Security Features: Offset Printing

Security Features: Offset Printing

Mattcard produces the following security features and combines them with offset printing technology to ensure that your access and identification cards are safe to use and impossible to duplicate.

  • Guilloche patterns are complex patterns of fine lines formed with curves drawn according to mathematical principles. Guilloche patterns are such an effective anti-counterfeiting measure that they are used on practically all banknotes across the world. 
  • Holograms are a flat optical image that appears to be three-dimensional. It is virtually impossible to duplicate a hologram with any known printing techniques. Hologram cards offer the best anti-fraud security measure for cards.
  • Holographic overlays provide the option of a full foil background that gives the card a holographic iridescence, making it unique and eye-catching. Not only do cards have a background that shimmers, but they also have an iridescent quality that can be seen by moving the card to show off luminous colours that seem to change.
  • Hot stamping, or foil stamping, is used for cards with a special value or whenever the authenticity of a card needs to be protected. Hot stamping enables coloured or metal foils to be transferred to the surface of the card with heat and pressure. This technique is frequently used by banks and credit companies as hot stamps help to prevent counterfeiting.
  • Thermochromic ink is resistant up to a set temperature; there are thermochromic inks that react at 25, 28 or 30 degrees. The ink is applied over a specific area of the card’s surface to cover sensitive data or a graphic design printed on the background of the card. When the area on which the ink has been applied is heated , the underlying image or data is revealed. This technique can be combined with other printing technologies so that it is impossible to duplicate the access device.
  • The magnetic stripe can be printed with customised text and design elements as well as special colour effects. This security feature is visible to the naked eye and can be detected without a verification device. MattCard offers this customised feature for both LoCo and HiCo magnetic stripes.
  • Micro Text is a security process that involves printing exceedingly small text that cannot be read with the naked eye in a specific position on the card’s surface. Micro text can be incorporated into the card and cannot be duplicated with dye-sublimation, inkjet or laser printers.
  • Optically variable ink (OVI) is a special type of ink and security measure that changes colour depending on the angle at which it is viewed. When used in silkscreen printing, optically variable ink (OVI) works best when the design can accommodate an area of full uninterrupted coverage.
  • UV ink is a security measure that adds something unique to a plastic card. Ultraviolet ink is invisible to the human eye, but lights up and becomes visible when UV light is shone on the card. This technique is used as an additional security measure for cards so that it is almost impossible to duplicate the card.