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Title:
A FULL COLOUR VARIABLE INSTANT WIN LOTTERY TICKET MADE OF A LIGHT CORE SUBSTRATE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2010/130041
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A scratch-off instant game card and method of manufacture provides full colour variable image printed in the security area on an opaque ink structure on a light core substrate such that the image remains securely hidden until the scratch-off layer is removed. The image is printed using a digital printing method capable of printing variable images including the liquid electrophotgraphic printing method, the toner electrophotographic printing method and the continuous or drop on demand ink jet printing that is cured/dried. The opaque ink structure for the security area comprises sufficient absorptive qualities to enable a rapid and high level of adhesion of the image to the security area and is sufficiently impenetrable to prevent determination of the contents of the image through the ink structure from below. One or more varnish layers and one or more scratch-off layers cover the graphical image from above.

Inventors:
SKOGSTER AAPO MAURI KUSTAA (CA)
VERSLUIJS PIETER (CH)
Application Number:
PCT/CA2010/000722
Publication Date:
November 18, 2010
Filing Date:
May 10, 2010
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
BLACK & WHITE PAPER MFG AB (SE)
SKOGSTER AAPO MAURI KUSTAA (CA)
VERSLUIJS PIETER (CH)
International Classes:
A63F3/06; B32B29/06; B32B33/00; B32B37/02; B32B38/14; B32B38/16; B42D15/00
Foreign References:
US5228692A1993-07-20
US4486033A1984-12-04
EP1064973B12004-01-14
CA2359581A12002-01-26
US5704647A1998-01-06
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
REGEHR, Herbert B. (HOUSSER & TUPPER LLP3000 Royal Centre, P.O. Box ,1055 West Georgia Stree, Vancouver British Columbia V6E 3R3, CA)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS:

1. A set of instant scratch-off cards, each card comprising:

(a) a substrate;

(b) a security area printed on the substrate, the security area comprising a lower opaque layer and an upper light coloured layer;

(c) a full colour graphical image printed on the security area, the image printed using a digital printing method capable of printing variable images, selected from the group:

(i) the liquid electrophotographic printing method; (ii) the toner electrophotographic printing method; and (iii) continuous or drop on demand ink jet printing that is cured or dried;

(d) the opaque layer being sufficiently impenetrable to prevent determination of the contents of the image through the substrate;

(e) the light coloured layer having sufficient absorptive qualities to enable a rapid and high level of adhesion of the image to the security area and being sufficiently light to permit accurate reproduction of the image on the light coloured layer;

(f) the security area comprising information unique to the card as among the cards of the set;

(g) at least one varnish layer covering and protecting the image;

(h) at least one scratch off layer covering the at least one varnish layer; and;

wherein the at least one scratch-off layers is sufficiently impenetrable to prevent determination of the contents of the image through the at least one layer and wherein the at least one varnish layer facilitates release of the at least one scratch-off layer from the at least one varnish layer when the at least one scratch off layer is removed by a user.

2. The card of the set as described in claim 1 wherein the at least one varnish layer comprises:

(a) a first varnish layer covering and protecting the image;

(b) a second varnish layer covering the first varnish layer; and wherein the at least one scratch off layer comprises:

(a) a first scratch off layer covering the second varnish layer; and; (b) a second scratch-off layer covering the first scratch-off layer; and wherein, in combination, the first and second scratch-off layers are sufficiently impenetrable to prevent determination of the contents of the image through the layers and wherein the second varnish layer facilitates release of the scratch-off layers from the second varnish layer when the scratch off layers are removed by a user.

3. The card of the set as described in claim 1 wherein the curing or drying is undertaken with ultraviolet (UV), Electro Beam (EB), Infra Red (IR), Hot Air or other like methods.

4. The card of the set as described in claim 1 wherein the substrate is cellulose fibre based having a substantially consistent surface ink absorption and a substantially consistent surface whiteness.

5. The card of the set as described in claim 1 wherein the substrate is fibre based having high internal bond and tear strength so that the substrate cannot be separated without evidence of the separation being apparent.

6. The card of the set as described in claim 1 wherein a surface of the substrate to which the image is applied comprises a clay surface layer in a weight of between 80g/m2 to 550 g/m2.

7. The card of the set as described in claim 6 wherein a surface of the substrate opposite to the surface to which the image is applied is coated to reduce or eliminate transfer of part of an image from an adjacent another card of the set, to the card.

8. The card of the set as described in claim 1 wherein the liquid electrophotographic printing method is one of such printing methods undertaken by an Hewlett Packard Indigo digital press.

9. The card of the set as described in claim 1 wherein the information unique to the card comprises a portion of the image and wherein an other portion of the image is uniform within the set.

10. The card of the set as described in claim 1 wherein the information unique to the card is integral with the image.

11. The card of the set as described in claim 1 wherein the information unique to the card is printed as a micro-text image, for enhanced security.

12. The card of the set as described in claim 1 wherein the information unique to the card is printed by a steganographic process to embed messages as the information, for enhanced security.

13. The card of the set as described in claim 1 wherein the light coloured layer comprises a white coloured surface.

14. The card of the set as described in claim 1 further comprising a non-security area having a non-secure full colour variable graphical image printed thereon and wherein the security area image and non-security area image are continuous to form a single complete image when the scratch-off layers are removed.

15. The card of the set as described in claim 1 wherein the image is either a photographic, vector, digital photographic, drawing or bitmapped image.

16. The card of the set as described in claim 1 wherein the at least one scratch-off layer contains a full colour graphical image printed thereon, wherein the information unique to the card comprises one or more of: game play information and validation information and wherein the image on the upper surface of the at least one scratch-off layer substantially matches the image on the security area and is positioned in substantial register with that image; with the exception- of the information unique to the card which is not -include in the image on the at least one scratch-off layer.

17. The card of the set as described in claim 14 wherein the at least one scratch-off layer contains a full colour graphical image printed thereon, wherein the information unique to the card comprises one or more of: game play information and validation information and wherein the image on the upper surface of the at least one scratch-off layer substantially matches the image on the security area and is positioned in substantial register with that image; with the exception -of the information unique to the card which is not include in the image on the at least one scratch-off layer.

18. The card of the set as described in claim 1 wherein the graphical image is a four colour process image.

19. The card of the set as described in claim 1 wherein the information unique to the card comprises one or more of: game play information and validation information.

20. The card of the set as described in claim -19 wherein the game play information is lottery game information for playing a scratch-off lottery game.

21. The card of the set as described in claim 19 wherein the information unique to the card is validation information which comprises a plurality of elements forming an image unique to that card, the plurality of elements comprise one or more differences among elements based on one or more relative elements selected from the group:

(a) density;

(b) colour; and (c) positioning.

22. The card of the set as described in claim 1 wherein the information unique to the card is game play information and wherein the substrate further comprises a validation security area with a full colour graphical image printed on the validation security area comprising variable validation information, the image printed using a digital printing method capable of printing variable images, selected from the group:

(i) the liquid electrophotographic printing method; (ii) the toner electrophotographic printing method; and (iii) continuous or drop on demand ink jet printing that is cured or dried.

23. The card of the set as described in claim 1 wherein the card is a lottery ticket, a coupon, a voucher or a prepaid card.

24. The card of the set as described in claim 2 wherein the first varnish layer comprises non-absorptive qualities which keep the first varnish layer from penetrating unevenly into the security area in order to ensure an even coverage overlay on both the printed and non-printed areas of the security area.

25. A method of making an instant game card of a set of cards having a security area for containing information unique to the card, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) printing a security area on the card, the security area comprising a lower opaque layer and an upper light coloured layer, the upper layer comprises sufficient absorptive qualities to enable a rapid and high level of adhesion of an image and the lower layer being sufficiently impenetrable to prevent determination of the contents of the security area through the card;

(b) printing a full colour variable graphical image onto a portion of the security area of the card using a digital printing method capable of printing variable images, selected from the group:

(i) the liquid electrophotographic printing method; (ii) the toner electrophotographic printing method; and

(iii) continuous or drop on demand ink jet printing that is cured or dried;

(c) printing information unique to the card as among the cards of the set on the security area, either as all or a part of the image or separate from the image;

(d) covering the security area with at least one varnish layer, the at least one varnish layer in a manner to ensure an even coverage overlay on both the printed and non- printed areas of the security area;

(e) drying the at least one varnish layer; and

(f) covering the at least one varnish layer with at least one scratch-off layer which is sufficiently impenetrable to prevent determination of the contents of the image through the scratch-off layer.

Description:
A FULL COLOUR VARIABLE INSTANT WIN LOTTERY TICKET MADE ON A LIGHT CORE SUBSTRATE.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/213,135, filed May 11 , 2009 the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to instant scratch off lottery tickets and similar products such as cards, prepaid cards, vouchers and coupons in which a security area containing play or validation information is securely hidden from view until a scratch-off layer is removed. More particularly this invention relates to these types of products in which full colour variable image(s) are printed in the security area on an opaque ink structure on a light core substrate and remain securely hidden until the scratch-off layer is removed. When security area is mentioned, it can refers to either or both the play area and the validation area of the ticket. Both are commonly considered security areas because they contain variable information which makes the ticket unique and identifiable.

