Print Techniques

Question 1

Print Techniques

Answer 1

• offset
• letterpress
• intaglio
• hot foil stamping

Question 2

Offset - how to recognize

Answer 2

• no print relief
• high quality of the shape
• good outline definition

Question 3

Offset characteristics

Answer 3

• straight edges
• flat in surface
• no hall/no squash
• no grid pattern
• no indentations/embodiment

Question 4

Fine Line, True Colour Offset in secure Documents

Answer 4

Characteristics
- fine lines
- Solid/true colours/Pantone colours

Question 5

Letterpress

Answer 5

The particularities when examining are:

• raised method of printing which creates overflowing (squash) of ink on the contours of the letter or number
• creates an indentation (embossing effect) where the text is printed
• Gives a visible contour like a halo effect

Question 6

How to recognize letterpress

Answer 6

• indentation on the front and embodiment from rear
• ink squash and halo effect (beaded edge)
• poor outline definitions

Serial Numbers are usually printed using letterpress

Question 7

Intaglio

Answer 7

The particularities when examining are:

• the ink lies on top of the substrate
• tactile sensation (feel of steel)
• the thickness of the ink on the sun substrate can be made visible using the side lighting
• the paper Mayr incur an indentation (debossing) effect on the reverse side.

Question 8

Intaglio characteristics

Answer 8

• thick
• raised feel
• no halo/squash
• Generally no grid pattern
• may have indentation on reverse on reverse side

Question 9

Intaglio printing - how to recognize

Answer 9

• tactile positive relief
• harsh tactile relief/”feel of steel”
• solid fine lines

Question 10

Hot foil stamping

Answer 10

The particularized when examining are:

• the foil may show tear marks along the contoured of each character
• the substrate will be indented

Question 11

Hot foil stamping - Characteristics

Answer 11

• does not use ink
• the edges may show signs of tearing - as die pulls away from the substrate
• evident indentation
• halo may appear on letters/images

Question 12

How to recognize Hot Foil Stamping

Answer 12

• halo around contour of characters
• the substrate may be indented
• may have tear marks along edges

Question 13

Security features in the print technique

Answer 13

• Rainbow printing
• multicolouring process
• guilloche patterns
• see through register
• micro-printing
• latent image
• floating numbering
• exploding font

Question 14

Rainbow printing

Answer 14

• gradual change in colour
• subtle shift producing rainbow effect - not easily reproduced by photocopy
• in secure documents we see it in offset

Question 15

Rainbow printing - how to recognize

Answer 15

• subtle shift in colour
• colours flow into one another - no distinct borders
• smooth transition

Question 16

Multiple colouring Process

Answer 16

In intaglio

More than one colour is printed simultaneously and accurately with only one printing plate.

• the different inks do not blend together but rather overlap