Reliable security depends on the use of both covert and overt features. not your mother’s document securityīut Aaron is adamant that customers not rely on one security feature to protect important documents. The Panto4000 is better than the public domain pantographs that exist,” he says. “The others are okay and they work, but I’d rather not offer something that could have more problems. Aaron says, “The older technology is based on the dot pattern, and the Panto4000 is based more on a line, giving the copier more surface area to appear.” Aaron is confident he’s giving his clients the best feature to protect their documents. Instead of giving clients a choice, Micro Format has chosen Panto4000 as their default because it’s one of the best security features. This is a new feature that builds on the traditional VOID technology. This is one reason Micro Format will only use the Panto4000. All Micro Format security products use layer-on-layer security features to keep documents secure. Micro Format sells prescription pads and other security papers that include the VOID pantograph, but they don’t count on the VOID alone to protect the document. Because it is a de facto feature and has been in existence for so long, security experts are concerned about how reliable it really is when protecting documents. The VOID pantograph has long been a popular security feature. This means security features must evolve, too. As technology continues to advance, criminals are finding new ways to exploit security features meant to protect documents, including traditional pantographs. The pantograph becomes visible when the document is photocopied. Usually invisible to the naked eye, they typically spell out “void”, “copy” or some other indicator message.
A pantograph in security printing is a method of making copy-evident and tamper-resistant patterns in the background of a document. Aaron was asked to weigh in on the subject of old pantographs in a recent article featured on the Print Services & Distribution Association website. Is it time to VOID old pantographs? Aaron Singer, owner and security expert at Micro Format, thinks so.