Wholesale OVI Pigment for Brand Protection & Security Printing

Key Takeaways

• Kolortek's Chromashift OVI pigments produce non-reproducible color shifts across 17+ combinations — the optical core of any serious brand protection pigment program.
• Particle size is a critical selection variable: 5–25 μm grades suit intaglio and gravure security printing, while 10–60 μm grades maximize visual impact in screen-printed authentication labels.
• Multi-layer security is achievable by combining overt OVI effects with covert features: photochromic UV marks, thermochromic tamper seals, or magnetically oriented cat-eye patterns.
• Pigment loading in security inks typically runs 15–40% — higher than decorative applications — to achieve sufficient color-travel amplitude for unaided verification.
• Our ISO 9001:2015-certified manufacturing and SGS-tested Chromashift products support the traceability and documentation requirements of security printing audits.

Application Overview: Why OVI Pigments Are the Standard for Security Printing

Counterfeiting costs the global economy hundreds of billions annually. From banknotes and tax stamps to pharmaceutical packaging and luxury spirits closures, the authentication challenge is consistent: a security feature must be instantly verifiable by an untrained observer yet remain practically impossible to replicate with commercial printing equipment.

Optically variable pigments (OVP) — more precisely called OVI pigments in ink formulations — meet this challenge through thin-film interference. Each platelet reflects different wavelengths depending on the viewing angle, producing a color shift that changes as you tilt the substrate. A photocopier captures only one angle; a scanner cannot reproduce the angular behavior. This physical property, not a chemical marker, is the security mechanism.

At Kolortek, we have engineered our Chromashift OVI pigment lines specifically for the security and brand protection sector. With over 20 years in effect pigment manufacturing, our application engineers understand the strict specifications imposed by central banks, brand owners, and ISO-certified security printers — and we formulate accordingly.

OVI Pigment Selection Guide for Security Printing

Chromashift KT-K Series: Core OVI for Overt Authentication

The KT-K1**** series is our flagship OVI pigment line, available in two particle size ranges optimized for different printing processes. The 10–60 μm grades are designed for screen printing and thicker security ink deposits, where the larger platelet geometry delivers maximum color-travel amplitude visible to the naked eye at distance. The 5–25 μm grades are the choice for intaglio printing, gravure security labels, and fine-line document security work — they pass through tighter printing gaps without structural damage while still generating unmistakable color shifts.

Color shift pairings include Green/Orange (KT-K15716), Blue/Red (KT-K14216), Green/Red/Blue (KT-K15216 — a three-angle shift), Red/Yellow (KT-K12116 in 10–60 μm, KT-K12125 in 5–25 μm), Purple/Yellow (KT-K13125), and eleven additional combinations. For brand owners, the selection of shift color pairs is itself a brand specification — the combination becomes a registered security identifier.

KT-S1* Series: Subtle Multi-Tone Shifts for Premium Documents

Where a softer color transition is required — tax stamps, ID card overlaminates, pharmaceutical serialization foils — the KT-S1* series in 15–25 μm particle sizes provides shifts such as Mauve/Green (KT-S1325), Gold/Silver-Blue (KT-S1140), and Jade/Mauve (KT-S1532). These are appropriate where the security feature must integrate with graphic design without overwhelming it visually.

Real-World Security Printing Scenarios

Banknotes and Currency Security Features

For intaglio-printed OVI patches on banknotes and security documents, we recommend 5–25 μm Chromashift grades at 20–40% pigment loading in high-viscosity binders. Intaglio's high printing pressure requires careful formulation — platelet pigments must be protected within the ink vehicle to survive the process without degradation. Our application engineers provide formulation guidance specifically for intaglio vehicles, including rheology modifier selection to preserve platelet orientation in the wet film.

Brand Protection Labels and Packaging Seals

Screen-printed authentication labels for pharmaceutical blister packs, luxury spirits closures, and electronics authentication allow larger particle sizes (10–60 μm, or ChromaFlakes up to larger geometries). The thicker ink deposit from screen printing enhances color-travel visibility — a key advantage when the target verifier is a consumer rather than a trained document inspector. We recommend dark or black substrate backgrounds for maximum visual contrast; our KT-9000 Chameleon series at 75–175 μm particle size is particularly effective on premium packaging seals where the brand wants a dramatic visual signature on black.

Tax Stamps and Government ID Documents

Gravure and flexo security label production requires 5–25 μm grades and low-viscosity ink vehicles. High-speed production lines demand pigments with excellent rheological compatibility. Our KT-S1* series in this particle range delivers color shift at production speeds while maintaining the batch-to-batch consistency required for government tender specifications — where color travel amplitude must fall within narrow angular tolerances across every production lot.