Instant scratch-off lottery tickets typically contain hidden pre-printed winning or non-winning game data revealed by the player instantly upon scratching off a secure covering layer. The instant win or lose nature of these tickets distinguishes this form of lottery from the various other forms in which winning numbers are drawn some time after the sale of the ticket. The growth of popularity of these "instant" scratch-off lottery tickets with the public is explained by the public's ability to immediately learn if the ticket is a winner. The increasing popularity with the organizers of the lotteries, such as governmental and charitable entities, is explained by the advantage of knowing in advance the precise number of winners and the total value of the winnings when an entire lot or set of tickets will have been sold. Of course, the popularity of these lotteries with the public translates as well to their popularity with the governmental and charitable organizations which are constantly endeavoring to improve the quality, security and marketability of their lottery tickets and increase their revenues in this manner. In the 1970's algorithmic computer controlled software solutions evolved enabling commercial volumes of instant scratch-off lottery tickets to be produced for government lottery operators. The game data, game play and game control programs that were created and used were for instant win lottery tickets that have single or spot color variable images on the play area of a substrate. Black is the most common color for game data images however, occasionally, other colors like red, green and blue, spot colors (sometimes referred to as dual colors, meaning two types of spot color) are used for visual highlights in the play area.

Primarily, throughout the 1970's and 1980's opaque, non-environmentally friendly dark core foil- laminated card stocks were primarily used as the type of substrate to make "physically secure" instant win lottery tickets. The dark core opaque foil card stocks, together with the varnish layers and the removable scratch off ink layers, gave lottery ticket manufacturers the suitable materials needed to adequately hide game data under removable coverings and produce large volumes of these types of lottery tickets. The game design and game control programs were designed for use in single or spot color variable imaging equipment that have the capability of printing relatively simple game data, indicia and symbols consisting of numbers, letters, line drawings or figures.

Ink jet imagers were most commonly used because they print variable single and spot color game data on to foil card substrates at high printing speeds above 300 feet per minute. Occasionally however slower speed, single and spot color laser imagers were used to print game data and symbols in the security areas.

Towards the latter part of the 1980's some government and charity lottery organizers made requests to be supplied lottery tickets that were printed on a substrates that was more environmentally friendly than dark core foil-laminated card stock.

Around 1990, an environmentally friendly, recyclable, dark core opaque substrate referred to as Hansell lottery paper was developed as an effective alternative to dark core foil-laminated card stocks. Unlike substrates that contained dark core foil, Hansell lottery paper had no heavy metal content and it use for lottery ticket manufacturing grew throughout the 1990's. With Hansell lottery paper, lottery tickets that contained single and spot color variable images in the play areas were manufactured without the reliance of dark core foil laminated substrates. See US Patent no. 5,213,664, for example.

In the mid 1990's technical achievements were made in flexo based lottery ticket printing which enabled commercial volumes of instant win lottery tickets to be manufactured on light core substrates that have a clay coated surface. The flexo techniques and materials that were developed meant that physically secure instant win lottery tickets could be made without the use of dark core substrates like Hansell lottery ticket paper and foil-laminated card. These products are referred to as "single color plain paper tickets" wherein first an opaque grey colored lily pad is flexo printed on to the substrate followed by an ink jet or laser which applies variable game data in single or spot colors. After application of the game data, the security area is over printed by layers of varnish and scratch off ink in order to protect physically secure and hide the game play data. The variable game data itself remains relatively simple in appearance and is described as single and spot color data, indicia, symbols, numbers, letters, line drawings, figures or the like.

In the late 1990's to better safeguard the security area against tampering and to make tickets more attractive to consumers, instant win lottery ticket manufacturers began using flexo, silk screen and/or offset techniques to over print stationary images in four colour process over top of the scratch-off inks. The four color overprints applied are not variable images as they not change from one printing impression to the next during a printing run of a lot or set of tickets. See U.S. patent no. 5,569,512 and no. 5,704,647.

Throughout the balance of the 1990's and into the 2000's, the focus of the research & development and investments made in instant lottery ticket manufacturing was to print large volumes at fast speeds at low costs. More advanced Data matrix barcodes were printed on to tickets to increase security and readability however the visual quality and complexity of the variable images in the security areas remained at the reproductive limitations of single and spot color imaging. Despite all of the enhancements made to the instant tickets during this period the industry was stalled the plateau of having to accept security areas that could only feature single and spot color variable imaging. INTRODUCTION

This invention is a new instant win lottery ticket with full color variable security area(s) that are printed on an opaque lily pad structure on a light core light colored, non-opaque substrate.

Applicant is also the applicant in PCT International Patent Application No. WO 2009/062297, published May 13, 2009. The contents of the above are incorporated by reference in their entirety into this PCT application and they are herein collectively referred to as "the Co-owned Application".

In prior art the use of light core substrates for secure lottery ticket printing is well known. Until this invention the use of light core substrates has been restricted to lottery tickets which feature security areas that contain relatively simple variable game data, indicia and symbols such as numbers, letters, line drawings and figures that are printed in single colour or spot colours.

Because light core substrates are less expensive and more commonly available to lottery ticket printers than opaque dark core substrates, it is desirable to have the option available to use light core substrates for the manufacturing of instant win lottery tickets that feature security areas with full color variable graphics.

In addition to explaining the novel features of the new light core, variable full color instant ticket and how it differentiates itself from current state of the art lottery tickets, this invention also explains how to commercially manufacture the newly invented lottery tickets.

There is a continual desire among the organizers of lotteries to increase their popularity thereby increasing the revenue that can be generated to the governmental and charitable entities. These entities often do so by making the lottery tickets as attractive to the public as possible. For example, techniques that have been employed include:

1. Selling Licensed Games, in which game themes and game play are tied to popular properties of entertainment and pop culture. These include the use of well known television game shows, various forms of poker, board games, iconic characters, sports teams and the like;

2. Graphics of popular themes are attractively printed on the base graphics (i.e. the non-security area) of the ticket and similar thematic printing is done over the scratch-off surface, which includes the use of stationary full colour or four colour process images such as photographs and photo quality images;

3. The use of advertising campaigns to build excitement for the tickets based on popular themes, much like the excitement that is created over big draw game lottery jackpots;

4. Exploiting the promotional appeal of popular brands and using it to create niche lottery ticket consumers and return former lottery ticket purchasers to a new lottery;

5. Monitoring consumer behavior and reactions towards all visual and physical components of lottery tickets, which includes the relationships which consumers have towards the game play function of a lottery ticket; and

6. Continually creating and offering new styles of games which consumers see as fresh products that are just recently released for sale. By having the opportunity to purchase new game lottery tickets consumers can think they may contain better odds of winning.

These features increase the probability that a member of the public will view the ticket at a vendor site, be attracted to the ticket, and purchase the ticket for game play. Increased success for organizers of these lotteries can mean greater funding for charitable purposes such as schools, hospitals or sports associations and the like.

Worldwide the majority of government and charitable lottery organizers are supplied tickets by lottery ticket printing companies who own and operate large in-line printing presses. Today's typical "industry standard" instant win lottery ticket presses generally have between 18 and 26 flexo printing stations with built in variable image ink jet imagers that apply single and spot color variable data on one or both sides of the ticket. These large in-line instant win lottery tickets presses are specifically designed and set up to use light core substrates, print opaque lily pads, make industry standard single and spot color variable image quality in the security areas and apply varnish and scratch off ink in flexo.

By explaining how to manufacture new light core, full color variable instant win tickets in this invention, those skilled at the art will be able to invest in, modify and develop their manufacturing so that they can print and supply their lottery organizer customers with variable full color instant tickets with light core substrates.

Throughout, the fundamental concern of organizers of these types of instant win lottery tickets is ensuring the physical security of the game play and validation information contained in the security area of these tickets, that is the area beneath the scratch off layer of the ticket.

Premature disclosure of that information without removal of the scratch-off layer or premature destruction or other evidence of tampering can be used to determine whether the ticket is a winning or non-winning ticket, without having to purchase the ticket. Winning tickets can be harvested unscrupulously and non-winning tickets left for purchase by the unsuspecting public. The possibility of such premature disclosure must be prevented in order to maintain the overall integrity of the lottery and acceptability of the lottery tickets to the public.

Prevention of non-damaging premature disclosure of winning and losing tickets is of great importance in instant scratch-off lottery tickets because the tickets are generally sold through retail dealers who may have access to groups of tickets over periods of several days prior to sale. In such time periods it could be possible, if not prevented by technological means, for a dealer to separate winning from non-winning tickets; selling the non-winning tickets to the public and retaining the winning tickets for his/her own disposition. Destructive means of premature game data disclosure do not generally threaten the integrity of instant scratch-off lottery tickets because these techniques reveal tampering and render the tickets generally unsalable. For example if a substrate is delaminated to obtain the game data, evidence of de-lamination will generally remain apparent to a prospective purchaser of that ticket thereby preventing its sale. Ultimately players have to believe in the integrity of lottery ticket games that are being sold by the organizer and that players have a fair and honest chance of winning when buying a ticket.

It is important to note that testing procedures and criteria used to evaluate and approve the physical security levels of tickets vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Those skilled at the art know what is involved and generally can and will agree upon what makes and does not make lottery tickets physically secure. Ticket testing sites include ticket manufacturers, lottery organizers and forensic document laboratories that have specialized examination experience in these products. In case of disputes about the physical security, ticket evaluations from various laboratories will be made and studies until a consensus between parties is reached. Failing that, a judgment through legal channels may be sought. Consequently, when the phrase or phrases like, "secure", "security area", "sufficiently impenetrable to prevent determination of the contents of the image through the substrate" and "protected" are used it should be understood that this level of security meets the security level as generally determined as sufficient by these organizations. The lottery tickets and secure areas thereof, produced by this invention and method are considered to be secure in accordance with the foregoing.

