What is tobacco packaging security ink
Tobacco packaging security ink is printing ink formulated for cigarette cartons, packs, inner liners, tear tape and seals. It introduces features that can be verified in a specific way — UV fluorescence, IR excitation, OVI colour shift, thermochromic and glow-in-the-dark — so that a pack becomes verifiable without changing its existing artwork or layout.
Shenzhen Sojhonink Co., Ltd. was founded in 2002 and produces nearly 1,000 tons of ink a year. We have supplied security inks to cigarette-pack printers as a long-term partner, working across offset, gravure, screen and flexo processes, adjusting formulation to the substrate, layout and post-press requirements, and providing free printed proofs for colour selection and press trials.
Why tobacco security is a combination, not a single technology
Cigarette counterfeiting has one of the most developed supply chains of any category. Once a single security feature is identified or replicated, that entire layer of protection is worth nothing. The established industry practice is to stack features by detection threshold into three mutually backing layers:
- Consumer layer (no tool needed) — OVI colour-shift and thermochromic ink. Tilt the pack, or cup it in your hand, and the answer is immediate.
- Channel and inspection layer (a common small tool) — UV fluorescence. A single 365 nm banknote lamp verifies it; the cost is trivial and the tool is everywhere.
- High-security layer (dedicated equipment) — IR excitation. It only reveals colour under a 980 nm IR source, which makes replication hardest — the right choice for critical covert marks.
With all three layers present, breaking one still leaves the others independently verifiable. This is why we recommend a combination rather than a single ink.
Five security inks commonly used on tobacco packaging
| Ink type |
Detection |
Barrier to check |
Printing process |
Typical location |
| UV invisible (fluorescent) ink |
Blue, yellow, red or green fluorescence under a 365 nm UV lamp |
Low (banknote lamp) |
UV offset, UV flexo |
Carton / pack covert mark, inner liner |
| OVI optically variable ink |
Two or more colours as viewing angle changes |
Very low (naked eye) |
Screen, offset, gravure |
Key visual, security mark |
| IR excitation ink |
Excited by 980 nm IR (green / red / blue); 850 / 940 nm absorbing codes on request |
High (dedicated device) |
Offset, screen, flexo, gravure |
High-security covert mark |
| Thermochromic (heat-sensitive) ink |
Colour change from body heat or warming; trigger temperature customisable (28℃ / 31℃ / 45℃ etc.) |
Low |
Water-based screen |
Indicator-type security, interactive design |
| Glow-in-the-dark ink |
Glows unaided in the dark after light absorption |
Low |
Screen, offset |
Safety marking, novelty effect |
For a wider cross-comparison — including packaging, card and scratch-off series — see the Ink Selection Guide, which compares inks by detection method, detection threshold, printing process and typical application. Definitions and aliases of the technical terms are collected in the Security Ink Glossary.
Choosing by pack position
Tobacco security is not a single coat over the whole pack — features are assigned by position. The following division of labour reflects how we usually work with cigarette-pack printers:
| Position |
Recommended combination |
Notes |
| Carton, key visual |
OVI + UV invisible |
OVI carries first-glance consumer recognition; UV invisible adds inspection-side verification |
| Pack front |
UV invisible covert mark (thermochromic optional) |
Keep the mark clear of large solid areas and post-press zones |
| Inside the flip-top lid |
UV invisible / IR excitation |
Visible only after opening — good concealment, suitable for high-security marks |
| Inner liner |
UV fluorescent |
Large area, low aesthetic demand — well suited to spreading covert features |
| Tear tape |
UV fluorescent (with fluorescent fibres possible) |
Commonly combined with material-side security |
| Seal |
OVI + UV invisible |
Small area — concentrate highly recognisable features here |
Three recommended combinations by security level
In practice, ink combinations are tiered by security level and cost budget. The three tiers below are the starting points we usually propose on cigarette-pack projects and can serve as a basis for discussion:
| Tier |
Combination |
Suited to |
Verification |
| Entry |
UV invisible ink (single layer) |
Mid- and lower-tier specifications, verification mainly on the inspection side |
365 nm UV lamp |
| Standard |
OVI + UV invisible |
Mainstream specifications, covering both consumer self-check and inspection-side verification |
Naked-eye tilt + UV lamp |
| High security |
OVI + UV invisible + IR excitation |
Premium specifications and critical covert marks that require dedicated equipment |
Naked eye + UV lamp + 980 nm IR source |
Thermochromic and glow-in-the-dark inks are normally added on top of any tier as supplementary features — thermochromic leans towards interaction and indication, glow-in-the-dark towards safety marking and novelty. Neither is usually treated as a primary security layer. We suggest discussing tiering and cost trade-offs together once artwork details are available.