Formulation Best Practices for OVI Security Inks

• Never use bead or sand mills. High-shear dispersion destroys the thin platelet structure that creates the optical effect. Use low-speed paddle mixing only — the pigment must be gently wetted into the ink vehicle, not ground.
• Control platelet orientation. Color-shift amplitude depends on parallel alignment of platelets to the substrate surface. Use rheology modifiers and appropriate print viscosity to promote orientation during application; misaligned platelets produce a washed-out, low-contrast shift that fails authentication specifications.
• Evaluate on intended substrate. Dark backgrounds amplify color travel; light or metallic substrates suppress it. Always test color travel amplitude on the production substrate, not a white drawdown card.
• Apply overprint varnish. Security inks require durability against abrasion, chemical exposure, and environmental stress. An overprint varnish layer protects platelet orientation and surface integrity without significantly reducing color-shift amplitude if applied correctly.
• Maintain lot traceability. Security print runs require strict batch documentation. We supply TDS and SDS with all shipments and provide regulatory documentation packages on request. Our ISO 9001:2015 quality management system covers full production traceability from raw material to finished pigment.
• Screen mesh for ChromaFlakes: Use a mesh count at least 2–3× the pigment particle size. For large-flake ChromaFlakes, verify compatibility before production — mesh too fine causes blinding; too coarse reduces density.

OVI Pigment Comparison Table for Security Printing Applications

Wholesale Supply & OEM Services for Security Pigment Buyers

When evaluating an OVI pigment supplier for a bulk order, the supply chain requirements are as demanding as the optical specifications. Security pigments must arrive with full documentation, consistent batch properties, and no gaps in the audit trail. At Kolortek, our manufacturing and R&D facility serves over 100 countries through a direct global distribution network. We offer:

• OEM/ODM manufacturing — Custom pigment development to your specific color shift specification, particle size range, or compatibility requirement. If your security program requires a proprietary shift pair not in our standard catalog, our R&D team develops it.
• Private label packaging — Full branded packaging for distributors and security ink manufacturers, from sample sachets to industrial bulk containers.
• Flexible minimum order quantities — We accommodate R&D quantities through full commercial production runs. Security ink developers in early formulation stages can access our free sample service before committing to volume.
• Batch-to-batch consistency — Each production lot is tested for color travel amplitude and angular dependence. Chromashift pigments carry SGS test reports. Full TDS and SDS documentation ships with every order.
• Technical support — Our application engineers provide formulation guidance for your specific printing process, substrate, and authentication specification. This is not generic advice — we help you solve your ink formulation, not just sell pigment.

Our ISO 9001:2015 certification covers the complete production and sales process. For regulated applications — pharmaceutical packaging, government documents — we provide regulatory documentation packages including REACH registration (fluorphlogopite synthetic mica), SGS test reports, and product-specific compliance confirmation on request.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is OVI pigment and how does it prevent counterfeiting?

OVI (Optically Variable Ink) pigment consists of multilayer thin-film platelets that reflect different wavelengths of light at different viewing angles, producing a color shift visible to the naked eye. Photocopiers and scanners capture only a single angle, so they reproduce a flat, single-color image rather than the shift — making the counterfeit immediately identifiable. The physical mechanism of thin-film interference cannot be replicated by toner or standard inkjet processes.

Which particle size should I choose for security printing?

For intaglio printing on banknotes and fine security documents, choose 5–25 μm grades — they pass through tight printing gaps without platelet damage and produce precise color shift in thin ink films. For screen-printed authentication labels and brand protection seals where maximum visual impact is the priority, 10–60 μm grades deliver stronger color travel amplitude. ChromaFlakes with irregular large-flake geometry are the optimal choice when you also need an unforgeable spatial pattern.

Can I combine OVI pigments with other security features in one label?

Yes — and we recommend it. Layered authentication systems are significantly harder to defeat than any single feature. At Kolortek, we supply the full range: overt OVI color-shift pigments for consumer verification, photochromic UV marks for field inspector verification, thermochromic tamper-evidence features, and fluorescent UV markers for anti-copy protection. These can be applied as separate ink layers or in some cases co-formulated, depending on compatibility confirmed during technical development.

How do I place a bulk order for OVI pigment from Kolortek?

Contact us through our official website or distribution channels to specify your required color shift, particle size, printing process, and application. For new developments, we provide free samples for qualified inquiries so you can validate performance before ordering. We accommodate orders from small R&D batches through large-volume commercial production, with OEM and private label options available. Full technical documentation — TDS, SDS, and regulatory packages — is provided with every order.

What certifications support Kolortek OVI pigments for security applications?

Our manufacturing quality system is ISO 9001:2015 certified, covering the full production and sales process. Chromashift pigments are supported by SGS sample test reports. Synthetic mica (fluorphlogopite) grades carry REACH registration. For pharmaceutical and food-contact security packaging, we can provide compliance documentation aligned with US FDA and EU regulatory requirements. Security printers requiring specific audit documentation should contact us for a package tailored to their compliance framework.

What is the recommended pigment loading for OVI security inks?

OVI security inks typically require 15–40% pigment loading — substantially higher than decorative effect inks — to achieve sufficient color-travel amplitude for reliable authentication. The exact loading depends on printing process and required optical density: intaglio applications may operate at 20–40%, while offset security printing is limited to 5–15% due to ink film thickness constraints. Our technical team provides process-specific loading recommendations as part of formulation support.