Security of the game play and/or validation information is a significant problem which must be overcome if full colour variable images are to be used in the security area of an instant scratch-off lottery ticket. In addition this information must not be subject to tampering after the scratch-off layer is removed to prevent a player from modifying game data information into winning information.

Further of utmost importance is the awareness of the requirements of lottery organizers and making sure that the method and products meet or exceed them. Starting with a clear understanding that printing of lottery tickets is considered to be a non-failure production and that any misprinted tickets should be tracked down during manufacturing and taken out before they are delivered to the lottery organizers and their retailers. If the lottery ticket manufacturer makes errors or omissions, they may be held liable, to a limited degree, for payment of prizes due to over redemption of lottery tickets. The inventions described herein, carefully bear in mind all of the product requirements which government and charity lottery organizers require for their success and that the lottery organizers continually are working with their suppliers and urging them to develop and commercialize new exciting lottery ticket products for them.

This invention takes full advantage of all of the new technology and developments that were made and described in the Co-owned Application and has combined them with known lottery ticket printing techniques. By doing so, this invention provides a method by which light core substrates can also be effectively used to produce commercial volumes of physically secure lottery tickets that feature full colour security areas.

Instead of using an opaque dark core substrate as a base for the full colour security area, this invention creates and uses an opaque ink structure at the bottom of the security area on a light core substrate that is suitable for protecting the full colour images that are applied by any of:

(1) the liquid electrophotographic printing method;

(2) the toner electrophotographic printing method; and

(3) continuous or drop on demand ink jet printing that is cured/dried with UltraViolet (UV), electro Beam (EB), Infra Red (IR), Hot Air or other like methods.

The modern near offset quality full colour printing systems included in this invention are often referred to as "digital printing". The digital press manufacturers include, but are not limited to: Ricoh, Xeikon, Xerox, Fuji Xerox, EFI Jetrion, Canon, HP, Kodak, Konica Minolta, Kyocera Mita, Oce, Agfa, MGI and Miyakoshi.

Examples of two non-water based ink jet printing systems which are suitable for printing full colour variable images directly on to the surface of opaque ink structure are the Agfa Dotrix Transcolor and Miyakoshi MJP600. In the liquid electrophotographic process a suitable press is the HP Indigo 4500 or 6000 model and for toner based electrophotographic process the Xeikon 6000 model press. This invention also takes the benefit of the advancements made in full colour digital printing technology in recent years and improves upon those enhancements in an inventive manner by utilizing them with light core substrates to create and manufacture security areas on instant win lottery tickets and other scratch off products.

The term "instant win lottery ticket" is used for convenience only. It is to be understood that this invention includes all types of printed material in which secure full colour variable images are hidden under scratch off coverings. For example, it is expected that products such as cards, prepaid cards, vouchers, gift vouchers, bank security instruments, coupons, payment documents, voting cards and the like will be printed to feature variable full color images under scratch areas on one or both sides. Features of the invention generally described with reference to game play information and graphics will also apply to validation information and graphics, either of which may appear alone or together in a security area.

The opaque ink structure which is printed at the base of the security area must be made so that it readily accepts and holds the full color images. It is critical that the chemistry between the full colour image and the opaque ink structure are compatible, both during processing and during all life cycle stages of the lottery ticket. For example a lottery ticket may be kept in a wide variety of atmospheric conditions, for example an outdoor kiosk in a hot and humid country or it may be kept in inventory unsold for more than one year and when scratched. The ticket's performance characteristics must be adequate to the issuers and players alike. The full color images and the underlying security opaque ink security structure must remain intact and must not be allowed to fade, discolor or distort due their intimate contact with the light core substrate and/or the overlying varnish and scratch off ink layer structure.

In one preferred approach, the total underlying opaque ink structure should be constructed so that it performs like Hansell lottery paper. The opaque ink structure needs to have sufficient absorptive qualities and it needs to provide a high level of adhesion to the variable full colour game graphics. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is a new scratch off instant win lottery ticket that features hidden variable full color printed images in security areas that are applied over a full color printable opaque ink structure on a light core substrate. By variable images we mean images that change from card to card of a set of cards, such as a set used to play a scratch-off lottery game where some cards are winning cards (granting the holder a prize award) and some cards are non-winning cards (with no such award). Further explained in a lottery game series, or set of tickets, each lottery card of the series or set has to be individual and unique, no two cards can have the same markings. This demand makes lottery tickets a truly variable printed product to which, through this invention, full colour variable digital printing in the security areas on light core substrates is being introduced for the first time.

This modified method is based on and improves upon the Co-owned Application and has been invented because it may be desirable to use light core substrates and to print an opaque ink structure at the bottom of the lottery ticket's security area rather than to use a totally opaque dark core substrate such as Hansell lottery paper or aluminum foil laminated paperboards, as described in the Co-owned Application.

Opaque dark core substrates such as Hansell lottery paper or aluminum foil laminated paperboards do not require a fully printable opaque ink structure underneath the full color variable game play images in the security areas.

This invention is an alternative to the inventions of the Co-owned Application. Both this invention and the inventions of the Co-owned Application provide methods, tickets and apparatus for make lottery tickets and other scratch off products which feature full color game play images and/or validation information in the security areas.

In one embodiment of the invention, a set of instant scratch-off cards is provided, with each card including a substrate, a security area printed on the substrate, the security area comprising a lower opaque layer and an upper light coloured layer, a full colour graphical image printed on the security area, the image printed using a digital printing method capable of printing variable images, selected from the group: (i) the liquid electrophotographic printing method; (ii) the toner electrophotographic printing method; and (iii) continuous or drop on demand ink jet printing that is cured or dried, the opaque layer being sufficiently impenetrable to prevent determination of the contents of the image through the substrate, the light coloured layer having sufficient absorptive qualities to enable a rapid and high level of adhesion of the image to the security area and being sufficiently light to permit accurate reproduction of the image on the light coloured layer, the security area comprising information unique to the card as among the cards of the set, at least one varnish layer covering and protecting the image, at least one scratch off layer covering the at least one varnish layer, and wherein the at least one scratch-off layers is sufficiently impenetrable to prevent determination of the contents of the image through the at least one layer and wherein the at least one varnish layer facilitates release of the at least one scratch-off layer from the at least one varnish layer when the at least one scratch off layer is removed by a user.

In a further embodiment the card of the set may have an at least one varnish layer which includes:

(a) a first varnish layer covering and protecting the image;

(b) a second varnish layer covering the first varnish layer; and an at east one scratch off layer which includes: (a) a first scratch off layer covering the second varnish layer; and;

(b) a second scratch-off layer covering the first scratch-off layer; and wherein, in combination, the first and second scratch-off layers are sufficiently impenetrable to prevent determination of the contents of the image through the layers and wherein the second varnish layer facilitates release of the scratch-off layers from the second varnish layer when the scratch off layers are removed by a user.

In further embodiments: The curing or drying is undertaken with ultraviolet (UV), lectro Beam (EB), Infra Red (IR), Hot Air or other like methods. The substrate may be cellulose fibre based having a substantially consistent surface ink absorption and a substantially consistent surface whiteness. The substrate may be fibre based having high internal bond and tear strength so that the substrate cannot be separated without evidence of the separation being apparent. A surface of the substrate to which the image is applied may comprise a clay surface layer in a weight of between 80g/m2 to 550 g/m2. A surface of the substrate opposite to the surface to which the image is applied may be coated to reduce or eliminate transfer of part of an image from an adjacent another card of the set, to the card. The liquid electrophotographic printing method may be one of such printing methods undertaken by an Hewlett Packard Indigo digital press.

In still further embodiments: The information unique to the card may comprise a portion of the image and an other portion of the image may be uniform within the set. The information unique to the card may be integral with the image. The information unique to the card may be printed as a micro-text image, for enhanced security. The information unique to the card may be printed by as steganographic process to embed messages as the information, for enhanced security.

In a further embodiment the light coloured layer comprises a white coloured surface.

In another embodiment a non-security area having a non-secure full colour variable graphical image printed thereon is provided and the security area image and non-security area image are continuous to form a single complete image when the scratch-off layers are removed.

In another embodiment the image may be either a photographic, vector, digital photographic, drawing or bitmapped image.

In a further embodiment the at least one scratch-off layer contains a full colour graphical image printed thereon, the information unique to the card comprises one or more of: game play information and validation information and the image on the upper surface of the at least one scratch-off layer substantially matches the image on the security area and is positioned in substantial register with that image; with the exception of the information unique to the card which is not include in the image on the at least one scratch-off layer.

In another embodiment the at least one scratch-off layer contains a full colour graphical image printed thereon, the information unique to the card comprises one or more of: game play information and validation information and wherein the image on the upper surface of the at least one scratch-off layer substantially matches the image on the security area and is positioned in substantial register with that image; with the exception of the information unique to the card which is not include in the image on the at least one scratch-off layer.

In another embodiment, the graphical image may be a four colour process image.

In another embodiment, the information unique to the card may comprise one or more of: game play information and validation information.

In a further embodiment, the game play information is lottery game information for playing a scratch-off lottery game.

