IRISWITCH™

Type: Printed iridescent security feature — pearlescent ink applied to the opacified topcoat of polymer banknote substrate

Overview

Iriswitch™ is a CCL Secure proprietary security feature exclusive to the Guardian™ polymer banknote platform. The inks are printed on the opacified topcoat of the substrate, forming interactive features that shift between visibility and obscurity, appearing as a pearlescent sheen when viewed from different angles. The effect is characterised by its subtlety at rest and its immediacy when activated by tilting — making it a distinctive and behaviourally unique authentication cue for the public.

Technology & Effects

Iriswitch™ exploits the smooth, non-porous surface of Guardian™ polymer substrate to maximise the iridescent pearlescent effect of a specialised interference ink. The feature appears transparent when viewed at right angles, but becomes iridescent and pearlescent when the banknote is tilted. This on/off switching behaviour — invisible at one angle, shimmering at another — is characteristic of thin-film interference pigments that interact with light differently depending on the angle of incidence. The effect cannot be replicated convincingly on paper substrates, where the ink would be partially absorbed into the fibres, reducing the intensity and precision of the pearlescent response.

The denomination-specific colour of the pearlescent sheen can be customised to align with the note's overall design palette, reinforcing denomination differentiation across a banknote series.

Form Factors & Application

Iriswitch™ can be designed as a stripe pattern, patch, or image overlay, giving designers considerable flexibility in how the feature is integrated into the note's face. It is applied to the opacified topcoat of the substrate — distinct from the window area — meaning it sits within the printed surface of the note rather than in the transparent zone. This positions it as a complementary feature to window-based elements such as Aurora™, Metalix™, and GSWITCH™, typically appearing on the reverse of the note or as a band running across the printed face.

Security Levels

Iriswitch™ operates as a Level 1 (public) authentication feature. The tilt-activated visibility switch is immediately intuitive — the note either shimmers or it doesn't — and requires no tools or training to verify. The pearlescent effect produced by genuine Guardian™ polymer is notably difficult to simulate on counterfeit substrates, where the required surface smoothness and ink interaction characteristics cannot be achieved with paper or commercially available film alternatives.

Notable Deployments

Each of the four Philippine peso polymer denominations includes Iriswitch™, which appears transparent when viewed straight on but reveals a pearlescent colour when tilted, with the switch colour designed to match the primary colour of each denomination — blue for the PHP 1000, gold for the PHP 500, lilac for the PHP 100, and red for the PHP 50. The Central Bank of Oman's commemorative OMR 1 polymer banknote features Iriswitch™ on the reverse, where the pattern appears as a pearlescent sheen when the note is tilted. Romania's 20 Lei Guardian™ polymer banknote incorporates an Iriswitch™ stripe on the reverse. The Banco de Moçambique polymer series also uses Iriswitch™ as an iridescent band on the reverse, revealing the denomination and central bank logotype when held to the light.

Name

IRISWITCH™

Category

Security Feature

Effect Types

Iridescent

Company

CCL Secure
Company Website

Product Page

View on Supplier Site

Linked Features

3 security features