With so many security inks on the market, the usual question is simple: which one should I use? The answer comes from three questions — who will verify it, how will it be printed, and what is it printed on. This guide compares 12 anti-counterfeit and specialty inks in one table and gives selection advice for common applications.
Step 1: Decide who verifies — this sets the security level
Security inks fall into three tiers by verification threshold:
- Public security (naked eye): consumers see the effect with no tools at all — OVI optically variable ink (shifts color when tilted), thermochromic ink (reacts to hand warmth) and photochromic ink (develops color in sunlight). Ideal where consumers should check authenticity themselves.
- Professional security (simple tools): verified with a UV lamp or banknote detector — UV invisible (fluorescent) ink. Suited to channel inspection, retail verification and customs sampling.
- High security (dedicated equipment): requires an IR light source or dedicated detector — IR excitation ink. For documents, banknotes and negotiable instruments where the counterfeiting barrier must be very high.
The higher the threshold, the harder to counterfeit and the higher the unit cost. Most brands combine public and professional security to balance consumer experience with security strength.
Step 2: Check printing process and substrate
Inks differ greatly in process compatibility: UV offset suits high-volume paper work; screen printing is the most versatile and most common for security inks thanks to its thicker film; flexo and gravure suit continuous web packaging; pad printing suits small irregular parts; inkjet handles variable data and one-code-one-item marking. Non-absorbent substrates such as plastic, metal and glass usually need a dedicated resin system and surface pre-treatment, while paper and fabric are more about color fidelity and flexibility.
Step 3: Selection table for 12 security inks
| Ink type |
How it is verified |
Threshold |
Printing process |
Typical applications |
| OVI optically variable ink |
Color shifts with viewing angle |
Naked eye |
Screen, offset, gravure |
Banknotes, passports, tobacco & liquor, luxury packaging |
| IR excitation ink |
Glows under 980nm IR light |
Dedicated IR device |
Offset, screen, flexo, gravure |
High-security documents, banknotes, instruments |
| UV invisible (fluorescent) ink |
Fluoresces under 254/365nm UV |
Banknote detector |
Offset, screen, flexo, gravure, inkjet |
Tickets, tobacco & cosmetics packaging, security labels |
| Thermochromic ink |
Changes color with hand warmth or temperature |
Naked eye / touch |
Water-based screen |
Cold-chain and food indicators, tamper-evident caps |
| Photochromic ink |
Develops color in sunlight or UV |
Naked eye in light |
Screen, offset |
Hang tags, event tickets, cosmetics and food packaging |
| Glow-in-the-dark ink |
Glows in the dark after charging |
Naked eye in the dark |
Screen, offset |
Safety markings, toys and creative goods, packaging effects |
| Scratch-off ink |
Scratch the cover to reveal information |
Physical scratching |
Screen |
Scratch cards, lottery tickets, PIN layers, security covers |
| Card signature ink |
Signature panel writing performance |
Functional |
Screen, pad |
IC and bank card signature strips, ID signature areas |
| Card gold & silver ink |
Metallic visual finish |
Decorative |
Screen, pad |
Bank, membership and gift card decoration |
| Plastic packaging ink |
— |
Decorative |
Screen, pad, gravure |
PVC/PC/PP/PET packaging, housings and tubes |
| Paper & fabric packaging ink |
— |
Decorative |
Screen, offset, flexo |
Gift boxes, paper bags, hang tags, webbing and labels |
| UV curing ink |
— |
Functional |
UV offset, UV screen, UV flexo |
Commercial and packaging printing, labels, cards |
Recommendations by application
- Tobacco, liquor and premium cosmetics packaging: use OVI optically variable ink as the main visible security feature (consumers verify by tilting), plus UV invisible ink for channel verification — strong both in prestige and security. For plastic or paper substrates, pair with plastic or paper & fabric packaging ink as the base.
- Documents and instruments (high security): combine IR excitation ink with UV invisible ink (dual wavelength), managing detectors by clearance level for the highest counterfeiting barrier.
