Hey all,
After consultation with a friend in the banknote biz and some of my own testing, I have concluded the following:
StazOn solvent-based ink cannot be used on the new polymer notes because the solvent degrades the plastic and causes severe damage to the notes. This greatly shortens their circulation life and may create a problem for us all.
So, any of you out there who love the StazOn ink had better get thinking about an alternative in time for the release of the new notes this fall or next spring.
To this end, I have been testing different inks with some Mexican polymer notes. I've found quick-dry alcohol-based ink to work reasonably well. It tends to smear, but seems to adhere well when dry. Traditional ink is crap (smears and won't stick). I'm trying to get my hands on some acrylic ink, which is sold in upscale art stores. It's the same thing as Krylon plastic primer for painting plastic deck chairs, so it sounds promising. I shall keep you all posted as my tests continue.
If you have any suggestions for things you've tried or things you want me to try, please let me know.
fordjae
Someone needs to go to Micheals and try pigment, acrylic and dye based inks.
OR maybe a embosser of some kind!
After consultation with a friend in the banknote biz and some of my own testing,
Manufacturing?
Ooh, good thinking; I didn't even think about how the ink would work with the new bills. I'm glad to hear someone is doing some research.
(Inksperiments?)
tried the embosser and turned it over to Pooga or sarge after the tests. I am going to try something completely out of scope and just enter the bills and stop marking them. Will make hits way harder to get but what the heck just adds a degree of challenge to the game.
I have a buddy at a sign and banner printing company. He's gonna try using his industrial heat-set printer on the notes. Grossly impractical, but will be interesting to see how it works…
How about stickers?
Or perhaps the new notes will slowly enter circulation and take several years before being the dominating issue? For example, I still see 1991 issue notes every now and again? Surely by that time we will have figured them out?
Transparent stickers might work, provided the adhesive was of sufficient strength so as not to be peeled off.
