EP2318217B2 - Fiduciary or similar document comprising color block designs and copperplate printing, and manufacturing method for same - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fiduciary document or similar, of the type which comprises a support on which are provided security printing. It also relates to a process for obtaining it.

"Fiduciary document" means all documents such as banknotes, checks, bank cards, used to transmit a sum of money. By "assimilated document" is meant all the documents issued by an administration of the State to attest to the identity of a person, his rights to drive a vehicle ... Non-limiting, we can mention the map identity, passport, driving license, etc. By this expression is also meant any document used to authenticate an object of value. This may be for example a label affixed to a luxury garment.

One of the main lines of research for new fiduciary securities is the development of easily identifiable elements by the man in the street, but with a high level of complexity in terms of elaboration.

Such are the case of the watermark in paper and holograms, to name only the latter. More generally, inks intended for the printing of safe visual effects (iridescence, color change depending on the angle of observation, etc.) consist of mixtures of substances that are difficult to obtain and / or whose formulations are complex. We understand that the level of security of these inks, in theory not found for non-professionals, is a first important element of security.

It is important to consider, however, that printing techniques that use special inks in the fiduciary printing industry form the other side of security.

First, a high level of graphic design of the elements to be printed is the basis of this security.

Then, a wide range of printing techniques (offset, screen printing, intaglio, flexography, typography ...) can be implemented during the realization, some of these techniques, such as soft-cutting, being very specific to fiduciary printing business.

In addition, the combination of printing processes makes it possible to obtain design finesse, pattern interweaving, alliances effects very difficult to reproduce with standard printing equipment and even more easily detectable in the case of counterfeiting, or falsification using mass-produced reproduction equipment (scanner, laser printers or color inkjet etc ...).

To combine the simplicity of the effect and the difficulty of elaborating (and therefore reproducing) a fiduciary security element, it is then interesting to associate the complexity of the substances used with the originality of the effects they present. with desirable graphic designs and different printing techniques, which are themselves difficult to implement and / or unavailable in the public domain.

It should be mentioned, however, that the development of new effects on inks inevitably leads to significant research costs.

In this same perspective, the two axes mentioned (inks - graphic design / printing techniques) can be combined to raise the level of security accordingly, but this increases the cost of manufacture.

Thus, for printers whose profession is the production of valuable documents, it is therefore essential to focus on the core business, that is to say the graphic design and printing techniques to ensure a high level of security for its customers and, of course, control of production costs.

One of the known techniques for concealing a pattern or text in a set printed on a medium is that of the latent image made in intaglio, the main feature of which is that it is a tactile impression in relief (mechanical deformation of the support, surmounted by a thick layer of ink, the whole up to 100 micrometers).

According to this technique, a background is printed in relief, with or without ink, preferably without, according to a first line of stroke and with a given inclination, and the pattern to be hidden is inserted therein, so as to generate a break in this frame, at a different angle, for example orthogonal to the first inclination, so that the latent image is difficult to locate in a direction of normal observation to the plane of the support, but detectable in grazing observation.

Several latent images can be nested. One of the drawbacks of this technique is that when it is desired to obtain a clearly visible graphic for the pattern or the printed text, it is sometimes possible to detect it relatively easily from several angles of observation, including the normal angle.

The opposite is also true, that is to say that if the hidden graphics is very discreet, it will be even more difficult to find. The corollary of all this is that the graphics to hide can only be simple.

We describe in the document US 4715623 a document with security prints made by intaglio printing, without ink. In the first embodiments, there is an "invisible message" which is made by intaglio printing in an orientation of lines perpendicular to the orientation of the lines of the background. Thus, depending on the viewing angle and the orientation of the light source, the "invisible message" is revealed in light or dark form relative to the background.

In another embodiment, a message is printed on the document that is above the intaglio print.

It is therefore a particular technique for producing a latent image in dry stamp (soft size without ink) visible only in specular reflection in a specific angle range (viewing angle with respect to the surface of the support ). On the other hand, the hidden mark is visible only in a given area of lateral angle (angle of the axis of observation relative to the axis of the reliefs / grooves of the lines of said mark).

We are dealing with a security consisting of a dry stamp in the form of a latent image that can be more or less concealed.

With regard to the "anti-photocopy" and "anti-scanner" funds, two main techniques are known.

The first is to disrupt the image acquisition step during the luminous scanning of the camera, including patterns with light reflective materials on the original (holograms, metallic inks ...), which will appear black or gray on the copies.

