Glossary

The standard language used to communicate with relational database management systems (ie. systems which store and provide access to data points that relate to one another). SQL statements are used to perform tasks such as updating and retrieving data.

The material or base – eg. paper or film – on which an image is printed or a feature applied.

A mobile or web application that can provide multiple services including payment and financial transaction processing, effectively becoming an all-encompassing self-contained commerce and communication online platform that embraces many aspects of personal and commercial life.

Individuals or organisations involved in moving products from manufacturer to consumer.

Security features that are applied to the surface of a banknote or secure document (eg. foil stripes, foil or optically variable ink patches, iridescent coatings) as opposed to features that are created through combinations of printing techniques or features integrated into the substrate, such as threads, fibres and watermarks.

The most ubiquitous and popular type of hologram, mainly exhibiting a characteristic rainbow-coloured pattern. The details of the hologram image are recorded as an interference pattern on the surface (rather than through the volume) of the material. The value of surface relief holograms is that they can be mass-produced mechanically by embossing or casting a relief pattern or image into an inexpensive thermoplastic film or viscous coating on a film or paper.

A protocol for arranging the bars and spaces of barcodes for the encoding of numbers, letters and binary numbers.

A type of circular particle accelerator. It works by accelerating charged particles (electrons) through sequences of magnets until they reach almost the speed of light. These fast-moving electrons produce very bright light, called synchrotron light.

The property of a banknote or secure document feature that can be felt, often made by means of intaglio printing.

Marks printed in intaglio, recognisable by feel and usually located close to the edge of a banknote.

Molecular or microscopic particle that can be organic or inorganic in composition and exhibit specific and unique physical, biological, chemical or spectroscopic properties. Added in very low concentration to substrates or ink as a covert authentication feature.

A device such as a seal or closure that demonstrates that a product or packaging has been (fraudulently) opened or otherwise accessed prior to its proper use.

A label or tag applied to an item that denotes that tax or excise duty has been paid on the item.

A technique often used on card printers, especially for printing photographs of faces. Consists of a dye carried on a ribbon which sublimes above a specific temperature (ie. changes from solid to gas without passing through a liquid phase). The dye then diffuses into the upper layers of the substrate after which it re-solidifies upon cooling.

A process which produces a printed image by selectively heating coated thermochromic paper. The coating turns black in the areas where the paper is heated, producing an image.

An ink that undergoes a reversible colour shift when heated and then cooled. The temperature change can be quite narrow so the viewer’s external body temperature, by applying, say, a thumb to the printed surface, is sufficient to trigger the transition.

A post-print technology for producing a tactile raised finish. Involves sprinkling powdered resin onto wet ink before heat-fusing it onto the substrate.

A method of coating a very thin film of material – between a few nanometers to about 100 micrometres’ thickness – onto a substrate surface, or onto a previously deposited coating to form layers.

The superposition of two or more lightwaves, causing their mutual amplification or reduction depending on how the phases of these waves are related to each other.

A representation of another object using a non-representative substitute. A sensitive data element, or valuable item, is represented with a non-sensitive equivalent, referred to as a token, with no extrinsic or exploitable meaning or value. The token acts as a reference (ie. identifier) that maps back to sensitive data through a tokenisation system. 

The transformation of the rights to an asset into digital form (token).

The amount by which a measurement or calculation might change and still be acceptable.

The process of identifying the origin of an item or where it has been.

The process of monitoring and recording the past and present whereabouts of an item, as it passes through different operators on its way to its destination.

The process of following an item through the supply chain so its whereabouts are known at all times.

A hologram that can be seen by light passing through the material containing the holographic recording. Ironically, all metallised, embossed holograms are transmission holograms but are conveniently seen by reflected light because the incident light passes through the diffractive grating and is reflected back by the mirror coated on the reverse side.

The passing of light through an object (as opposed to light reflecting off or absorbed by an object). Watermarks in security paper are usually viewed in transmitted light by holding the paper up to the light source.

A transparent area on a banknote incorporating optical effects by applying different elements, such as inkless embossing, liquid crystals or an optically variable device. Currently used both on polymer and paper banknotes.

