Print Techniques Flashcards
Print Techniques
- offset
- letterpress
- intaglio
- hot foil stamping
Offset - how to recognize
- no print relief
- high quality of the shape
- good outline definition
Offset characteristics
- straight edges
- flat in surface
- no hall/no squash
- no grid pattern
- no indentations/embodiment
Fine Line, True Colour Offset in secure Documents
Characteristics
- fine lines
- Solid/true colours/Pantone colours
Letterpress
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
How to recognize letterpress
- 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
Intaglio
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.
Intaglio characteristics
- thick
- raised feel
- no halo/squash
- Generally no grid pattern
- may have indentation on reverse on reverse side
Intaglio printing - how to recognize
- tactile positive relief
- harsh tactile relief/”feel of steel”
- solid fine lines
Hot foil stamping
The particularized when examining are:
- the foil may show tear marks along the contoured of each character
- the substrate will be indented
Hot foil stamping - Characteristics
- 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
How to recognize Hot Foil Stamping
- halo around contour of characters
- the substrate may be indented
- may have tear marks along edges
Security features in the print technique
- Rainbow printing
- multicolouring process
- guilloche patterns
- see through register
- micro-printing
- latent image
- floating numbering
- exploding font
Rainbow printing
- gradual change in colour
- subtle shift producing rainbow effect - not easily reproduced by photocopy
- in secure documents we see it in offset
Rainbow printing - how to recognize
- subtle shift in colour
- colours flow into one another - no distinct borders
- smooth transition
Multiple colouring Process
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
