Bank notes are typically printed using a process called offset printing, in which ink is transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket and then onto the paper.
The process begins with the creation of a master plate, which is typically made from a material such as steel or aluminium. The plate is engraved with the image and text that will appear on the banknote, and then inked and pressed onto the paper.
The paper used for printing bank notes is specially designed to be difficult to counterfeit, and often includes security features such as watermarks and holograms.
De La Rue is the only provider of polymer substrate that also manufactures finished banknotes, combining substrate and print design for exceptional product integration. State-of-the-art combinational technology is used to create a wide palette colour change that is precisely coupled with striking movement effects.