In another embodiment the information unique to the card is validation information which comprises a plurality of elements forming an image unique to that card, the plurality of elements comprise one or more differences among elements based on one or more relative elements selected from the group:

(a) density;

(b) colour; and

(c) positioning.

In further embodiments, the card may be a lottery ticket, a coupon, a voucher or a prepaid card.

In another embodiment, the first varnish layer may comprise non-absorptive qualities which keep the first varnish layer from penetrating unevenly into the security area in order to ensure an even coverage overlay on both the printed and non-printed areas of the security area.

In another embodiment, a method of making an instant game card of a set of cards having a security area for containing information unique to the card is provided, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) printing a security area on the card, the security area comprising a lower opaque layer and an upper light coloured layer, the upper layer comprises sufficient absorptive qualities to enable a rapid and high level of adhesion of an image and the lower layer being sufficiently impenetrable to prevent determination of the contents of the security area through the card;

(b) printing a full colour variable graphical image onto a portion of the security area of the card using a digital printing method capable of printing variable images, selected from the group:

(i) the liquid electrophotographic printing method; (ii) the toner electrophotographic printing method; and

(iii) continuous or drop on demand ink jet printing that is cured or dried;

(c) printing information unique to the card as among the cards of the set on the security area, either as all or a part of the image or separate from the image;

(d) covering the security area with at least one varnish layer, the at least one varnish layer in a manner to ensure an even coverage overlay on both the printed and non- printed areas of the security area;

(e) drying the at least one varnish layer; and

(f) covering the at least one varnish layer with at least one scratch-off layer which is sufficiently impenetrable to prevent determination of the contents of the image through the scratch-off layer.

Advantages

The present invention has advantages over prior art in areas of (i) ticket design and marketing (ii) the production process (iii) the environment and (iv) security. This includes the following: (i) Advantages in Ticket Design and Marketing

(a) Full color variable images in the play areas are true graphic representations (depictions) compared to the relatively simple data, symbols, figures and indicia that is used in prior art. True graphic representations are more vibrant, colourful, impressive, attractive, interesting, memorable, distinctive and complex compared to single color, spot color or dual spot color data, symbols, figures and indicia. For example, if the prize to be won in the scratch-off ticket is or associated to a certain brand of car, a full color image of the car is superior to a single color figure of a car that looks generic.

(b) Full color images enhance the aesthetic appearance of the ticket after it has been scratched.

(c) This method of producing lottery tickets makes it possible to customize play areas in full colour ticket designs to a particular geographical area, retailer, team, event, holiday, etc.

(ii) Advantages in the Production Process

(a) This method of producing variable full color lottery tickets on an light core substrate rather than a dark core opaque substrate is that light core substrates are lower price and more easy to procure.

(b) Using digital printing with a light core substrate makes it economically possible to do short printing runs and provide faster delivery times allowing lotteries to replace games in the marketplace with greater frequency, thus addressing an important complaint from consumers that tickets from a particular printing run continue to be sold in the marketplace even after all the high tier prizes have been claimed.

(c) When this invention states the words - variable full color images or full colour variable images, it means that the new lottery tickets, in particular their security areas can contain images that have anywhere from 3 to 8, or even more colors. This means any type of images that can be considered or referred to as a process colour image. Full colour variable images are distinct from colour images that have been created by a printing process that effectively has been designed and meant to print single or spot colour images or multiples hits of spot colour images. This invention brings all the benefits of true full colour process printing to lottery tickets made on light cores for the first time.

(d) New color matching systems such as Pantone Goe can be utilized to increase the aesthetic appearance of the full color variable images and security.

(e) This method of producing lottery tickets makes possible the development of techniques to monitor and test image accuracy, security and quality.

(iii) Environmental Advantages

Environmental sustainability for a printer covers three elements:

(i) The Product - material used to produce it (substrates, inks, varnishes, coatings, etc), (ii) The Process - pre-press, press, post-press, supporting technology & waste, (iii) The Envelope - buildings, grounds, energy consumption, employees & other supporting activities required to produce the product.

The general environmental advantages using the digital method of producing lottery tickets compared to the state of the art methods is that it is a smaller scale operation generating and requiring less waste in the production process, smaller facilities, less equipment, fewer personnel, less consumption of inks and other pressroom chemicals like those for example , that containing volatile organic compounds and the like.

(iv) Security Advantages

(a) To make tickets more individual and to enhance security, the liquid electrophotographic printing employed by Hewlett-Packard's Indigo press can apply variable images of micro text to the specification required by some lottery organizations for certain tickets, for example those that have a possibility of being a high tier winner. The micro text can be applied in the play and validation security areas and/or in the visible base graphics area of a ticket. Liquid electrophotographic printing is an advantage over the way micro text images are applied by conventional printing techniques such as offset which generally print the same stationary image of micro text, on the visible base graphic areas of lottery tickets. When lottery tickets are made with full colour variable micro-text images and the like, they become more individual, identifiable and secure compared to conventionally printed micro text images which are the generally have the same appearance and positioning throughout a series of lottery game tickets.

(b) The use of liquid electrophotographic printing in play areas enables techniques and images that are associated with Color Tiles to be employed. Color Tiles are graphical devices which are associated to function with Hewlett Packard's Indigo press technology. For example, a variety of covert, overt and anti-copy/forensic digital solutions can be created and placed in the play areas and validation areas to enhance lottery ticket security. Prior art single and spot color systems used in lottery ticket production are not capable of imaging composite variable Color Tile clusters. The use of machine readable and human readable features in printed Color Tiles can lead to new ways to validate, authenticate, track, control and distribute lottery tickets.

(c) The mathematical algorithms used to build and track, for example Colour Tile validation codes, are much more complicated and harder to breach compared to the algorithms used in industry standard, state of the art single colour barcodes, line codes and data matrix codes. Full colour variable barcodes can be more complex, making them more secure which is interest and benefit to lottery operators, players and suppliers.

(d) It is envisaged that many new lottery ticket security features and systems will be developed because of being able to have full colour variable printed images in the security areas. For example, as developments in hybrid algorithms are appropriately developed and achieved liquid electrophotographic variable printing could lend itself to function with complex image creation known as color image clustering. Clusters of coloured images would be a future way to increase individuality and security. (e) Play areas that contain a high degree of color and graphical information can be used to develop and employ the use of steganographic artistry to embed messages in the digital printing images. Components of the embedded images can be known and recognized only through authorized validation techniques. Steganographic artistry in the security, validation and base graphics areas of lottery tickets is a new way to increase lottery ticket security.

(f) To protect against reconstruction techniques in the security areas, full colour variable printing can be used to create visible and/or invisible benday lines in ways which are superior to the state of art benday lines which generally are visible and made with stationary printing techniques.

To safeguard the security areas which are printed with full colour variable images against pin pricking/light scratching, graphic design security techniques will need to be implemented by ticket manufacturers and lottery organizers who plan ticket styles, play areas and the location of prize carrying images. Graphic security and design planning will be an ongoing process during all ticket production runs that must effectively trick and camouflage the efforts of skilled pinpricking artists to ensure that the full colour variable printed information is kept securely hidden until the removable cover is scratched off by the rightful owner of the lottery ticket.

While liquid electrophotographic printing is most commonly referred to in this section, it is not limiting. It is recommended that all other printing techniques mentioned herein should be looked and considered when creating individual full colour variable printed security elements for lottery tickets. Each printing method mentioned herein has and will continue to develop their own features which can be applied on to the tickets to increase their individuality and security.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 illustrates a prior art card, comprising an instant scratch-off lottery ticket manufactured on a light core clay coated substrate, with the scratch-off layers of three security areas sufficiently removed to reveal the variable game data which is comprised of numbers, letters and a simple drawing all of which are printed by a single colour black ink jet on top of opaque grey colored background lily pad.

Figure 2A illustrates a card, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, comprising an instant scratch-off lottery ticket manufactured on a light core clay coated substrate, with scratch-off protective layers.

Figure 2B illustrates the card of Figure 2A, with three security areas two of which having their scratch off layers partially removed and one having its scratch off layer completely removed, with the said two areas revealing variable full colour images printed directly on to the white surface of an opaque ink structure lily pad in the security areas, and the other said area containing validation information also printed in variable full colour.

Figure 3 is a close-up view of the prior art card of Figure 1 showing one of the three security areas with the scratch off layer completely removed. A single colour black ink jet drawing is shown printed on top of an opaque grey coloured background lily pad.

Figure 4 is a close-up view of a full colour variable image in one of the security areas of the card of Figure 2 printed directly onto the white surface of an opaque ink structure lily pad, with the scratch-off layer completely removed.

Figure 5 is a prospective cut-away view of an instant scratch-off lottery ticket of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the various layers in the security area. It should be understood that the layers are exaggerated in height in order to clearly show those layers. In use, upper layer 100 would be generally flush with upper layer 173, perhaps extending outwardly a small amount.

Figure 6 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of the security area of the card of Figure 5. Again, the thickness of layers is exaggerated, as would be apparent to one skilled in this area.

Figure 7 is a schematic view of the Indigo press portion of a preferred method of manufacturing an instant scratch-off lottery ticket of the present invention. Figure 8 is a schematic view of a preferred method flexo line manufacturing the opaque ink structure lily pad portion of an instant scratch-off lottery ticket of the present invention.

