New technology --
is it a blessing
or a threat?
The massive growth in the use of computers, digital cameras, colour printers, copiers and scanners pose a much greater threat to fiscal security documents than ever before in our history. This is borne out by the colossal increase in counterfeit and fraud world-wide. The Benefits Agency estimated that around £50,000,000 a year is lost through fraud! It is imperative that we harness the power of the new technology to combat fraud and to safeguard the public.

For advice, assistance and estimates for producing security design documents please e-mail:

Gerard J Watt FCSD
Design Consultant

Click images below to go to
Case Study 1 or Case Study 2
Copyright © 2000

 

 



The invention of printing
Johann Gutenberg is believed to be the inventor of printing from moveable type which replaced calligraphic illuminated manuscripts. For 500 years printing techniques hardly changed until lithography replaced letterpress printing in the late 1950s. Hand typesetting quickly became obsolete and was relegated to the museum! Monotype and Linotype hot metal typecasters were converted into filmsetters and film make-up replaced paper. These rapid advances pall into insignificance when in the late 1970s computer design systems were introduced. In the 1980s Desk Top Publishing brought together for the first time many professions, eg editors, printers, typesetters, designers, plate makers, photographers and illustrators.

I never cease to be amazed at the incredible advances which have occurred during my working lifetime. Who would have believed 30 years ago that instead of hand setting type you would be able to speak into a microphone and watch text appear on a screen; or that colour photographs would be taken using a camera without film that could be digitally stored on a disk no bigger than a large postage stamp and be processed without the need for chemicals or photographic paper!

 

 

Graphic Safeguard Systems
security design studio

My home design studio (section shown above) is equipped with the latest computer software and hardware devices needed for the production, printing and validation of security design documents.

The digital revolution
The 2nd millennium has witnessed a phenomenal increase in digital communication across the globe. We have the means to send and receive graphic files for image setting via ISDN; to order goods, services and download software over the Internet; plus e-mail messages containing colour digital photographs across the world in a matter of seconds. Vastly improved communications have now enabled many people to work from home. So why do we clog up the roads and waste valuable resources travelling to our places of business? Many of the services which required an office environment in the past, can now be delivered more efficiently from the comfort of our own homes. In 1997 I set up my home security design studio where I manage security design projects for The Stationery Office (originally HMSO), government departments, police and private sector clients.

Design projects worthy of note include: Benefit Agency Pension Books; UK Passports and Visas; IR Payable Orders; HM Paymaster General Cheques; Friends Provident cheques and Sara Lee vouchers.