Today, however, there are very similar counterfeits of holograms. On the other hand, inks with shiny metallic effects are becoming more accessible for counterfeiters.

The second technique used for these anti-copy funds is to perform entanglements of lines with multiple frequencies of scintillation and broken, intended to interfere with the reproduction of the copy at the chosen final resolution and thus to cause moiré effects. However, again, with the evolution of equipment, the performance of these funds is less and less satisfactory.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve these problems by proposing a fiduciary or similar document which has a reinforced level of protection and whose first-level security elements favor, on the one hand, their recognition by the general public and, on the other hand, , ensure effective protection against reproduction and, in particular, against the use of scanners and / or photocopiers.

It is therefore a fiduciary document or similar, such as a bank note, a passport, an identity card, the type that includes a support on which are provided security impressions.

• un premier motif constitué d'une impression d'une première encre sous forme d'un à-plat , ajouré ou non ;
• au moins un deuxième motif, non identique au premier, constitué d'une impression d'une deuxième encre sous forme de traits et/ou d'au moins un à-plat, l'un des deux motifs recouvrant au moins partiellement l'autre, lesdites première et deuxième encres étant identiques et de même couleur ;
• une impression en taille douce qui recouvre au moins la surface commune auxdits premier et deuxième motifs,

de sorte que :

• le motif qui présente la surface la plus grande est visible et l'autre motif est au moins partiellement invisible à l'oeil nu, selon un éclairage naturel ou artificiel, sous réflexion spéculaire,
• tandis que ledit autre motif devient intégralement visible à l'oeil nu selon un éclairage naturel ou artificiel sous la forme d'une source lumineuse diffuse.

In accordance with the invention, the security impressions include:

• a first pattern consisting of an impression of a first ink in the form of a flat, perforated or not;
• at least one second pattern, not identical to the first, consisting of an impression of a second ink in the form of lines and / or at least one flat, one of the two patterns at least partially covering the other said first and second inks being identical and of the same color;
• a intaglio print that covers at least the common surface of said first and second patterns,

so that :

• the pattern which has the largest surface is visible and the other pattern is at least partially invisible to the naked eye, according to a natural or artificial lighting, under specular reflection,
• while said other pattern becomes fully visible to the naked eye in natural or artificial lighting in the form of a diffuse light source.

Thanks to this set of characteristics, the man of the street will be able to discern, according to the orientation of his observation vis-à-vis the document, one or other of the reasons.

Moreover, said other motive is undeniably confirmed during a transmission observation through the document (transvision). In this case, however, any calendered zones and / or latent images previously generated in intaglio are invisible.

Moreover, as soon as a photocopy of this fiduciary document is made, only one reason will appear, namely the one that occupies the largest area, which will easily determine the fraudulent origin of this document.

• ledit deuxième motif est imprimé sur le premier motif ;
• ledit deuxième motif est contenu intégralement à l'intérieur du premier motif ;
• lesdits premier et deuxième motifs présentent un effet brillant ;
• lesdits premier et deuxième motifs sont imprimés en offset, sérigraphie, flexographie ou typographie ;
• lesdites encres sont choisies parmi les encres incluant des constituants métalliques, les encres optiquement variables, les encres magnétiques optiquement variables, les encres iridescentes, les véhicules imprimables ayant des propriétés de réflexion de la lumière ;
• ladite impression est en taille douce avec encre ;
• ladite impression est en taille douce sans encre, c'est à dire qu'elle constitue un timbre sec.
• ladite impression en taille douce comporte au moins une zone calandrée et/ou une image latente ;
• ladite impression en taille douce recouvre au moins la surface du premier motif ;
• ladite impression en taille douce est en repérage avec ledit premier motif.

According to other advantageous features of the invention:

• said second pattern is printed on the first pattern;
• said second pattern is contained integrally within the first pattern;
• said first and second patterns have a shiny effect;
• said first and second patterns are printed in offset, screen, flexographic or letterpress;
• said inks are selected from inks including metallic constituents, optically variable inks, optically variable magnetic inks, iridescent inks, printable vehicles having light reflecting properties;
• said printing is intaglio with ink;
• said impression is intaglio without ink, ie it constitutes a dry stamp.
• said intaglio printing comprises at least one calendered zone and / or a latent image;
• said intaglio printing covers at least the surface of the first pattern;
• said intaglio printing is in registration with said first pattern.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a document according to one of the preceding characteristics.