Figure 9 is a schematic view of the flexo line applying the covering varnish and scratch off layers in a preferred method of manufacturing an instant scratch-off lottery ticket of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Prior Art

Figure 1 and 3 illustrate instant scratch-off lottery tickets manufactured on a light core clay coated substrate common to the prior art. Prior art lottery ticket 10 includes security areas 12, 14 and 16 as well as non-security area 18. When purchased all of the security areas 12, 14 and 16 are covered by scratch-off layers, with area 12 covered by scratch-off layer 20, area 14 covered by scratch-off layer, 22 and area 16 covered by a scratch-off layer (not shown). In the depiction of Figure 1 , scratch-off layers 20 and 22 are only partially shown with most of scratch- off layers 20 and 22 removed. Area 16 is shown with its scratch-off layer completely removed.

A mix of overprint colors may be printed by a flexo printing method on top of the scratch-off layers 20 and 22 and the scratch-off layer covering area 16.

Prior art security areas 12 and 14 show numerical game data printed in single colour black ink applied by ink jet printing and security area 16 shows a one colour black ink jet figure along with words. All are printed on top of an opaque grey coloured lily pad, such as lily pad 24 of security area 16.

The non-secure area 18, which is commonly called display graphics, is printed by conventional plate printing techniques either in a single colour, spot colour or full colour, including four colour process, to provide a full colour image, which could include a photographic image or the like in non-secure area 18. Referring to Figure 3, a close up depiction of the prior art card of Figure 1 , security area 16 includes a relatively simple one colour black ink jet image 26 and two words 28 that are printed by an ink jet printer on top of an opaque grey coloured lily pad 24.

Preferred Embodiment

Card 30, in the preferred embodiment, is an instant scratch-off lottery ticket printed on a light core clay coated substrate, as seen in Figures 2A and 2B, which includes non-security area 32 together with three security areas: 34, 36 and 41.

Referring initially to Figure 2A a card is illustrated, in this case an instant scratch-off lottery ticket 30. Security areas 34, 36 and 41 (Figure 2B), are covered with two layers of varnish and two scratch-off layers in the manner discussed below with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Upper scratch-off layers 35 (for security area 34), 39 (for security area 36) and 37 (for security area 41) are dark in colour covering the entire area of respective security areas 34, 36 and 41.

Figures 2B and 4 illustrate the card of Figure 2A comprising an instant scratch-off lottery ticket 30, with the scratch-off layers 35, 37, and 39 of respective security areas 34, 41 and 36 completely removed to reveal full colour variable images printed on the white surface of an opaque ink structure in the security area, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a close-up view of variable full colour printed image 40 of female 52 in the security area 36, with the scratch-off layer 39 completely removed.

It should be noted that when distributed and sold, the security areas 34, 36 and 41 , are completely covered by a clear varnish layer or layers and dark scratch-off layers (with upper scratch off layers 35, 37 and 39 shown in Figure 2A on top). In this example, several full colour variable images 38 are hidden from view in a secure manner in security area 34 and cannot be read unless the scratch-off layer 35 is removed by a purchaser of the ticket 30. Images 38 are comprised of photographic images which also constitute game play information. Game play information indicate whether the ticket is a winning ticket or a non-winning ticket. In this example the game play information comprises a visual match between image 44 of security area 34 and image 40 of security area 36.

Photographic images 38, 40 and 44 may contain game play information as in the example of Figure 2A, or may be intended only to provide an attractive full colour variable image in the security areas 34 and 36 of card 30, without game play information, in which case printed information in other areas of security areas 34 and 36 provide non-graphical information such as numbers or words that provide the game play information. Or the game play information can be a combination of graphical images (for example a visual match between images 40 and 44) as well as non-graphical information (such as numerical information indicating the amount to be awarded for that match). Photographic images 38, 40 and 44 are printed in variable full colour either by liquid electro-photographic printing, toner electro-photographic printing, or by continuous or on demand inkjet printing that is cured by Ultra Violet (UV), Infra-Red (IR), Hot Air, Electro Beam (EB) or the like methods. In the preferred embodiment liquid electro- photographic full color variable printing-, particularly the printing method undertaken by a Hewlett-Packard Indigo Digital Printing System is suggested for simultaneous application of images in the non-secure base graphics areas and in the game play and validation security areas.

In the example of Figure 2B, a winning ticket 30 is one where the variable full colour photographic image 40 of security area 36 matches one of the variable full colour photographic images located in security area 34. In this case, photographic image 40 in security area 36 matches with image 44 of security area 34. Note further that additional variable game play information can be included, such as the name associated with images 40 and 44 of the female person depicted which matches in both security area 34 and security area 36 in order to provide the player with additional entertainment and verification of a winning ticket.

The full colour and/or spot colour images contained in non-security area 32 may remain static with each lottery ticket of a set of lottery tickets. On the other hand, the game play information constituting images 38, 40 and 44 vary from card to card of a particular lottery set or game play series. For winning tickets, for example, a visual match would occur between graphical images 40 and 44. And for a non-winning tickets no match would occur. Graphical images 38, 40, and 44 inherently contain game play information in that matching the images will indicate that a particular card is a winning or non-winning card depending on whether there is a match on a single card.

Images 38, 40 and 44 are variable images, that is they vary from ticket 30 to ticket 30 of a single lottery ticket game, or set of cards 30, and contain the game play information such that some lottery tickets 30 contain winning information in security area 34 and 36 visible upon removal of the scratch-off layers 92. Other tickets contain a game play information in security area 34 and 36 representing non-winning information for a non-winning lottery ticket.

The ability to print full colour variable images provides many options for printing the base graphics and the game play and validation images on card 30. In the example of Figure 2B, the base graphic images 50 in the non-security area 32 do not match any of the full color images contained in security areas 34 and 36.

Another option is to provide a larger full color graphical image that presents one complete image covering both non-security area 32 and security areas 34 and 36. Users who remove the scratch-off layer then have a complete image. Even if the card is a non-winning card, purchasers may wish to keep the card based on the graphical image which could be of a famous sports figure, movie star, or other graphical image of value to the purchaser as memorabilia. The non-secure area can act as a "teaser" providing a potential purchaser with incentive to purchase a particular lottery ticket with the knowledge that they will, at least, receive a full colour picture consistent with the graphical image of the non-security area 32 of the card 30.

As an alternate feature, a full colour image can be printed on to the scratch-off layer. The image on the scratch-off layers 35, 37 and 39 can also be a part of a larger image when combined with the full colour image on the non-security area 32 to form a complete image. This can also act to attract potential purchasers to purchase the ticket. As a further option, the image printed on the scratch-off layers 35, 37 and 39 can match and be in register with the full color variable image underneath the scratch-off layer with one or more important modifications. As will be apparent, it is important to maintain the confidential nature of the hidden variable game play information and to make sure that the graphics used on the top of scratch-off layers 35, 37 and -39 cannot be used to construe what are the images of the hidden graphics. These feature of having full colour variable hidden images can be beneficial to the lottery ticket issuer and the retailer selling the ticket by making the lottery tickets more attractive to users and providing them with some "residual" value even if the lottery ticket turns out to be a non-winning ticket, in that while no financial or other compensation is payable under that ticket, the ticket may still be of value to the purchaser based on the nature of the image.

Figure 4 depicts a portion of card 30 of Figure 2B of security area 36 with the scratch-off layer 39 (Figure 2A) removed. The visual impact of a full colour image of the female 52 printed in security area 36 can be compared to relatively simple single color black image 26 of a female of the prior art lottery ticket 10, as depicted in Figure 3.

It is often necessary to include coded validation information on instant win lottery tickets to enable retailers and lottery administrators to verify that a particular winning ticket returned for payment is a proper verified winning ticket. This can be done by means of coded numbers, letters or other symbols or arrays of symbols. Some tracking and validation information can be placed on the ticket in non-secure areas, such as non secure area 32 of card 30 of Figure 2A, or in one or more security areas 34, 36 and 41. In the past the validation information has been printed in one colour or spot colour.

However, with the ability to print full colour variable images it is now possible to print full colour validation information, unique to each lottery ticket, in the same manner as the full color game play graphics discussed herein. The ability to print and use full colour variable images and complex graphics as coded validation information provides significant benefits to the production, tracking, distribution and security monitoring systems of lottery tickets. Referring to Figure 2B, security area 41 includes a graphically complex color tile type of bar code validation information 43, constituting a full colour variable image, containing coded information to validate card 30 as constituting a winning lottery ticket. Each card 30 can have a unique graphically complex image containing corresponding validation information 43 printed using a variable colour printing method as described herein. Special reading technology and associated reading devices and methods, like mobile systems can be used to read and securely authenticate the validation information comprised inside of the colour tiles barcodes. Colour tile readers could be restricted to the lottery administrator's possession, and used just for validating the higher prize cards 30. The purchase and operation of color tile reading devices for authentication of prize payout tickets would not be significant investments for the lottery organizers in order to upgrade and enhance security.

An overall increase in security for lottery tickets can be provided by using the very complex secret validating algorithms, defining validation information 43. associated with these colour tiles constituting a four colour variable image, for ticket identification, reading and control. Algorithmic complexities can be greatly upgraded from the reliance on simpler algorithms that have to use- single and spot color data, bar codes and indicia or the like, be the validation information manually and/or machine read. These new more complex algorithms can rely on differences among individual coloured elements of the printed validation information based on one or more relative element differences including differences in density, colour, and/or positioning. For example Hewlett-Packard has developed systems used in association with its Indigo Digital Printing System to use enhanced "variable image read capabilities" with these types of colour tiles, although not yet used in validating lottery tickets.

