Over the past few years, light-field imaging has been considered one of the more promising directions for next-generation document security features. By reproducing not only the intensity of light but also its direction, a light-field structure can create convincing 3D imagery that changes naturally when the viewing angle shifts. For the holder of a passport, banknote or ID card, the result is an effect that is both visually striking and immediately verifiable by the naked eye.

Recent financial results from Crane NXT highlight growing global demand for advanced authentication technologies, especially micro-optic security features in banknotes. The company reported strong performance for the fourth quarter and full year ending 31 December 2025, reflecting wider adoption of its currency and security solutions by central banks worldwide.

The Central Reserve Bank of Peru has introduced an updated version of the 200 soles banknote, first issued in 2023 and the highest value in the current series.

Researchers at the Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) in South Korea have developed an eco-friendly smart security label that combines colour-based verification with holographic authentication. This sustainable alternative to conventional security labels can dissolve completely in water, leaving no trace.

On International Women’s Day (8 March), we celebrate the female researchers, engineers, and leaders who have helped shape the optical and security printing industry.

A breakthrough in computational imaging is set to transform how scientists study complex biological structures. Led by doctoral researcher Shivasubramanian Gopinath at the University of Tartu’s Institute of Physics, a research team has developed a method to bypass one of the most persistent limitations in microscopy – fixed focal depth.

In a move to redefine national security, President Gustavo Petro has unveiled the design of Colombia’s new passport. Set to enter circulation on 1 April 2026, the document is being hailed as one of the four most secure travel documents in the world.

In a recent move to enhance night-time road safety and curb accidents caused by poor visibility, the Telangana Transport Department (India) has issued a new mandate requiring all transport vehicles to be equipped with high-standard reflective rear-marking plates and tapes.

Securikett, a provider of tamper-evident security labels and brand protection products, has announced a strategic partnership with Dust Identity, a provider of physical-to-digital identity technology.

Fibarcode, a materials science startup spun out of the University of Michigan, has secured a $1.5 million Fast-Track grant from the US National Science Foundation (NSF) to advance its work on textile labelling for authentication, traceability and recycling.

Hanoi-based Q&T Hi-tech Polymer continues to strengthen its position in the global polymer banknote ecosystem, combining certification milestones with new technology investments that deepen its capabilities in high-security production.

With the Vietnamese market receiving numerous reports from consumers suffering significant losses from using counterfeit paint, AkzoNobel, the producers of Dulux and Maxilite paint, has officially reaffirmed its commitment to product quality and announced support activities to help customers identify genuine products.

The International Optical Technologies Association (IOTA) patent newsletter provides crucial insights to its members. In the January 2026 edition of the patent newsletter, over 100 patents were featured, highlighting the latest advancements in the evolving field of optics, which spans security, display technologies, and scientific tools.

Uchkun OJSC (Open Joint Stock Company), Kyrgyzstan’s state-owned security printing house, has joined the International Optical Technologies Association (IOTA), becoming the association’s first member from the country. The move gives Central Asia a stronger presence in the international optical security community, as well as cementing IOTA’s position as a truly global body, spanning all continents and major regions.

The organisers of the Optical & Digital Document Security™ (ODDS) conference announce the Call for Papers for ODDS 2027, inviting researchers, technologists, and practitioners to submit original work on document and identity system security.

The High Security Printing (HSP) EMEA Awards continue to serve as the region’s leading platform for recognising excellence in design and innovation for banknotes and IDs. This year’s HSP EMEA awards were held on 10 February in Rabat, Morocco (see also page 8). In this edition, we are covering the ID awards, followed by the best innovation in banknotes in the next edition.

This February, HSP EMEA marked its 22nd edition with its largest event yet. For the first time, the conference was held in Morocco and on the African continent, highlighting the region’s rising role in secure printing, identity management, and related technologies.

A research team from Tsinghua University has unveiled a transformative technique for super-high-speed 3D printing. Published recently in Nature, the study details how the team can now print complex, millimetre-scale objects in as little as 0.6 seconds. The cornerstone of this advancement is a process called Digital Incoherent Synthesis of Holographic light fields (DISH).

In April 2022, Holography News (the predecessor to Holography & Optical Technology News™) published an in-depth interview with Chris Rich, co-founder and CEO of WaveFront Technology, charting more than three decades at the forefront of holography. That conversation explored WaveFront’s origins in recombination and tooling, its evolution into deep microstructure UV-casting and freeform optical technologies, and the company’s vision to integrate macro, micro and nanostructures into unified optical security features.

The UK is navigating a pivotal moment in its national infrastructure, embarking on major security printing tenders totalling over £1 billion. These flagship programs, covering banknotes, passports, and excise-control stamps, will define the country’s currency, identity, and tax-enforcement landscape for the next decade.