Is your product security stuck in the past? Microtext, or microprinting, was once the go-to solution for embedding tiny, hard-to-replicate text in high-value documents. Today, however, high-resolution scanners and printers have made microtext an unreliable security measure.
By the 1990s, microtext usage protected everything—from banknotes to product packages. The concept was simple: produce text and images on such a small scale that only specialized microprinting equipment, like offset or intaglio presses, could handle.
The minute details in microprinted text were beyond the reach of typical digital devices available to counterfeiters. Even if counterfeiters tried replication, the fake microtext was relatively easy to spot, getting blurry or pixelated under magnification.
However, things have changed. Counterfeiters now have access to affordable tools that can easily reproduce what used to be cutting-edge. Microtext simply isn’t the strong defense it once was. While the reproduced text by counterfeiters still can’t be as sophisticated as the genuine ones, the detection requires training and tools.
In this article, learn the limitations of microtexts and how you can bypass the challenges and commit to the latest technology.
The Drawbacks of Microtext
Microprinting initially provided brands with a basic, low-cost, and visually subtle feature that was difficult to replicate. Most currency notes still use microtexts as a security measure, including Euros and American dollars. But as digital printing and replication technologies have evolved, microtext, much like microfilm, has become more of a challenge for the brands that rely on it. Let’s dive into why small texts no longer meet the security needs of modern brands.
1. Limited Readability
Microtext was never meant to be readable with the naked eye. Its whole purpose was to require magnifying tools or specialized tabs and equipment for verification. But this has become one of its biggest weaknesses.
People expect fast, intuitive ways to verify authenticity and would prefer to skip extra steps. Asking someone to pull out a magnifying glass to check a product’s package isn’t practical anymore—microtext just doesn’t meet modern expectations. The problem is worse when it’s printed on uneven or textured surfaces.
It’s also impractical for fast-moving environments, such as retail or customs inspections. Imagine an inspector needing to verify the authenticity of dozens of items quickly—the additional steps required to find and verify the security feature make it inefficient as a primary security measure.
2. Precision Printing Requirements
Micro texts aren’t easy to produce. The production requires specialized equipment and techniques, like offset and intaglio, capable of high dots-per-inch (DPI) resolution. It must also have exact control over dot gain (the spread of ink on the substrate) to keep the text sharp and bold. Any deviation in printing quality will lead to blurry printed material, causing inconvenience in reading. This difficulty in replication is one reason it was once effective at identifying counterfeits.
Yet, this also means inefficient production for brands. If you manage high-volume production, maintaining the quality of printing across batches is a real challenge. Even genuine documents can face quality control issues, leading to blurry or unreadable microtexts over time due to handling wear.
3. Vulnerability to Modern Counterfeiting
Counterfeiters can now reproduce microtext using affordable desktop printers and scanners. It’s no longer a serious barrier for counterfeiters. In fact, it’s become one of the easiest security features to bypass.
Counterfeiters generally use two types of methods to replicate:
- Digital scanning and printing: Counterfeiters use high-resolution scanners and digital printers to capture and reproduce basic visible details in a single scan, making the process quick and relatively low-cost. However, this method doesn’t produce sophisticated microtext, limited in print fidelity.
- Highly specialized printing techniques: Some counterfeiters might use technically advanced offset or intaglio printers, which allow them to replicate these fine details with a level of precision closer to genuine security printing. This approach, while more complex and time-intensive, can produce counterfeited texts with highly accurate details.
4. Difficulty in Maintenance
Microprinted text, like any other printed material, is sensitive to environmental conditions and the printing material. For example, high temperatures or moisture can blur or fade the text, while constant handling can wear it off. Since the temperature and other environmental factors can’t be controlled, microtext isn’t reliable for long-term security.
The Advantages of Invisible Features with Visible Ink
So, what’s the next step in brand protection? How can you overcome the limitations of microtext without disrupting your existing designs?
The answer lies in the usage of covert security features—advanced, hidden solutions that work alongside microtext, creating a multi-layered defense that’s far more difficult to replicate.
These covert features go beyond the visible elements, offering security that’s invisible to the naked eye but easily verifiable through specific tools like a smartphone app. The nice thing about combining visible microtexts with these hidden elements is that you can build a security system that balances reading for legitimate users with hidden layers that counterfeiters can’t detect or easily reproduce.
To understand how these features work, let’s clarify the difference between overt (visible) solutions and covert (invisible) security features and explore why pairing both can be a game-changer for your brand’s protection strategy.
- Overt Features: There are different types of visible elements—such as holograms and watermarks. They provide an initial level of authenticity that can be checked with the naked eye. However, because they are visible, they’re also easier for counterfeiters to detect and replicate.