Lottery ticket validation and inspection systems, could be integrated to use these color tile advances by ticket manufacturers and lottery administrators in applications that range anywhere from activating "lottery ticket" books at retailer sites, tracking sales and inventories to authorizing and authenticating the payouts of tickets, including the most valuable high tier winning tickets.

Figures 5 and 6 depict a bottom portion of card 30 of Figures 2A and 2B, herein referenced as "ticket 80", which figures will be referred to in describing the various components of ticket 80. Figure 5 is a perspective cut-away view of ticket 80 showing the various layers in the security area 82. Figure 6 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of the security area 82 of the lottery ticket 80 of Figure 5.

The Light Core Substrate In the preferred embodiment ticket 80 includes a substrate 177 that has a light colored core 174 made from solid bleached sulphate (SBS) cellulose pulp fibers which is covered by a top layer 173 and a bottom layer 175 of clay coating. The total substance or basis weight of the light core substrate 177 is between 175 and 250 grams per square meter with a thickness between 195 and 250 micron (8 or 10 point in imperial measure).

Preferably, the light core substrate is recyclable, -dimensionally stable, and consistently manufactured. The light core substrate should feature a smooth clay coated finish on two sides. The total substance/basis weight range of the substrate including the clay coating layer which is applied during the paper making process can be between 80 g/m2 and 550 g/m2, but preferably between 175 g/m2 and 250 g/m2. A recommended light core substrate to use is two side coated 8 or 10 point Carolina Coated Cover Stock or Accent Opaque Cover 8 or 10 point if deemed more suitable for the digital printing process being used. Both light core substrates are made by International Paper in the U.S.A. Contact: (www.internationalpaper.com).

A high content of Solid Bleached Sulphate (SBS) pulp is preferable to have in the furnish of the light core substrate because they provide high internal bond and tear strength properties which makes the lottery ticket more difficult to try to split open and re-seal.

To help conceal the full colour images in the security areas from detection by wave length systems it is desirable that the fibre core and the coating layers of the light core substrate are free of Optical Brightening Agents (OBA's).

As an alternative to a substrate like Carolina that has a full clay coating layer (approx. 20 grams per square meter, per side), the light core substrate selected could also have a light clay coating on one or two sides of approx. 3 to 11 grams per square meter, per side. Further, the light core substrate could be a standard, surface sized or enhanced uncoated offset or bond paper.

Depending upon the printing process being used a treatment or modification to the absorbency of the light core substrate may be done using a pre-print treatment or pre-print coating to help better control over how the ink layers, pigments and dyes interact with the surface of the substrate resulting in higher colour contrasts and images of finer detail.

In a modification, the light core substrate may be laminated to another material to add bulk, stiffness and other characteristics which may be desirable for the printer, lottery organizer or end customer. The substrate that will be laminated may have been pre-printed or converted to add additional aesthetic, security or readable features.

If the look, durability or feel of plastic types of tickets is desired, then synthetic light core substrate can be used. One suggested substrate is as the Teslin Digital 1000 substrate which is available from PPG Industries, One PPG Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15272 USA. In theory any light core plastic or synthetic substrate can be used provided that its performance is checked and found to be compatible with the selected printing process, the inks, varnishes and over print coverings.

Dependent upon the printing process and the results being obtained, it may be deemed beneficial to treat the reverse side of the substrate with a separate pre-print coating to eliminate or reduce, as much as possible, full or partial image transfer during processing which can occur on the printing web (also referred to as reverse transfer of the image). This is to avoid detection of a reverse image on the backsides of tickets with or without the aid of short wave, long wave, black light or fluorescing systems or the like.

It is preferable for upper coating layer 173 and the top white ink layer 169 (described below) to have a level of full color variable ink absorption properties that are as similar as possible. Upper coating layer 173 should maintain a relatively high level of high surface strength (preferably greater than 0.70 m/s in IGT pick testing).

As discussed above with respect to Figures 2A, 2B and 4, graphical image 90 is a full colour graphical image, including an image produced by a four colour process digital printing system capable of producing full colour variable images such as that produced by either: the liquid electro-photographic printing method; the toner electro-photographic printing method; the ultraviolet continuous inkjet printing method; and the ultraviolet drop on demand inkjet printing method.

Image 90 is a full color variable image, in this example containing game play graphics. Image 90 may also contain ticket validation graphics imbedded therein or as separate full colour validation information. Image 90 varies from ticket 80 to ticket 80 within a set of cards used to play a game made up of a plurality of single lottery tickets. When the scratch layers (discussed below) have been removed Image 90 provides information which tells a player and/or a retailer whether or not the ticket is winner.

Lily pad 178 is printed in security area 82 onto top layer 173 of substrate 177. Lily pad 178 is opaque with sufficient absorptive qualities to enable a rapid and high level of adhesion of the full color variable image to security area 82 and is sufficiently impenetrable to prevent determination of the contents of image 90 inside of security area 82. Lily pad 178 must be correctly and consistently applied. In a preferred embodiment, lily pad 178 consists of four layers of ink that are applied in sequence starting at the base of the security area. A layer of dark opaque ink 172 is printed directly on to the clay coated surface 173 of substrate 177. Next a first layer of white ink 171 is applied over the dark ink layer 172. This is followed by a second white ink layer 170 being applied on to the of white ink layer 171 and then by the third or top white ink layer 169 being applied over the second white ink layer 170.

When all four layers are correctly and consistently applied and joined to the coated surface of the substrate 173, a full color printable opaque lily pad 178 structure has been formed which cannot be separated from the coated surface 173 of substrate 177, without leaving evidence of tampering. The game play graphics 90 which may include ticket validation graphics cannot be read through opaque lily pad 178 when combined with the light core substrate 177.

The Security Area 82

A good quality full color printable opaque ink layer structure is produced at the base of the security area on a light core substrate that enables physically secure, variable full color lottery ticket production to be done without the use of a dark core opaque substrate, like Hansell lottery paper or aluminum foil laminated paperboard. The full color printable opaque lily pad ink structure is a combination of dark and white inks and when applied to a light core substrate a security area is created which is described as follows:

The Opaque Lily Pad Layer 172

Layer(s) of dark opaque flexo ink are applied evenly and directly on to the surface of the substrate so that a non-removable opaque base layer lily pad is formed which alone is impenetrable against transmitted light sources used in lottery ticket detection. A recommended dark opaque ink which gives good hiding power is referred to as: Charcoal Base Layer Flexo Ink which is made and sold by International Ink Company, 775 Dorsey Street, Gainsesville, Georgia, 30501 , USA. The hiding power or opacity coverage which the dark ink layer provides is determined by the type of dye, the pigment type and/or pigment particle size which has been used to color the ink by the ink manufacturer. To achieve sufficient opacity the dark ink layer must adhere well to the surface of the light core substrate. The viscosity of the ink, the anilox count and the printing process used determine how well the dark ink layer lays down and how opaque the printed lily pad is. The dark ink layer may be water or solvent based. It may also be applied by conventional printing techniques; silk screen, offset or gravure however for this application these inks and printing techniques bring more complications than flexo does, therefore they are not preferred recommendations. The same is said about the use of a modern digital printing technique for the application of the dark ink used to make the opaque lily pad.

The White Ink Lily Pad Layer(s) 169, 170 and 171

Using flexo, layer(s) of white ink are applied to form a white lily pad that sits directly on top of the opaque lily pad. Correctly applied, the white lily pad bonds with the underlying dark lily pad forming a printable opaque ink structure that is used to securely hide complex full colour variable images. The viscosity of the ink, the anilox count and the printing process determine how well the white ink layers lay down and perform. An example of a white flexo ink product which covers and adheres well to the opaque lily pad ink mentioned above is referred to as: White Lilypad Ink from the International Ink Company in Gainsesville, Georgia, USA. The ability of the white ink to mask over the dark ink layer is determined by the type of dye, the pigment type and/or pigment particle size used to colour the ink by the ink manufacturer. For high quality variable full color printing in the security areas a bright white colour nuance is required. The white ink layer may be water or solvent based. It may also be applied by conventional printing techniques; silk screen, offset or gravure however for this application these inks and printing bring more complications than flexo, therefore they are not preferred recommendations. The same is said about the use of a modern digital printing technique for the printing of any of the white ink layers.

A Full Color Printable Opaque Lily Pad 178

When combined, the opaque lily pad 178, made up of dark ink layer 172 and white lily pad layers, 169, 170, and 171 , form into a novel ink layer structure that can both readily accept the printing of a full colour variable image 90 from the printing processes described herein and ensure that the full colour variable image 90 is securely protected from the bottom side of security area 82 of the lottery ticket or card 80. The opaque lily pad ensures that the bottom side of the security area 82 is impenetrable against all types of transmitted light, physical and chemical attacks, freezing, heating, magnetic/electrostatic invasion, artistic tampering and other known techniques.

Like all other lily pad inks that are currently used in lottery ticket production, the Charcoal Base Layer Flexo Ink and the White Lilypad Layer Flexo Ink products from the International Ink Company have been designed, formulated and sold for product applications where only relatively simple single and spot color variable images are hidden under scratch off coverings.