Press and process notes
The result depends as much on the press as on the formulation. The points below matter most when running security inks on tobacco packaging:
Offset
- For UV invisible ink we recommend a UV-curing system, which matches the UV offset process common on cigarette packs and avoids re-wetting conflicts with underlying layers.
- The layering order affects final fluorescence intensity — confirm it on the actual press before going to volume.
Gravure
- Tobacco carton gravure often uses solvent-based systems. Confirm compatibility between the security ink and the solvent in use, so the fluorescent material is not dissolved or diluted.
- Where drying temperatures are high, check the tolerance limit of thermochromic inks.
Screen
- Screen printing suits a localised, thicker film — the right choice for colour-shift and thermochromic inks that need film thickness to develop fully.
- Mesh count, squeegee hardness, dilution ratio and drying conditions must be determined by trial on the actual substrate and press.
Note: the processes listed above are each ink’s compatible range. Specific mesh, squeegee, dilution and drying parameters depend on substrate and equipment — we recommend confirming by proof before volume production.
Working with holograms, microtext and variable QR codes
Cigarette packaging normally carries several security features at once. Ink-based security is not a replacement; it fills the part that is printable, customisable and adds no extra post-press step:
- With laser holograms — the hologram carries large-area visual security; place covert marks around it or beneath it to create a “visible + invisible” pair.
- With microtext — microtext needs a loupe, invisible ink needs a UV lamp. Different tools, so each backs up the other.
- With variable QR codes — the QR code delivers item-level coding and traceability; the ink covert mark addresses the case where the code itself is copied. We recommend verifying both code and mark.
Sourcing, proofs and compliance
- Packaging — 1 kg cans and 5 kg drums; minimum order quantity is flexible and can be discussed per project.
- Proofs — printed proofs are provided free of charge for colour selection, fluorescence strength and general appearance. Ink samples are priced by weight.
- Quotation — prices cover the ink itself only and exclude freight and taxes. Delivery is to a customer-designated location within mainland China.
- Compliance — the UV invisible, OVI, IR excitation and thermochromic series can be supplied against standards including EN71.3 and REACH. Compliance documents required for a specific project can be provided on request.
- What we need before proofing — substrate type and grammage, printing process and press, post-press steps (foiling / lamination / varnish / die-cutting), and the intended artwork and security mark positions.
To discuss a combination for a specific cigarette-pack project, send your artwork and process details through Contact and we will propose an ink combination and arrange proofing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Selection, detection, printing and ordering — answered.
Which security inks are typically used on cigarette packs, and how are they combined?
The common approach is a three-layer combination by detection threshold: a consumer layer using OVI colour-shift or thermochromic ink (no tool required); a channel and inspection layer using UV fluorescent ink (a single 365 nm banknote lamp is enough); and a high-security layer using IR excitation ink (needs a 980 nm source). On a cigarette pack, a typical division is OVI plus covert UV on the carton key visual, with high-security marks inside the flip-top lid.
How is a covert security feature on a cigarette pack verified, and what equipment is needed?
UV fluorescence needs only a 365 nm UV lamp (a banknote lamp works). IR excitation requires a 980 nm IR source. OVI and thermochromic inks need no equipment at all — tilt the pack or use body heat. We therefore recommend keeping at least one feature verifiable without any tool and one requiring dedicated equipment, so both ends are covered.
Where on a cigarette pack is UV invisible ink best placed?
Blank areas of the carton or pack, inside the flip-top lid, and the inner liner are good positions. Avoid large solid areas and post-press zones such as foiling, lamination, varnish and die-cutting. The final positions depend on artwork structure and post-press steps, and are normally settled during the press proof.
Will thermochromic ink on a cigarette pack be triggered accidentally in transit?
Thermochromic ink is reversible, so normal temperature fluctuation in transit returns to the original colour. To limit accidental triggering, choose a trigger temperature matched to actual use (28℃ / 31℃ / 45℃ are common) and check the tolerance limit of high-temperature drying steps such as gravure. We recommend customising the trigger temperature per project and confirming it by proof.
What environmental requirements apply to security inks for tobacco packaging?
The UV invisible, OVI, IR excitation and thermochromic series can be supplied against standards including EN71.3 and REACH. Compliance documents required for a specific project can be provided on request; we suggest confirming which documents are needed at the proofing stage.
How do minimum order quantity and proofing work?
Packaging is 1 kg cans and 5 kg drums; minimum order quantity is flexible and can be discussed per project. Printed proofs are provided free of charge for confirming colour, fluorescence strength and general appearance; ink samples are priced by weight. Quotations cover the ink itself only, excluding freight and taxes, with delivery to a customer-designated location within mainland China.
Still deciding? See the full 12-ink selection comparison table →