- Covert Features: Invisible security features like Cryptoglyph require specific devices or apps for verification, making them difficult for counterfeiters to detect. These features are embedded within your product package and are nearly impossible to replicate without specialized knowledge.
If you’re already using microprinting, you can pair it with an invisible feature like Cryptoglyph. This removes the need to redesign your packaging, while still creating a security layer. Here are some more benefits of combining the two:
1. Improved Readability
Unlike microprinted text, which needs magnification and specific knowledge to search and find, invisible features like Cryptoglyph can be easily authenticated with a smartphone. This makes verification fast and user-friendly, especially for customers and retail staff who don’t have training in complex authentication methods.
As you’re adding an added invisible feature, it doesn’t disrupt the product’s design or require magnification tools. The convenience especially comes in handy in environments like retail or customs, where speed and convenience are critical, as well as document security.
2. Enhanced Security
Invisible features provide a higher level of security that microprinting alone can’t achieve. Cryptoglyph, for instance, embeds a pattern of micro-dots into a product’s varnish or ink layer. These covert markers are extremely difficult to detect, let alone copy.
The invisible features also have added benefits like tamper-proofing. Any attempt to remove or alter the feature damages the product, making tampering immediately obvious.
3. Versatile Applications Across Industries
Microtext is limited by its visible nature and specific design requirements. On the other hand, invisible security features are highly adaptable and suitable for diverse applications across industries.
This versatility allows brands to apply the covert feature across product lines, from pharmaceutical packaging to combat drug counterfeits and high-end spirits to automotive parts and cosmetics.
Cryptoglyph as a Modern Alternative
AlpVision Cryptoglyph is a technology that revolutionizes security printing by embedding an invisible, encrypted pattern of micro-dots directly into the product’s varnish or ink layer. It uses advanced software and proprietary programming that counterfeiters can’t access.
Cryptoglyph works with your existing processes, making it a scalable and highly secure microtext alternative. Here’s why Cryptoglyph is the modern security feature your brand needs:
Key Benefits of Cryptoglyph
- Covert yet easily authenticated: While invisible to the naked eye, Cryptoglyph is easily authenticated using a standard smartphone.
- High-level of security: Cryptoglyph’s embedded patterns are almost impossible for counterfeiters to duplicate, offering a security advantage that microtext cannot provide.
- Cost-effective and easy integration: Unlike other covert security features, Cryptoglyph doesn’t require new or specialized printing equipment. You can apply it using standard inks and varnishes, keeping production costs low while delivering high security
Cryptoglyph vs. Microtext: What’s the Difference?
| Feature | Microtext | Cryptoglyph |
| Visibility | Requires magnification | Invisible, undetectable to the naked eye |
| Security | Vulnerable to replication | Highly secure, hard to replicate |
| Cost Efficiency | Higher quality control cost
|
Cost-effective with standard equipment |
| Application Range | Limited by visibility requirements | Versatile across various applications |
| User Accessibility | Requires training and tools | Smartphone-enabled verification |
Real-World Applications
Cryptoglyph secures more than 30 billion products each year across industries. Here’s how it’s usage spans different industries:
- Pharmaceuticals: Pharmaceutical counterfeiting is a serious concern, and companies are using Cryptoglyph to protect packaging. Cryptoglyph is easily embedded in blister packs, bottles, and labels, safeguarding patient trust and regulatory compliance.
- Tobacco industry: Major tobacco brands have integrated Cryptoglyph into their packaging, providing an invisible, tamper-resistant layer of security that helps protect against counterfeited tobacco and increase revenue and brand integrity.
- Automotive lubricants: Cryptoglyph’s secure markers ensure that only genuine automotive products reach consumers, protecting brands and preventing costly mechanical issues.
- Spirits and alcohol: Alcohol brands use Cryptoglyph to secure bottle labels, offering invisible protection that preserves brand reputation and assures consumers of product authenticity against fake wine and spirits.
Future-Proof Your Security Strategy with AlpVision
Microtext was once a strong measure in the history of anti-counterfeiting. But today, it’s become more of a liability than an asset. It’s difficult to read, frustrating to produce, and, most importantly, no longer offers the level of security your products deserve.
The good news? There’s a better way and technology. Brands must commit to modern solutions like Cryptoglyph that provide invisible features without changing your existing microtext. These solutions deliver stronger security without the drawbacks of outdated methods.
By adopting invisible features, you uphold your license to quality with a seamless, easy-to-use authentication process that keeps your products secure and customers confident. In a world where brand authenticity is everything, Cryptoglyph doesn’t just keep your products safe—it protects your reputation.
Contact us to see how you can implement covert security along with your existing security feature.
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