To enable light core substrates to be used with full colour variable images in security areas, this invention envisages that existing lily pad ink products will need to be modified so that they can become light enough to provide for accurate image reproduction and so that they can readily accept and adhere the variable full colour images in the security areas applied by the printing processes described herein. The successful unification of the opaque lily pad layer 172, the white lily pad layers 169, 170, and 171 , the full color variable image 90, the varnish layers (discussed below) and the scratch off ink layers (discussed below) are paramount to creating the world's first physically secure instant win ticket 80 with a full color security area that is printed on light core substrate 177.

The combined opaque lily pad 178 ink structure is built so that it has an absorbent white colored surface that enables the true and vivid reproduction of full colour variable images 90, such as skin tones and photographic images.

When producing volumes of printable bright white opaque ink structures for use in secure variable full color instant tickets, one must continually monitor and maintain stable on press chemistry, including the curing/drying speed of the inks. For the fastest and most reliable processing it is favorable for each ink layer to have a high initial bond on to the layer to which it is being applied.

The Full Color Game Play and Validation Information

After completing production of the combined opaque lily pad 178 ink structure its white surface can be printed with one or more full colour images 90 that are applied by any one or any combination of the following techniques:

(1) the liquid electrophotgraphic printing method

(2) the toner electrophotographic printing method

(3) continuous or drop on demand ink jet printing that is cured/dried with Electro Beam (EB), Infra Red (IR), Hot Air or other like methods.

For application of the variable full color images 90, this invention considers the use of any of the following modern printing systems. All of which can be commonly referred to as "digital printing". More specifically, the digital printing presses referred to in this invention are those which are designed to and are capable of printing volumes of high quality, variable four color process images which are near offset quality and in good register. The digital press manufacturers include, but are not limited: Ricoh, Xeikon, Xerox, Fuji Xerox, EFI Jetrion, Canon, HP, Kodak, Konica Minolta, Kyocera Mita, Oce, Agfa, MGI and Miyakoshi.

The variable full colour process images described in this invention include hexachrome printing and 3 color process printing, wherein a Red, Green or yellow color are combined to make black and four color process images. The complex full color used in the security areas of this invention are what separate it from the lottery industries own descriptions of data, symbols, indicia and the like. The stark difference in variable image quality and description clearly indicate that the lottery tickets are different from the state of the art light core substrates that thus far only feature relatively simple variable images printed in single or spot colours in the security areas of tickets.

While printing the variable full color image 90 in the security area 82, the digital printing presses can simultaneously print the base graphics which are in the visible part of the lottery ticket, such as non-security area 32 of card 30 shown in Figure 2B. By combining the imaging of the base graphics with the printing of the variable full color game graphic image 90 in the security area 82 and validations areas of the ticket 80 considerable production efficiencies are achieved.

Stationary/conventional printing techniques can be used to also print the base graphics if deemed appropriate or advantageous because of cost or other reasons.

Covering the Variable Full Color Security Area

To cover and protect the variable full color image 90 in the game play and validation security area(s) 82 from being detected from the top of card 80, a preferred and recommended method is to apply, by silk screen or flexo printing methods, two layers of clear varnish 94 and 96, and two layers of dark scratch off ink 98 and 100. Depending upon the printing process used, any or all of the four layers, 94, 96, 98, and 100 can be either solvent or water based. The curing or drying of any one or all of the four layers 94, 96, 98, and 100 can be done by UV- ultra violet lamp, IR- Infra Red, EB- Electro Beam or Hot Air or other like methods. Offset, gravure or digital printing techniques are not suggested, however they could be made to work. In sequence, the four layers are:

(1) The First Varnish Layer 94 - Adhesion & Protection Varnish

In the recommended process a single silk screen or flexo printing station applies a first layer 94 of clear or lightly tinted varnish evenly over top of what has been printed in the security area 82, including image 90. To provide security and protection the first varnish layer 94 should have a consistent thickness. The first varnish layer 94 helps to protect the full color variable image 90 and the opaque lily pad 178 ink structure from being damaged under heavy or rough scratching forces. A supplier of a suitable silk screen protection varnish 94 for this application is in Germany. Contact FujiFilm Sericol Deutschland GmbH (www.sericol.com).

(2) The Second Varnish Layer 96 - Release Varnish

A single silk screen or flexo printing station applies a second layer 96 of clear or lightly tinted varnish evenly and as consistently over top of varnish layer 94. Second layer 96 of varnish effectively forms a release covering for the scratch off ink layers (discussed below) when scratched. A supplier of a suitable silk screen release varnish 96 is the Sericol Company as mentioned above.

(3) The First Security Scratch Off Ink Layer 98

A silk screen or flexo printing station applies a first layer 98 of dark colored opaque security scratch off ink as consistent and evenly possible over top of second layer 96 of varnish in the security area 82. A supplier of a suitable opaque security scratch off ink for first layer 98 is the Flint Group, 485 Millway Ave, Concord, Ontario L4K 3V4 Canada.

(4) The Second Security Scratch Off Ink Layer 100

A silk screen or flexo printing station applies a second layer 100 of dark coloured opaque security scratch off ink as consistent and evenly possible over top of first layer 98 of security scratch off ink in the security area 82. A supplier of a suitable opaque security scratch off ink for layer 100 is the Flint Group as mentioned above.

When combined, varnish layers 94 and 96 and the scratch off ink layers 98 and 100 must adequately protect the variable full colour and any non-colour game play and validation information which is printed underneath in the security area 82. In particular, the varnish and scratch off ink layers 94, 96, 98, and 100 structure make the top of security area 82 impenetrable against all types of transmitted light, physical and chemical attacks, freezing, heating, magnetic/electrostatic invasion, artistic tampering and other known penetration techniques.

Depending upon the printing processes being used, the absorption properties of the light core substrate 177 and the varnish 94 and 96 and scratch off ink 98 and 100 qualities it may be possible to achieve the desired security level and performance result by using a minimum of only one layer of varnish and one layer of dark scratch off ink.

It is also possible to use more than two layers of varnish or more than two layers of scratch off ink as deemed desirable for the printing process being used.

The first varnish layer 94 is designed and applied so that it covers and protects the full color variable images in the security areas 90 from disintegrating and becoming unreadable when a player or retailer removes the scratch-off layers 98,100 with a coin, key or other sharp or abrasive article. The first varnish layer 94 may be non-conventional so that it contains some non absorptive qualities which will keep it from penetrating too far into or unevenly into the full colour variable images 90 and/or the white ink layer 169 during or after the application process. Properly applied the first varnish layer 94 ensures an even coverage overlay on both the variable full colour image 90 and any white ink layer 169 areas of security area 82.

A second clear colored varnish layer 96 is a conventional varnish layer which covers first varnish layer 94 and acts as a release layer to ensure that the two combined scratch-off layers 92 can be readily removed from security area 82 after the purchaser has purchased ticket 80. The second varnish layer 96 also acts as a release layer which provides slip to ensure that the overlaying scratch off structure can be removed by a player.

A first scratch-off layer 98 covers second varnish layer 96 as a part of scratch-off layers 92. The surface of second varnish layer 96 sufficiently adheres to the first scratch off layer 98, so that the overlaying scratch off layer structure 92 cannot be unscrupulously lifted off to reveal the full colour variable printed information underneath.

Varnish layers 94 and 96 also protect the full color variable image 90 once the scratch-off layer structure 92 is removed to prevent manipulation of the graphical image and to preserve it for future use by a purchaser, as more particularly discussed above.

Second scratch-off layer 100 covers first scratch-off layer 98. Together, scratch-off layers 92 provide an opaque scratch-off covering which is sufficiently impenetrable to prevent determination of the contents of graphical image 90 through layers 92. In this way graphical image -and game play information 90 are protected from unauthorized determination until, and only unless, scratch-off layer 92 is removed from security area 82. As discussed above, in this example the full color variable image 90 may include the full color validation graphics as a part of image 90.

On top of the scratch off layer structure 92 a single or full color stationary or variable image 104 can be printed as an overprint. The over print image 104 is openly viewable on the surface of the ticket. It helps to keep the scratch off ink layer structure 92 from being lifted and re-sealed in an undetected way. The overprint image104 may be designed to contain some graphics that are related to game play.

On the reverse side of the ticket, directly on the clay coated surface of the substrate 175, single or full color, stationary or variable images 176 may be applied. The images 176 can contain a wide range of information from game play rules, product advertising, ticket redemption, validation or retail information or other graphics. Summary of Security Area

Provided that image 90 has adequate graphical design security, the combined structure of layers 94, 96, 98, 100 and lily pad 178 make the security area sufficiently impenetrable preventing the determination of the contents of full color image(s) 90 and associated game play and/or validation information without removal of the scratch off layers 92 and also to avoid penetration and identification of the image(s) 90 by pinpricking, light scratching, microsurgery and other known invasion techniques.

Method of Manufacture

Figures 7, 8, and 9 are schematic view of a preferred method of manufacturing an instant scratch-off lottery ticket of the present invention. The main components are: a five station convertible flexo to silk screen printing line 180 used in one pass to make the full color printable opaque lily pads as shown in Figure 8. A Hewlett Packard Indigo Digital printing press 120 used for printing of the full color variable graphics as shown in Figure 7. The aforementioned five station convertible flexo to silk screen printing line 180, used in a second pass to apply varnishes and scratch off ink layers, Figure 9.

