Printed documents and packages, even for high value goods like Pharmaceuticals, are generally susceptible to counterfeiting. This is due in pan to the use of "static" elements for most of the printed elements. Even when "variable" data features—such as bar codes, lot numbers, and expiry dates—are used, they are typically identical for pallets or larger lot sizes. This aids the would-be counterfeiter. With variable data printing (VDP) technology, every printed element on a package is, potentially, part of a multi-feature authenticating design. VDP, in combination with liquid electrophotographic (LEP) technologies, provides an opportunity to change the nature of security printing. VDP provides precision control over the individual dots, while LEP technology provides precision registration of more than a dozen layers of ink. This allows a novel "layered" deterrent, with an innately shifting deterrence strategy, to be created using variable print strategies on each of the multiple layers. This shifts the need for specialized printing techniques to the need to accommodate variable ink approaches. In our talk, we will overview the astonishing variability that can be provided in a single, modestly-sized security print feature through the use of infrared/ultraviolet fluorescent inks, infrared opaque and transparent black inks, inks containing taggants, magnetic ink, and inks with differential adhesive properties to enable sandwich printing. This variability provides covert and forensic protection to complement the overt protection of such known techniques as guilloche and microtext. Finally, when overprinting (metallic inks, lenticular printing, etc.) is considered, an extraordinary number of possible encryptions are available on very little package "real estate". We consider the permutations available in our presentation.
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