• réalisation d'un premier motif par impression d'une première encre sous forme d'un à-plat, ajouré ou non ;
• réalisation d'au moins un deuxième motif, non identique au premier, par impression d'une deuxième encre, identique à et de même couleur que la première encre, sous forme de traits et/ou d'un à-plat, l'un des deux motifs recouvrant au moins partiellement l'autre ;
• réalisation d'une impression en taille douce qui recouvre au moins la surface commune auxdits premier et deuxième motifs.

This process comprises the following successive steps:

• performing a first pattern by printing a first ink in the form of a flat, perforated or not;
• making at least one second pattern, not identical to the first, by printing a second ink, identical to and of the same color as the first ink, in the form of lines and / or a flat, one two patterns at least partially covering the other;
• performing a printing intaglio which covers at least the common surface to said first and second patterns.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows of a preferred embodiment.

• la figure 1 est un schéma représentant un billet de banque comportant des impressions de sécurité conformes à la présente invention ;
• les figures 2 à 4 sont des schémas qui représentent les différentes étapes du procédé de fabrication du document de la figure 1 ;
• les figures 5 à 7 sont des schémas destinés à illustrer ce qui est vu par un observateur lorsqu'il observe le document de la figure 1, en réflexion spéculaire ou autre.

This description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 is a diagram showing a bank note with security prints in accordance with the present invention;
• the Figures 2 to 4 are diagrams that represent the different stages of the process of manufacturing the document of the figure 1 ;
• the Figures 5 to 7 are diagrams intended to illustrate what is seen by an observer when he observes the document of the figure 1 , in specular reflection or other.

This description is given with reference to a bank note 1 such as that shown in FIG. figure 1 .

However, it is understood that the present invention applies to any other fiduciary document or similar, whose passport and identity card are non-limiting examples.

To facilitate consultation of the figure 1 , we have contented ourselves with representing there the impressions of safety which constitute the heart of the invention, as well as the mention of its facial value 2.

In other words, all other impressions and mentions usually present on such a ticket are not represented, for the sake of simplification.

The ticket 1 has a front face 3 and a reverse side 4.

According to the invention, the front face 3 comprises a first pattern 5, a second pattern 6, and a printing intaglio 7.

Of course, the reverse side 4 could have similar impressions or different shape.

In the example shown here, the first pattern 5 consists of a schematic representation of the map of France. The second reason is constituted by the vertical succession of the letters of the word 6 "FRANCE".

Furthermore, the intaglio printing 7 covers the two patterns 5 and 6. It is in registration with respect to the pattern 5.

Observation of Figures 2 to 4 to understand how these impressions are made.

In a first step, it is the first pattern 5 which is printed on the front side of the note. This printing is carried out using a first ink, in the form of a flat 50, that is to say a uniform covering of all of this pattern with said ink.

Advantageously, the ink used has a brilliant effect.

Even more advantageously, the ink in question is selected from inks including metallic constituents, optically variable inks, optically variable magnetic inks and iridescent inks.

It is preferable to use an ink having a silvery shiny effect, printed for example in offset, but it is nevertheless possible to envisage using inks having different shades, such as gold, red, green or blue.

The second pattern 6 is made by printing a second ink in the form of a flat and this pattern covers part of the first pattern.

In other words, in line with the second "FRANCE" pattern, there are two superposed layers of ink, so that the density of material in this region is greater than that present in the remaining regions of the pattern 5, preferably at least double.

In the example shown here, the second pattern consists of a word, in this case "FRANCE".

However, other reasons may be considered. It may be a more complicated structural design for example of an emblem or coat of arms of the State issuing the ticket 1, or any other printable pattern, understandable or not.

In the present example, the second pattern covers a small portion of the first pattern 5.

In different embodiments not shown, it is quite possible that this second pattern 6 completely covers the extent of the first pattern, or even extends beyond it. In this case, it will be perforated to leave areas with a single layer of ink.

In yet another embodiment, the second pattern 6 may partially overlap the first pattern 5 and extend outwardly therefrom.

In an embodiment not shown, the print order is reversed, which means that the "second pattern" 6 is printed first.

According to the invention, an ink of the same color as that used to print the first pattern is used. This is the same ink.

These two inks, in a preferred embodiment, will be offset printed.

The third step of the method consists in producing a intaglio printing 7 which covers at least the common surface of the first 5 and second pattern 6.

In this case, in the example shown here, the intaglio printing 7 covers the entire surface of the first pattern 5; she is in tracking with the latter.

