Using multiple technologies to enhance the security of a card just makes sense. With a photograph alone, you can be fairly certain that the person holding the card is the person in the photo. With a legible signature, you add another level of certainty that the card holder is who he or she claims to be. Holograms, micro printing, and UV text help ensure that the card has not been counterfeited – that the card was issued by the agency it was purported to be issued by. Adding encoded information to a bar code or magnetic stripe, such as a hidden serial number, or detailed physical characteristics of the card holder, also increases the card’s security.

A smart card with an embedded computer microchip can even hold a biometric template that positively identifies the card holder by a unique physical characteristic, such as the shape of a hand or a fingerprint.

To prevent counterfeiting, alteration or duplication, there are other techniques that companies can employ with digital printers. For example, they can deploy multiple security images or holograms. One security image alone increases the difficulty of counterfeiting and two makes it at least twice as hard. The holographic image lamination process also provides a rich-looking card. Multiple screenings of the same photograph increase integrity. This is practically the norm on driver licenses and national ID cards. Unique graphic identifiers, such as allowing only the red-bordered cardholders to access an area, help differentiate security levels.

Card stock with pre-printed security features, including ultraviolet-visible text and graphics, can be easily purchased. With micro-printing, text can be added to a user’s specifications, with deliberate random font changes and misspellings if desired. Pre-printed serial numbers can also be incorporated into card stock to add security. Printers with a magnetic stripe or a smart card encoder can be set up to function only with serial numbered card stock.

Fine-line Guilloche patterns with hidden micro-text are aimed at foiling counterfeiters, and micro-printing of text and miniature graphic elements are also difficult to duplicate. An over-laminate film adds security to the printed ID card. The inner surface of the laminate can be pre-printed with OVI ink or UV-visible ink in one, two or three colors. Laser etching is another option. Finally, today’s high-tech printers can also laminate with holographic metallization, including embossed micro-text.

About the AVISIAN Publishing Expert Panel At the close of each year, AVISIAN Publishing’s editorial team selects a group of key leaders from various sectors of the ID technology market to serve as Expert Panelists. Each individual is asked to share their unique insight into what lies ahead. During the month of December, these panelist’s predictions are published daily at the appropriate title within the AVISIAN suite of ID technology publications: SecureIDNews.com, ContactlessNews.com, CR80News.com, RFIDNews.org, FIPS201.com, NFCNews.com, ThirdFactor.com, and DigitalIDNews.com.