Advanced Copier & Printer Technology
Advanced reprographic technology improved dramatically during the
1990s. The technology is expected to continue to improve into the next
century. Some types of equipment can accurately reproduce the colors
and fine-line detail of security documents and are seen as a threat to
currency.
Market surveys indicate that as quality, affordability, and availability
increase, advanced equipment is becoming the standard in offices, copy
centers, and printing facilities. The color copier/printer of the '90s
has been compared with the color television of the '70s, when color
became the standard, rather than the exception.
Sophisticated copiers, printers, electronic digital scanners, color
workstations, and computer software, which today can interface with each
other, can present threats to currency. This equipment does not require
extensive expertise to operate and is becoming widely accessible through
copy centers, corporate offices, and even home use. For this reason, it
is important to incorporate security features in U.S. currency that will
be effective in countering this type of threat.
Advanced Full-Color Copiers
Advanced full-color copiers use a digital electrophotographic process to
produce high quality plain paper copies. Some of these copiers
interface with personal computers, allowing the user to scan an image
directly into the computer or print an image from the computer.
Digital Scanners
Scanner equipment electronically scans an image or text from an original
document and digitizes it into a computer-readable form. With the
proper software, a user can display and edit an image on-screen, store
it electronically, print the image in color or use it to make offset,
letterpress or gravure printing plates.
Color Inkjet Copiers and Printers
Color inkjet copiers utilize scanner technology to digitize an image.
They can produce good quality reproductions on plain paper, are widely
available and inexpensive. The machines then can be used to scan an
image into the computer or to output an image. A typical counterfeit
note printed from an inkjet printer/copier can be detected fairly easily
by properly examining the note for security features.