Glossary of Tax Stamp Terms
There are 69 entries in this glossary.All
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Offset printing |
the technique whereby ink is spread on a metal plate with etched images, then transferred to an intermediary surface such as a rubber blanket, and finally applied to paper by pressing the paper against the intermediary surface. Also known as lithography |
| Optically variable device (OVD) |
visible features with dynamic characteristics that change according to the viewing angle – for example from one colour to another, or from one image to another |
| Overt |
features that are apparent and visible, and can be viewed without additional readers or instruments. |
| Phosphoresence |
see Luminescence. |
| Piracy |
illegal reproduction and distribution of copyright material, generally taken to be audio and video content. |
| Planchettes |
microscopic discs made of film or plastic containing features such as UV, IR and even holograms. They can be visible or invisible and are embedded into paper during manufacture. |
| RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Dev |
small microchips containing, or able to contain, unique and individual information related to the item to which the chip is attached. The chip, and therefore the information, is addressed by means of radio waves which are conveyed to the chip by means of an attached antenna. These devices are now so small that they can be neatly implanted into plastic cards or paper. They can typically be detected at distances ranging from a few millimetres to several meters. Long range detection requires large antennae. |
| Screen printing |
a process that uses a fine mesh with an impermeable coating, selected areas of which have been removed to allow the ink to pass through. |
| Security fibers |
small fibres randomly distributed throughout the paper while it is still in the pulp form. The fibres may be colored or impregnated with fluorescent dyes only visible under UV light. |
| Security threads |
polyester threads that are either fully or partially embedded down the length of the paper into paper during the paper forming process. Embedded threads typically contain machine readable information and features that can only be viewed in transmitted light. Partially embedded or windowed threads typically act as carriers for a range of overt and/or covert features. |
| Serialisation |
the application of a unique identifier to each unit in a lot or batch. The identifiers are numbers but might be printed as alphanumerics or barcodes or might be embedded in a chip activated by radio frequency (RFID). The numbers may be sequential or randomly generated; what is important is the same number should not be used twice. |
| Simulation |
packaging or products which do not use the exact same trademark as the original but which look very substantially similar |
| Smuggling |
the movement of a lawful commodity from the stream of regular commerce to the stream of unlawful commerce, generally across national borders to earn money from international tax differentials. |
| Spectroscopy |
the analysis of the wavelength and intensity of a specific area of the electromagnetic spectrum in order to undertake a qualitative or quantitative analysis. Frequently used to authenticate security documents. |
| Substrate |
the material or base – eg paper or film - to which a feature is applied, or in which it is incorporated. |