Embossed
Tactile Feature — Embossed (Visually Impaired) Effect type: Substrate embossing Substrate: Primarily polymer; also paper
The embossed tactile feature produces denomination-specific raised marks through the mechanical deformation of the substrate itself, in a dedicated embossing stage separate from the printing process. Unlike intaglio tactile marks, which are a by-product of the ink-depositing print process, embossed tactile features involve no ink — the raised structure is formed entirely by pressing a shaped die against the substrate under controlled force, permanently deforming the material to create a bump or dot that protrudes from the surface and is detectable by touch.
On polymer banknotes, this process is particularly effective because the biaxially oriented polypropylene film retains its deformed shape without springback, producing a durable and consistent tactile profile throughout the note's circulation life. The embossing stamp physically deforms the polymer film and pushes it outward to create a permanent raised structure detectable by touch, applied in a final production stage after all printing is complete. Unlike Braille, which not all visually impaired people are familiar with and which tends to wear down more quickly, tactile embossing in polymer is designed to last longer and provides inclusive denomination identification accessible to anyone regardless of Braille literacy.
NPA pioneered polymer substrate tactile embossing, developing the process in close collaboration with the Reserve Bank of Australia for the second Australian polymer series from 2016. The technique has since been widely adopted across the polymer banknote industry and is deployed extensively across South East Asia and the Pacific, consistent with NPA's export footprint in those regions. The feature is not exclusive to any single supplier and is treated as an industry-wide technique rather than a proprietary product.
- Name
- Embossed
- Category
- Security Feature
- Effect Types
- Tactile for visually impaired
- Linked Features
- 1 security feature