If It Prints, I'll Let You Know

It’s funny because when I hear “Xerox” I think of the act of photocopying something. I suppose it’s similar to how “Google” has become a verb. However, I do have real news to tell you involving Xerox. They have somehow harnessed the ability to made a standard printer do things standard printers shouldn’t do. Much like a there is printing on a dollar bill that can only be viewed under an ultraviolet light, this new print technology gives you the ability to print fluorescently–yes I know that’s not a word–on standard printer paper.

It’s actually pretty interesting, because instead of requiring a super special fluorescent printer ink, Xerox has utilized the natural fluorescence present in standard white paper.

So, rather than filling up an entire page with pink ink, let’s say, you would be printing various color combinations that leave some of the white paper showing through. Run that sucker under an ultraviolet light and you suddenly have fluorescent text, images or what have you.

It will be difficult, however, to get the fluorescence and maintain the normal look of ink on the page. Apparently, the key is to use different combinations of the major 4 print colors in order to produce the same visual look that allows the paper to show through. It’s an interesting concept and will be included in only the high end commercial printers.

With fraud on the rise, this should be interesting to see how it develops and changes printer ink technology.

Have a good weekend!