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 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
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
Design studio 1997 equipped with specialist 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 printing via Broadband; are able to order goods,
services and download software over the Internet; plus send 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 be delivered more efficiently from the comfort of our
own homes. This would reduce our carbon footprint significantly
and help save the planet! In 1997 I set up my home security design studio where I continued
to project manage security designs for The Stationery Office (originally
HMSO), government departments, police and private sector clients.
Currently involved in producing and designing Liberal Democrat
literature for Norfolk County Council’s 2009 local elections.
Click here to view design: FOCUS91_NCC_election.pdf