KINEGRAM
Definition
A diffractive optically variable image device (DOVID) in holographic foil used on passport biographical pages and visa stickers; produced by OVD Kinegram AG (Leonhard Kurz group); shifts between images on tilt due to microscale diffractive grating structures.
- Full name
- Diffractive Optically Variable Image Device (DOVID)
- Material
- Holographic foil
- Common uses
- Passports, visa stickers, and Euro banknotes (security printing)
Common questions
What exactly is a kinegram and where would I see one?+
A kinegram is a holographic security device that uses microscale diffraction to shift images when you tilt it. You will find them on passport biographical pages, visa stickers, and on Euro banknotes. The shifting effect makes them hard to counterfeit.
Why do kinegrams shift when you tilt them?+
Kinegrams are made with microscale diffractive grating structures that bend light differently depending on the angle. When you tilt the document or currency, these structures reveal different images or colors, creating the rainbow diffraction effect you see.
What does a kinegram look like on Euro currency?+
On Euro banknotes, the kinegram displays a portrait, the denomination, and the euro symbol. Under white light, you can see a rainbow diffraction effect as you move or tilt the note, making it instantly recognizable to the public.
Related terms
- BAC (Basic Access Control)
- The ICAO e-Passport access control mechanism that derives a session key from the MRZ data, requiring the passport to be physically opened...
- BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene)
- The polymer film substrate for polymer-substrate banknotes (Australia, New Zealand, UK, Canada). Distinguished from cotton-linen paper notes by FTIR-ATR (CH3 methyl peaks...
- Check-Digit Algorithm
- A weighted-sum calculation (weights 7, 3, 1 cycling, modulo 10) over the character values of MRZ fields; used to detect data transcription...
- Cotton-Linen Substrate
- The traditional banknote paper substrate made from cotton fibre (and sometimes linen), containing no lignin, non-fluorescent under UV, textured under magnification; used...
- FADO (False and Authentic Documents Online)
- FRONTEX-managed EU database providing border officers with reference images of both genuine and known fraudulent travel documents from EU and associated states.
- ICAO 9303
- The International Civil Aviation Organization's Machine Readable Travel Documents standard (8th edition, 2021), specifying MRZ field structure, OCR-B font, check-digit algorithm, biometric...
- Intaglio Printing
- A high-pressure printing process in which ink is forced into engraved recesses in a steel plate and transferred to paper, producing a...
- Latent Image
- A feature visible only at oblique viewing angle, produced by differential intaglio surface profile; on the US $100, tilting reveals 'USA' within...
- Microprinting / Microtext
- Text printed at 0.2-0.5 mm letter height, legible under a 10x loupe on genuine notes but smeared into an indistinct grey line...
- MRZ (Machine-Readable Zone)
- The lower portion of the passport biographical page printed in OCR-B font, structured according to ICAO 9303 TD3 format (two lines of...
- Multi-Tone Watermark
- A watermark produced by graded modulation of substrate thickness during papermaking, creating a range of light-to-dark tones visible in transmitted light; more...
- Optically Variable Ink (OVI)
- An ink containing thin-film interference flakes (metal + dielectric layers, manufactured by SICPA and others) that produce a visible colour shift with...
Explained in these topics
- Currency Security Features: Substrate, Threads, OVI, MicroprintingA diffractive optically variable image device (DOVID) in holographic foil used on ECB Euro notes; shows a portrait, denomination, and euro symbol with rainbow...
- Passports, Visas and Driving Licences: ICAO 9303 and Security PrintingA diffractive optically variable image device (DOVID) in holographic foil used on passport biographical pages and visa stickers; produced by OVD Kinegram AG (L...