Security printing resource
What is Security Printing?
Security printing is a specialised area of printing that integrates a wide range of techniques, materials and technologies designed to prevent counterfeiting, forgery and tampering. It plays a vital role in protecting the authenticity of documents, packaging and products across industries — from government-issued items like passports, tax stamps and banknotes, to commercial products such as branded labels, cheques, certificates and event tickets.
Unlike standard printing, security printing involves features that are often hidden or difficult to replicate, including holograms, UV-reactive inks, microtext, watermarks, colour-shifting inks, tamper-evident materials and digitally trackable elements. These are carefully selected based on the level of security needed, the risks of misuse and the method of distribution.
The aim is not only to authenticate genuine items, but to make the replication of fraudulent copies economically unviable or easily detectable. Security printing is a critical part of brand protection, regulatory compliance and document integrity in both public and private sectors.
Who is this website for? ... what's the benefit to me?
Our free resource has been designed for the specific purpose of educating people about security printing and how they can choose the correct security features, suppliers and machinery for cost-effective protection of their products and documents against product piracy and counterfeiting.
The owners of this site have run successful printing businesses and have first-hand experience of the caveats and production issues with in-house secure printing. We also pass on our extensive brokering skills for the successful outsourcing of security documents, printed tickets and brand protection labels. This knowledge and experience is free and we hope that you find the information useful and will recommend to business associates and colleagues.
The website has been broken into sections which we feel give a good representation of the techniques and products that encompass secure printing.
If you are looking to source a security printing company to request any of these products or services, please fill out the contact us form and we'll do our best to help you!
Latest glossary entries
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Security printing applications
Government and corporation documents
This includes revenue documents, ballot papers, fiscal stamps, government documents and security certificates.
Brand protection and asset management
This involves the process of manufacture and supply of highly secure labels for the protection of intellectual property and assets.
Holograms and OVDs
A hologram or optical variable device (OVD) usually forms the backbone of most security solutions, so it warrants its own section.
Cheque printing and value documents
APACS printed cheques and production of secure vouchers. Read about the different types of security techniques that can be used.
Accreditation bodies
Qualifications, approvals and assurances that security printers should possess - ensuring they will not compromise your security or integrity.
Technologies and glossary
Provides definitions of the most common terms used in security printing, such as types of inks, security papers and printing techniques.
Update: 21/4/25 Modified/Updated text on page