Appendix B: Specifications for Printing a Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin

SECURITY FEATURES – All Certificates of Origin should contain the following nine security features: 

1. Paper 

(a) Sensitized Security Paper – paper that is reactive to chemicals commonly used to alter documents 

(b) Non-Optical Brightener Paper – paper without added optical brighteners which will not fluoresce under ultraviolet light. 

2. Engraved Border – a border produced from engraved art work which shall appear on the front of the document. 

3. (a) Prismatic – rainbow printing which is used as a deterrent to color copying, and/or 

(b) Copy Void Pantograph – the word “void” appears when the document is copied. 

4. Complex Colors – colors which are developed by using a mixture of two or more of the primary colors (red, yellow or blue) and black if required. 

5. Erasable Fluorescent Background Inks – fluoresces under ultraviolet light and reacts to any attempt to erase in such a manner as to be immediately detectable. 

6. Background Security Design – a repetitious design consisting of a pattern which hinders counterfeiting efforts. 

7. Microline – a line of small alpha characters in capital letters which requires a magnifying glass to read. 

8. Consecutively Numbered – documents that contain a number which is consecutively numbered for control purposes. 

9. (a) Security Thread – with or without watermark, and/or 

(b) Intaglio Print – with or without latent image. 

DOCUMENT SIZE – “Certificates of Origin” size specifications shall be seven (7) inches by eight (8) inches. 

PAPER STOCK – Sixty (60) pound offset or equivalent durability. 

CONSTRUCTION – Unless otherwise specified by the user, the forms should be constructed and fan-folded for use on high-speed pinfed computer printer and/or continuous typewriters. 

LAYOUT – Text matter space for 1/10 inch horizontal and 1/6 inch deep characters per AAMVA H-12 Policy for standard format. 

FACILITY SECURITY – To insure the integrity of the manufacturers “Certificate of Origin,” the user should require the vendor to maintain secure printing and storage facilities. 

[Revised 1990]