- Cold chain and food temperature indication: thermochromic ink — irreversible grades for permanent records, reversible grades for repeated use.
- Event tickets, hang tags and interactive marketing: photochromic ink for the main effect and thermochromic ink for touch interaction — cost-effective and engaging.
- Scratch cards, top-up cards and lottery tickets: scratch-off ink with a matching primer or barrier layer for firm coverage and clean scratching.
- Bank, membership and ID cards: signature ink for the signature strip and gold/silver ink for decoration, with a UV varnish on top for abrasion resistance.
Why layer multiple security features
A single security feature fails completely once it is copied, so the industry standard is layered protection: layer one, public security (OVI, thermochromic, photochromic — visible to the naked eye for consumer self-checks and brand engagement); layer two, professional security (UV invisible, IR excitation — requiring tools or equipment for channel and regulator verification); layer three, machine readable (IR absorbing invisible codes and one-code-one-item marking for systematic traceability and anti-diversion). With all three, a counterfeiter must simultaneously defeat optical, material and machine-detection barriers, sharply raising the cost.
Three things most often overlooked when selecting
- Validate substrate and process first: the same ink can differ greatly in adhesion between coated paper and PP plastic. Request free printed proofs and run a trial on your actual substrate before committing.
- Confirm your detection equipment up front: whether UV invisible ink should be 254nm or 365nm, and which band your IR detector uses, both affect formulation. Confirming equipment first avoids repeated tuning.
- Check environmental compliance early: products exported to the EU need REACH and RoHS consideration; toys and stationery must meet EN71.3. Every security ink we supply can be provided in a compliant version on request.
Need help choosing?
Tell us your product type, substrate, printing process and detection equipment and we will provide free printed proofs plus a selection proposal — test before you order. Call +86-13510998453 / +86-13510514531, or leave a message via the inquiry form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Selection, detection, printing and ordering — answered.
Is a more expensive security ink always more secure?
Not strictly. Price mainly reflects the cost of functional materials (such as OVI multilayer optical pigments or IR excitation compounds) rather than security level alone. Selection should match the verification scenario: choose public security (OVI, thermochromic) when consumers verify for themselves, and layer professional security (UV invisible, IR excitation) when channels or regulators verify. Using the wrong tier wastes cost without achieving the goal.
How do I decide which security ink my product needs?
Work through three steps: (1) who will verify — consumer, channel or regulator — which sets the security tier; (2) your printing process (offset, screen, flexo, gravure, pad, inkjet) and substrate; (3) the service environment — contact with washing, heat, solvents or long-term outdoor exposure. Send these three to your supplier and you will get a targeted recommendation and proofs.
Can several security inks be overprinted on the same package?
Yes, and it is recommended. A common setup layers public security + professional security + machine-readable security: for example OVI as the visible main feature, UV invisible for channel verification, and IR absorbing invisible codes for system traceability. Watch the drying and compatibility between layers and run a full proof set first.
How do proofs and minimum order quantity work?
We provide free printed proofs for color and effect validation; the customer only covers actual courier costs. Samples and goods are delivered only to a destination within mainland China. MOQ can be discussed based on the specific ink type and packaging, and small-batch custom requirements are welcome.
What about environmental compliance of security inks?
Our main products — UV invisible, thermochromic, IR excitation and optically variable inks — can be supplied in REACH- and RoHS-compliant versions, and toy and stationery grades can meet EN71.3. If you export to the EU or another regulated market, tell us before ordering and we will provide the corresponding test documentation.
Does the quotation include freight and taxes? How are overseas orders settled?
Quotations for overseas customers cover the product price only, excluding freight and taxes, because overseas customs and logistics costs fluctuate too much to build into a quotation. Samples and goods are delivered only to a destination within mainland China; overseas logistics and customs clearance are handled by the buyer. Settlement terms can be discussed during inquiry.
Still deciding? See the full 12-ink selection comparison table →