This page contains a glossary of security document terms. You can cut and paste them into your Web site or use them in newsletters or other printed pieces. Try using one or two of them at a time to keep in front of your clients the idea that document security is important and requires the expertise of a printing professional.

Glossary of Document Security Terms

Bleed-Through Numbering (also called dual image numbering)
Numbers printed on the face of a document that also appear on the reverse side in red ink. The effect is achieved with special ribbons or penetrating inks.

Chemical Reactive Papers (also called chemical sensitive papers)
Papers that react, sometimes with a void message, to chemicals such as bleach or a chlorine-based ink eradicator. Custom papers are available to react to chemicals specified by a customer.

Coin Reactive Inks
A colorless ink that changes to black when rubbed with a metal object, such as a coin.

Copy Void Pantograph
Screens designed to show the word "void" when a document is copied.

Covert Features
Features not visible to the naked eye, and thus, difficult for criminals to detect and re-create.

Erasable Inks
Inks that disappear when someone tries to erase a document to alter it.

Fibers
Fibers, both visible and invisible, in a variety of lengths, thicknesses and colors integrated into the paper. Black lights must be used to check for invisible fibers, but visible fibers can be verified with the naked eye.

Fluorescent Inks
Inks, both visible and invisible, that fluoresce under black lights.

Microprinting
The use of a very small font size to produce type that appears as a fine rule to the unaided eye.

Padlock Icon
Licensed by the Financial Stationers Association and used on checks that meet security guidelines established by the FSA.

Pantographs
Depicting images such as sunrises and water droplets that appear to fade in and fade out on documents and are thus difficult to scan or copy.

Photochromic Inks
Available in visible and invisible shades that change color when exposed to ultraviolet light. They return to their original colors when the light source is removed.

Positive Pay
A check matching service provided by some banks that allows a company to send an electronic file to its bank listing checks it issued. The bank will match the checks (as they are cleared through the item processing area) to the file. The bank tells the company as each check appears and the check amounts.

Thermochromic Inks (also called heat sensitive or temperature sensitive inks)
Inks that change color when exposed to heat, including body heat or heat from a copy machine.

Uniform Commercial Code (UCC)
Guidelines that can be adopted in whole or in part by individual states. Since it revision in 1990, both the bank and the customer can share the liability for fraudulent checks. Thus, both parties must show "ordinary care" or "due diligence." Some people have interpreted this to cover everything from incorporating security features in checks to storing checks properly for safekeeping. Revised articles 3 and 4 have been adopted by most states; interpretation of terms can vary.

Warning Bands
Alert document recipients, such as bank tellers and cashiers, to document features. They are most effective when specific: "The face of this document has a colored check background, bleed-through numbering and microprinting."

Watermarks
Generally come in three types which are visible when a document is held up to light or at an angle. Artificial, also called fake or pseudo watermarks, are created using a white ink or light varnish and can be printed in fluorescent ink so they glow under U.V. light. True or Fourdrinier watermarks are created on a paper machine by pressing an image into the paper while it's still wet. Mold made watermarks, also called cylinder mold watermarks, are created by embossing fine wire cloth with the watermark design. The cloth is then used as a strainer for the pulp and water—where the cloth is recessed, it attracts more fibers, increasing the paper thickness and allowing for a range of tones to be produced.