Anti-counterfeiting Features of Invisible Barcodes [Step Shell Printing]

Anti-counterfeiting Characteristics of Invisible Barcodes【Step Shell Printing】

(1) Overlay-type Invisible Barcode. After the barcode is printed, it is covered with a specific film or coating. The barcode processed in this way is difficult for the human eye to read and cannot be identified by general barcode recognition equipment, thus forming an overlay-type invisible barcode, such as the ink-based invisible barcode currently used domestically. This type of barcode is not easy to counterfeit, thus providing a certain anti-counterfeiting effect; however, it still occupies a certain area, affecting the integrity of the packaging decoration pattern and resulting in less than ideal decorative effects. Additionally, the amount of information it represents is relatively small, which greatly limits its use.

(2) Photochemical Processed Invisible Barcode. This type of barcode is created by processing a standard visible barcode using photochemical methods. After processing, the barcode is very difficult for the human eye to detect, and cannot be read by light of ordinary wavelengths or non-specific light. This is the photochemical processed invisible barcode. During its production, the key is to ensure the processed barcode remains unchanged from the original, such as having no chemical spots, clear edges between bars and spaces, being non-toxic, odorless, and non-aging, to guarantee correct reading. The photochemical processed invisible barcode is completely invisible and does not occupy dedicated space, resulting in excellent decorative effects.

Furthermore, this barcode can be used for secret anti-counterfeiting, designed as a dual barcode anti-counterfeiting system. The specific process is: a non-readable barcode is placed in the conventional barcode position (the barcode appears on the surface, but the computer cannot read it correctly), while a truly readable invisible barcode is placed in another position for the scanner to read, thus creating a dual barcode secret anti-counterfeiting system.

(3) Invisible Ink Type Invisible Barcode. This barcode is printed using invisible ink, employing the same printing process as ordinary barcodes. Invisible ink type barcodes can be divided into colorless functional ink printed barcodes and colored functional ink printed barcodes. The former are generally printed using special inks such as fluorescent ink, thermochromic ink, or phosphorescent ink. This type of invisible barcode requires specific lighting during printing and corresponding sensitive light sources for recognition. Colored functional ink printed barcodes are usually printed using color-changing inks. Since the invisible ink type barcode does not require special printing processes, the printing technology is easy to master. However, the issue of anti-aging for invisible inks remains.Low cost, offering a clear price advantage in printing. This type of barcode requires specialized recognition equipment. Additionally, there is another type: paper-based invisible barcode. The invisible medium of this barcode is integrated with the paper through special photochemical treatment, cannot be peeled apart, is for single-use only, cannot be recognized by the human eye, and cannot be copied by visible light photography or photocopying. It can only be identified by a scanner emitting a specific wavelength to read the information within the barcode.

Anti-counterfeiting Characteristics of Invisible Barcodes【Step Shell Printing】