A person or legal entity providing and preserving digital certificates to create and validate electronic signatures and authenticate their signatories.The TSP has the responsibility to assure the integrity of electronic identification for signatories and services through strong mechanisms for authentication, electronic signatures and digital certificates.

While RFID is a generic term encompassing different operating radio frequencies and standards, UHF is a frequency band covering 300MHz to 3GHz. UHF systems are known for generating long read ranges, up to 12m, whereas high frequency (HF) systems carry a much shorter read range, of approximately 1m. UHF allows for a faster data transfer rate, up to 20 times the range and speed of HF systems.

A photochemical process in which high-intensity ultraviolet light is used to instantly cure or ‘dry’ inks, coatings or adhesives.

A first-level requirement of security paper, which needs to be made from virgin pulp without optical brighteners (ie. which is UV-dull). This is because optical brighteners mask or interfere with UV fluorescent security print and fibres.

Electromagnetic waves located beyond the blue end of the visible light spectrum, commonly defined within the wavelength range of 100nm-400nm. UV light is often used to analyse secure documents and banknotes, and security features such as paper brightness, fluorescent inks and fluorescent fibres. UV lamps used in shops and banks to verify banknotes operate at a wavelength of 365nm.

Colloquially termed ‘web address’. A reference to a web resource that specifies its location on a computer network and a mechanism for retrieving it.

In the context of product traceability, a unique identifier is a serial number, assigned by a central authority for application to unit packages of products for the purpose of track and trace. No two serial numbers are the same, thereby allowing for the identification of individual retail-saleable items throughout the supply chain.

The first, and most common 1D (linear) barcode for retail product labelling, encoding global trade item numbers (GTINs) in line with GS1 international standards. UPCs are composed of 12 digits encoded in a series of vertical lines. The first six digits correspond to the manufacturer’s identification number, the next five represent a specific product type and packaging configuration, and the last one is a check digit.

A material that absorbs energy at a longer wavelength outside the visible spectrum and emits in the visible spectrum. The materials that can achieve this effect are rare and therefore used for security marking.

A process for creating a layer of metal on a substrate. Involves heating the metal target material until it vapourises inside a vacuum chamber. This allows the metal vapour to condensate and form a thin layer over the top of the substrate. Vacuum deposition is a common method of producing security threads.

The use of digital print processes to apply personalised and serialised information, such as unique identifiers and barcodes, to products and documents.

Applied to a banknote, this is the process by which the surface of the note is coated with a layer of varnish with the purpose of decreasing the level of absorption of the substrate, thereby reducing its soiling and prolonging the life of the note in circulation.

Unlike raster images, a vector is not composed of separate dots (pixels). Vector graphics are composed of control points with curves in between them, defined by a mathematical formula. Vector graphics are often used for printing brochures etc., which do not require accurate transmission of all the shades of a particular colour and which can be described by curves. A great advantage of vector graphics is that the scaling of images does not affect their quality. One of the most popular vector graphics editors is Adobe Illustrator.

The process of verifying specific identity, document or product attributes, or determining the authenticity of credentials in order to give authorisation for a particular service.

A small illustration on a banknote that fades into the background rather than being framed by a border.

A technology that immerses the viewer in a computer-generated simulation of a 3D scene and allows them to interact with it using a digital interface. VR devices often use the term ‘hologram’ to describe the heightened sense of realism they provide.

A permission to enter the territory of a country. Can be in the form of a sticker with a multilevel security system, an insert, a stamp or a small sticker. A visa is placed on special pages of a travel document. There are machine-readable and non-machine-readable visas.

The reformation of cellulose to give a textile fibre that may carry security features and be embedded into security paper.

The fraudulent practice of making phone calls or leaving voice messages purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as bank details and credit card numbers.

A cryptographically signed data structure containing document features, encoded as a 2D barcode and printed on a document. The use of a VDS is recommended by ISO 22381:2018 as an open source, trusted entry point to allow all stakeholders to authenticate a unique identifier without having to go online, as well as access information on the security features used on a security document.

Wavelengths within the visible spectrum of 380nm-740nm.

Tamper-evident labels that reveal a covert ‘void’ message when removal of the labels is attempted. Also refers to anticopy labels that, upon scanning, reveal the word ‘void’ in the copy.