Background Patterns
Printed on:
• All notes, circulation and commemorative
Background patterns on Singapore banknotes are not just for decoration. They are part of the note’s security. These patterns use very fine lines and exact shapes that normal printers and scanners cannot copy properly. When someone tries to fake a note, the patterns usually come out blurry, broken, or uneven. This makes it easier to spot a counterfeit. The patterns are printed using special machines that can produce high detail, which regular printing tools cannot match.
There are two main types of background patterns: guilloché and floral. Guilloché patterns are made up of repeated curved lines, such as spirals or loops. They are created using mathematical designs and are hard to copy. Floral patterns use drawings of flowers, which are also difficult to reproduce. Their curves are more irregular and organic than guilloché, and small mistakes in shape or spacing become obvious. The Orchid and Ship series used guilloché patterns more extensively, while the Bird series used both guilloché patterns and floral designs.
Compared to the earlier series, the Portrait series used fewer guilloché patterns and floral designs. Instead, it featured cowrie shell shapes in the background of all denominations. Commemorative notes used different mixes of guilloché and floral patterns depending on their design.
