of mercury and metal halide lamps as UV lamps is recommended.
UV ink can easily undergo excessive emulsification. Please restrict the amount of water used in press dampening
even more than you would with oil-based offset printing.
Standard UV lamps will cause stretching in YUPO due to the generation of heat. Use a low-heat lamp (water-
cooled or infrared-filtered type) and ensure that the temperature between stacked YUPO sheets does not exceed
50C.
Although ink adhesion strength may in some cases appear insufficient immediately following printing, it will
improve with the passage of time.
Interdeck irradiation with anything other than a low-temperature lamp is not recommended. Use of a standard UV
lamp may cause miss registration due to heat or ink blanket removal due to poor ink adhesion.
When printing, complete the job by putting the paper through a multi-color printing press once only. This will
help prevent miss registration or measurement errors caused by excessive heat.
If repeated printing or two-sided printing cannot be avoided, aerate for cooling as soon as possible following the
initial printing, perform a blind printing, and perform additional printings only after the paper has returned to as
close to its original temperature as possible.
The area around the UV lamp is prone to becoming dry and generating static electricity. To avoid problems:
(1) Maintain humidity at over 50% in the delivery area
(2) Use of an air ionizer or other static remover can be effective


Security paper is a paper that incorporates features that can act to identify or authenticate a document as original,
e.g. watermarks or invisible fibres in paper, or features that demonstrate tamper evidence when fraud is
attempted, e.g., to remove or alter print such as amounts or signatures on a cheque. Examples of this kind of
papers are those used for identification such as passports and certificates, such as birth certificates and different
types of academic and qualification certificates, as well as government documents, e.g. voting ballots and tax
strips.

An initial patent for the manufacturing process for security paper was granted to Robert E. Menzies and John E.
Aitken in the early 20th century. According to the patent, the method by which security paper was produced
involved using a soluble thiocyanate (such as ammonium thiocyanate) and lead, which could be used to create an
insoluble salt, lead thiocyanate. This compound would then bind to the paper pulp, adding weight and
diminishing visibility of the inner contents of the envelope.
Under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, Public Law 108-458, December 17, 2004,
7211(b)(3)(A), 118 Stat. 3826, reprinted in the Official Notes to 5 USC 301, all states are required to issue their
birth certificates on "safety paper" which is "Designed to prevent tampering, counterfeiting, or otherwise
duplicating the birth certificate for fraudulent purposes

Techniques

Various techniques exist to implement security paper, particularly for reducing copying. These include:
Single or multi-tone watermarks thus the same paper stock must be used in copies
A colored or patterned background, so erasures or alterations are visible
Dithered patterns, notably a finely dithered background VOID word, which on original is largely
indistinguishable from the rest of ground (due to having same overall density), but when copied becomes visible,
due to either the scanner or the printer not being able to reproduce the required resolution (effectively a high
frequency signal that is smeared out by copying).
Microprinting
Phosphorescent fibres in the paper that can only be seen in UV-light, or fibres visible in daylight
Metallised threads
(Prolonged) exposure to UV or oxygen causes a pattern to appear on the paper (e.g. to indicate expiry)
Holographic images
Scratchable surface, e.g. on lottery scratchcards, to indicate when information has been revealed
Chemical sensitisation of the paper, e.g. ink erasers or sensitivity to acids/alkalines
Taggants added in the coating or in the base paper; chemical "DNA" that can only be decoded by special means
and acts as a unique identifier
A note on the paper describing the security measures, so they can be checked