Reconnaissance, publishers of Holography & Optical Technology News™ and organisers of the High Security Printing™ (HSP) conferences, has opened the call for papers for the upcoming HSP Asia event, scheduled for 30 November -2 December 2026 in Hong Kong. Delegates are invited to submit a proposal by 25 September 2026.

The International Optical Technologies Association (IOTA) continues to strengthen its international engagement programme across the sectors its members serve in 2026. The association recently led a specialist workshop at the Banknote Conference 2026 in Washington DC, US.

Counterfeiters are no longer limited to simple print-and-overlay methods to create counterfeit security features. While document issuers have strengthened physical security using polycarbonate data pages and laser engraving, optical security features must also evolve. They can no longer rely solely on visual appeal; they must be inherently difficult to analyse, replicate, or reverse-engineer.

The Rajasthan State Excise Department has strengthened its alcohol control framework with the introduction of a new generation of tax stamps, combining enhanced physical security with upgraded digital verification. The move reflects a broader shift among Indian states towards more robust, multi-layered approaches to combating illicit trade.

In previous editions of Holography & Optical Technology News™ (HOTN), we reported on Malaysia’s broader Optical Security Blueprint, including plans to introduce a next-generation national identity card (see HOTN January 2026). In continuation of that coverage, the National Registration Department (JPN) has now confirmed that Malaysia’s upcoming MyKad will incorporate 53 security features, more than double the 23 elements included in the current version.

Oberthur unveiled two major additions to its Anima™ micro-optics platform – Anima™ Sign and Anima™ Colour at the recent Global Currency Forum. Both innovations highlighted advances in machine readability and colour versatility, two increasingly important elements in next-generation banknote security, in addition to the integration of all the effects already available in Anima™.

IN Groupe has announced Vibes Shift™, developed by its subsidiary SURYS, which it acquired in 2019 and specialises in optical and digital security solutions. Vibes Shift is an extension of Vibes, which launched in 2023. It offers a striking security feature that meets central bank requirements in combining moving effects, brilliancy, colours adapted to the banknote design and all the other attributes required for a security thread.

TÖNNJES, in cooperation with SICPA, is introducing OPALINE®, an optical mid and long-range authentication solution for secure licence plates. TONNJES showcased the solution at ID4Africa this month.

Security printing has always borrowed optical phenomena from physics and chemistry, and few are as useful as luminescence.

Giesecke+Devrient has introduced TwinColors® Patch as latest innovation in banknote security, elevating micromirror-based optical features to what it terms a new level of sophistication.

Over the last one to two years, the currency industry has witnessed a noticeable increase in the launch of security features, particularly in optical security. Technologies that once evolved gradually over long document redesign cycles are now being refreshed at a much faster pace. This raises an important question: has a new race in optical innovation begun?

De La Rue has introduced OPTILIGHT™, a next-generation optical security platform for banknotes, following significant investment in innovation and technology. OPTILIGHT combines nano-science, custom built imaging equipment, proprietary algorithms, and utilises their decades of accumulated experience in the field to deliver intuitive optical effects for public authentication.

From its origins alongside famous photographic film manufacturer, Kodak, the Eastman name has travelled a long way in holography, all the way to its appearance at Auto China 2026.

Dai Nippon Printing (DNP), a leading Japanese technology and printing company, has announced a public takeover offer for AUSTRIACARD HOLDINGS AG, in a move set to significantly expand its global information security and identity solutions business.

Epson has partnered with the KURZ SCRIBOS to deploy an advanced anti-counterfeiting and supply chain transparency solution across Southeast Asia, strengthening protection for its printer consumables business.

According to a recent social media post, Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych (PWPW) is emphasising research and development (R&D) and intellectual property (IP) as central to its future growth strategy.

In our last edition, we reported on the launch of Georgia’s new e-passport and its advanced security architecture. This article reviews other major identity and travel documents introduced in recent months, including those from Oklahoma, the Netherlands, asylum residence permits, and Liechtenstein’s latest e-passport programme.

The Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Pvt Ltd (BRBNMPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India, has issued an amended global Expression of Interest (EOI/010 (A)/CO/2025-26) to establish a manufacturing facility for colour shift pigments (CSP) suitable for printing banknotes/other security products at its Mysure site. The previous bid was for colour shift pigment/films and thread.

Display holography has always been as much about how it is shown as how it is made. Unlike photography or print, a hologram can’t simply be hung on a wall, leaving the lighting to chance. It must be illuminated, angled and viewed under carefully controlled conditions to reconstruct the recorded wavefront. These physical constraints make the exhibiting of holography as much to do with where it is being shown as it is about what is being shown.

Reconnaissance, publishers of Holography & Optical Technology News™ and organisers of the High Security Printing™ (HSP) conferences, has announced that registration is now open for the upcoming HSP Latin America event, scheduled for 1-3 June 2026 in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The program details are already announced.