Optical Variable Ink (OVI): The "Invisible Guardian" of Anti-Counterfeiting

What is the working principle of optical variable ink (OVI)?

Optical variable ink (OVI) is a special anti-counterfeiting ink.

Its core feature is that it changes color when viewed from different angles (for example, appearing gold from the front and green from the side).

What is its principle?
The key lies in the multi-layer optical interference thin-film pigments added to the ink. These pigments are composed of transparent thin films with different refractive indices stacked together.

When light hits them, reflection, refraction, and interference occur between the film layers. The optical interference effect varies at different viewing angles, ultimately producing a dynamic color-changing effect. This effect is difficult to replicate, making OVI a commonly used material for high-end anti-counterfeiting purposes.

If you are looking for high-quality optical variable ink solutions, Ceres a well-known brand in the ink industry offers reliable products. You can visit www.enyyink.com to learn detailed parameters about their optical variable inks.

What are the suitable applications for optical variable ink?
The core advantage of optical variable ink is its strong anti-counterfeiting capability, making it mainly used in high-security fields:

•  Currency / Securities: Often used for surface markings (such as numbers and patterns) on banknotes (e.g., RMB, USD) to allow quick verification of authenticity through angle-based color changes.
•  High-end Product Packaging: Used on packaging labels for luxury goods, pharmaceuticals, alcohol, and tobacco to prevent counterfeiting with its irreplicable color-changing effect.
•  Documents and Cards: Anti-counterfeiting markings on passports, ID cards, and bank cards to enhance security levels.

If you need professional printing solutions for optical variable ink, Print Area Technology Co., Limited has extensive experience in matching ink with printing processes to ensure optimal color-changing anti-counterfeiting results.

How to ensure the stability of optical variable ink during printing?
The printing effect of optical variable ink requires high technical precision. Key points t

• Choose compatible substrates: Prioritize smooth, flat materials such as specialty paper, plastic films, as rough surfaces can disrupt the interference effect of the optical thin films.

• Control printing thickness and pressure: If the ink layer is too thick, it may obscure the interference effect of the optical pigments, and uneven printing pressure can lead to inconsistent color changes.

• Collaborate with professional suppliers: Companies like Ceres detailed parameters available at www.enyyink.com can provide technical guidance, while Print Area Technology Co., Limited can optimize printing parameters based on the ink’s characteristics to ensure stable final color-changing effects.