MASK™
De La Rue (United Kingdom)
MASK™ is a level 1 hide-and-reveal print security feature for paper and polymer banknotes. It operates on a simple but effective dual-state principle: viewed normally in reflected light, the feature appears as a solid block of coloured pattern; held up to transmitted light, hidden imagery becomes visible — typically denomination numerals, central bank initials, or other design-specific text.
The effect is achieved through a combination of a dark or strong base colour with white, creating the contrast necessary for the transmission reveal. The simplicity of the authentication action — hold the note to the light — makes it one of the most accessible public recognition features available, requiring no equipment, no training, and no explanation.
MASK™ is well-suited for visually linking notes across a denomination series, appearing in consistent positions but with colour or shape variants that distinguish each value. Its compatibility with both paper and polymer substrates makes it a practical crossover feature when a central bank is transitioning a series from paper to polymer, preserving familiar authentication behaviour across the changeover.
The feature is applied during lithographic printing stages, making integration into existing or new banknote designs straightforward, and it can be retrofitted onto existing series without significant redesign.
Authentication level: Level 1 (unaided public recognition). No machine-readable component.
- Name
- MASK™
- Category
- Security Feature
- Effect Types
- Embossing
- Company
-
De La Rue
Company Website - Product Page
- View on Supplier Site
- Linked Features
- 1 security feature