Note however the presence of two zones 70 and 71. The first 70 is here in the form of a square and has no network of embossing lines, which is a calendering.

The second 71, in the form of a triangle, has a network of lines oriented perpendicularly to the basic network of the printing 7, which constitutes a latent image, this triangle being visible only at certain viewing angles.

This intaglio printing is performed with or without ink, but preferably in the form of a dry stamp.

This treatment has the effect, thanks to the embossing, of masking the pattern 6. In addition, the calender zone 70 has the effect of locally increasing the brightness of the inks previously used, which contributes, in another way, to hide the reason 6.

Finally, the latent image 71 in the form of a triangle increases the security of the assembly.

We will now refer to Figures 5 to 7 which illustrate modes of observation of the ticket 1.

The case of figure 5 represents an observation with the naked eye in specular reflection according to a natural or artificial lighting L.

According to this observation mode in which the observation angle with respect to the surface of the note is an angle α around 45 °, only the first pattern 5 is observable, because of the embossing subsequent to the printing in 7. The element 70 is also detected as a calender zone (mirror) and the element 71 as a latent image.

On the other hand, and as illustrated in figure 6 as soon as the document is observed by means of a diffuse light symbolized by the fact that the illumination of the light source L is stopped by a screen E and thus comes from all directions with equal intensities, then the patterns 5 and 6 are revealed. This is true for a wide variety of viewing angles P (from grazing observation to observation at an angle perpendicular to the document.

In any case, the presence of the two motives confirmed, unambiguously, by observing the document in transvision, as shown by the figure 7 .

The user of such a ticket can therefore itself and without any apparatus, to note the presence of the different security impressions carried by the ticket.

On the other hand, since a photocopy of such a document will be made, the embossing of the intaglio printing 7 will not be reproduced or in a very degraded and therefore recognizable manner, as well as the brilliant effect of inks.

Moreover, only the first graphic 5 will be copied.

Therefore, counterfeiting will be directly discernible.

The prints of the first and second patterns can be made by any suitable method, for example in flexography or screen printing, preferably in offset.

This offset technique will be advantageously used for the realization of the second pattern to obtain complex details and finesses that counterfeiters will have difficulty reproducing, without obtaining a faithful digitization.

Claims (12)

1. A fiduciary document or similar (1), such as a banknote, a passport, an ID card, of the type which comprises a substrate (3) on which security imprints are provided, characterised in that said security imprints comprise :

   - a first design (5) constitutes printing a first ink in the form of a block print (50), perforated or not;

   - at least one second design (6), not identical to the first, constituted by printing a second ink in the form of dashes and/or at least one block print, one of the two designs covering at least partially the other, said first and second inks being identical and of the same color;

   - intaglio print (7) which covers at least the surface common to said first and second designs (5, 6), such that:

   - the design (5) which has the largest surface is visible and the other design (6) is at least partially invisible to the naked eye (O), according to natural or artificial light (L), under specular reflection,

   - while said other design (6) becomes fully visible to the naked eye (O) according to a natural (L) or artificial lighting, which has the form of a diffuse light source.
2. The document as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that said second design (6) is printed on the first design (5).
3. The document as claimed in any one of Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that said second design (6) is fully contained inside the first design (5).
4. The document as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said first and second designs (5, 6) exhibit a brilliant effect.
5. The document as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said first (5) and second designs (6) are printed via offset, silk-screen printing, flexographic printing or letterpress.
6. The document as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, characterised in that said inks are selected from inks including metallic constituents, optically variable inks, optically variable magnetic inks, iridescent inks, printable vehicles having light reflection properties.
7. The document as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said print (7) is intaglio with ink.
8. The document as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that said print (7) is intaglio without ink, that is, it constitutes an embossing stamp.
9. The document as claimed in any one of Claims 7 and 8, characterised in that said intaglio print (7) comprises at least one calendered zone (70) and/or a latent image (71).
10. The document as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said intaglio print (7) covers at least the surface of the first design (5).
11. The document as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said intaglio print (7) is in register with said first design (5).
12. A production process for a document (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises the following successive steps:

    - making a first design (5) by printing a first ink in the form of a block print, perforated or not (50) ;

    - making at least one second design (6), not identical to the first, by printing a second ink, which is identical to and of the same colour as the first ink in the form of dashes and/or a block print, one of the two designs at least partially covering the other;

    - printing in intaglio (7) which covers at least the surface common to said first (5) and second designs (6).

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