Referring to Figure 8, the paper board 138 from roller 136 is fed into a five station press that has been set up to print in flexo technique . The paper board 138 passes through a series of guide rollers 140 and enters into the first print station 181 where an Anilox Roller 182 applies an opaque dark ink on to a plate mounted on to a cylinder 184. The excess dark ink is scraped off by a doctor blade 183 and layer 172 of opaque dark ink is sufficiently and consistently applied directly onto the clay coated surface 173 of- substrate 177 to create an opacity layer in the security areas of the lottery ticket. The ink layer 172 is cured/dried by the Ultra Violet (UV), Infra-Red (IR), Hot Air or Electro Beam (EB) method 185.

Passing along more guide rollers 140 the paper board then enters a second print station 189 where Anilox Roller 186 applies white ink on to a plate mounted on to a cylinder 188. The excess white ink is scraped off by a doctor blade 187 and a first layer 171 of white ink is consistently applied directly onto the surface of the opaque dark ink layer 172 in the security areas of the lottery ticket. The ink layer 171 is cured/dried by the Ultra Violet (UV), Infra-Red (IR), Hot Air or Electro Beam (EB) method 190.

Passing further along more guide rollers 140 the paper board then enters a third print station 191 where Anilox Roller 192 applies white ink on to a plate mounted on to a cylinder 193. The excess white ink is scraped off by a doctor blade 194 and a second layer 170 of white ink is consistently applied directly onto the surface of the first white ink layer 171 in the security areas of the lottery ticket. The ink layer 170 is cured/dried by the Ultra Violet (UV), Infra-Red (IR), Hot Air or Electro Beam (EB) method 195.

Passing further along more guide rollers 140 the paper board 138 then enters a fourth print station 196 where Anilox Roller 197 applies white ink on to a plate mounted on to a cylinder 198. The excess white ink is scraped off by a doctor blade 199 and a third layer 169 of white ink is consistently applied directly onto the surface of the second white ink layer 170 in the security areas of the lottery ticket. The ink layer 169 is cured/dried by the Ultra Violet (UV), Infra-Red (IR), Hot Air or Electro Beam (EB) method 200.

During this pass fifth station 150 is left unused, however if additional dark or white ink layers are needed the press can be set up accordingly and it can be used.

Referring to Figure 7, Indigo press 120 can print full color variable images, that is images that are full colour and change from one printed impression to the next printed impression continuously and rapidly. Press 120 is controlled by a computer (not shown) which provides data representative of each successive impression image or images to be printed. In addition to the ability to print full colour images using 4 colour ink in a process colour system, press 120 can also print additional colours to provide versatility in printing single colour or plurality of colour with only one pass through press 120.

Press 120 includes a laser imager 124 controlled by the computer to create the image to be printed. A photo imaging plate 126 obtains ink simultaneously from several ink developer units 128 to establish an image on plate 126. The non-secure base graphic image in non-security area 32 and the security area image 90 is transferred to transfer cylinder 130. As paper board 138 passes between transfer cylinder 130 and impression cylinder 132 the base graphic image 32 is printed on to the clay coated surface 173 and image 90 is simultaneously printed on the third white ink layer 169 of paper board 138. Residual ink and electrical charge removal is carried out by remover 125 and plate 126 is then ready for the next image, which is a different image than the previously printed image. Press 120 thereby prints image in non-secure area 32 and image 90 onto paper board 138. After printing, paper board 138 is rolled onto paper board roll 136.

Referring to Figure 9, the paper board 138 from roller 136 is fed into a five station press 180 that has been set up to print in flexo technique. The paper board 138 has been prepared with lily pad 178 printed thereon by the process described above with respect to Figure 8 and the graphic image in non-secure area 32 on to clay coated surface 173 and the variable full colour image 90 printed on layer 169 as described with respect to Figure 7. Paper board 138 passes through a series of guide rollers 140 and enters the first print station 201 where an Anilox Roller 202 applies clear varnish 94 on to a plate mounted on to a cylinder 203. The excess varnish is scraped off by a doctor blade 204 and a first layer of varnish 94 is consistently applied directly onto the full color variable image 90 and lily pad 178 in security area 82 of the lottery ticket. The varnish layer 94 is cured/dried by the Ultra Violet (UV), Infra-Red (IR), Hot Air or Electro Beam (EB) method 205.

Passing along more guide rollers 140 the paper board 138 then enters a second print station 206 where Anilox Roller 207 applies varnish 96 on to a plate mounted on to a cylinder 208. The excess varnish is scraped off by a doctor blade 209 and a second layer 96 of varnish is consistently applied directly over first layer 94 of varnish. The varnish layer 96 is cured/dried by the Ultra Violet (UV), Infra-Red (IR), Hot Air or Electro Beam (EB) method 210.

Passing further along more guide rollers 140 the paper board 138 then enters a third print station 211 where Anilox Roller 212 applies dark security scratch off ink on to a plate mounted on to a cylinder 213. The excess scratch off ink is scraped off by a doctor blade 214 and a first layer 98 of dark security scratch off ink is consistently applied directly onto the surface of the second varnish layer 96 in the security area 82 of the lottery ticket 80. The security scratch off ink layer 98 is cured/dried by the Ultra Violet (UV), Infra-Red (IR), Hot Air or Electro Beam (EB) method 215.

Passing further along more guide rollers 140 the paper board 138 then enters a fourth print station 216 where Anilox Roller 217 applies- dark security scratch off ink on to a plate mounted on to a cylinder 218. The excess scratch off ink is scraped off by a doctor blade 219 and a second layer 100 of dark security scratch off ink is consistently applied directly onto the surface of first layer 98 of dark security scratch off ink the security area 82 of the lottery ticket 80. The ink layer 100 is cured/dried by the Ultra Violet (UV), Infra-Red (IR), Hot Air or Electro Beam (EB) method 220.

The fifth print station 221 may use flexo or silk screen to apply a single color of over print graphics on to the scratch off layers 92 to add further protection or enhancements to the security areas.

Alternatively the fifth station 221 can print a light coloured covering over the second scratch off layer 100. A second Indigo press (not shown), or a traditional four colour process press can then print a white ink layer or a full colour variable image 104 onto the light coloured covering over the second scratch-off layer 100. The full colour image on the second scratch off layer 100 can dovetail and be continuous with the image on the non-security area of the card to form a single complete full colour image, variable from ticket to ticket of subsequent impressions of press 120.

In addition, as a further alternative the full colour image on the second scratch off layer 100 can be identical to (except as to game play and validation information) and in register with the full colour image 90 printed in the security area underneath the scratch-off and varnish layers. That image can further dovetail and be continuous with the image on the non-security area of the card to form a single complete full colour image.

All overprinting may be variable or stationary or a combination thereof. Paper board 138 is then stored on roll 162. Additional Explanations and Alternatives of the Invention:

Pre-print primers - if required a pre-print primer may be applied to assist the surface of the light core substrate to accept and adhere the full colour variable images. The application of a pre- print primer layer can be done by any conventional technique. The primer could be light or clear colored.

Digital print primers - if adhesion, image reproduction or image durability problems occur when applying the full colour printing images on to the white ink lily pad layer then a pre-print primer may need to be applied on to the surface of the white ink lily pad layer to improve performance. The type of primer layer is to be determined when the nature of the problem is assessed. The primer may be clear or white colored. A pre-print treatment to consider would be one such as DigiPrime® or Topaz, bboth available from Michelman, Inc. of Cincinnati, Ohio, a manufacturer of coating and other chemicals. These digital primers are optimized for use with Hewlett Packard Indigo Digital Printing System and produce excellent ink transfer and adhesion on a wide variety of substrates while improving rub resistance. They are considered environmentally and workplace friendly. A pre-treatment application, one flexo station could apply a light coating weight of approximately 2 g/m2 over the entire surface of the white ink lily pad layer and the clay coated surface of the substrate if desired.

Offset Printing Techniques - may be used instead of silk screen or flexo however more stations will be needed because offset printing cannot print as thick layers. Related developments in hiding power and opacity of offset inks would have to be pursued.

A Hot Foil Scratch off Alternative - An alternative way to cover the full color variable images from the top side of the ticket is with a scratch-off hot foil stamp material. Scratch off hot foil materials contain heavy metals so their in-built opacity is sufficient to conceal the full color variable images from above, in the security areas. Any hot foil stamp material selected would also have to have an acceptable level of scratch off performance. Two suitable hot foil stamp scratch-off material are from Kurz GmbH, product no. LOA100109 and LPMALG1SO. In application, a varnish layer could first be applied over the full color variable game play information by hot stamping or other method like flexo, silk screen or offset. After a varnish layer the scratch-off hot foil stamp would be applied. The varnish layer would serve as a protection and adhesion layer over the full colour variable images to ensure that the scratch-off hot foil stamp releases cleanly when removed by a player.

A manufacturer who has suitable products is the Leonhard Kurz Sifftung & Co KG in Fuerth, Germany (www.kurz.de). It is also possible to consider the use of cold foil stamp scratch off products varnish layers.

Other scratch off products - this invention relates to not only instant win scratch off lottery tickets, but also to similar products such as cards, prepaid cards, vouchers and coupons in which a security area containing play or validation information is securely hidden from view until a scratch off layer is removed.

Water based variable full colour ink jet digital printing - In the future as further developments are made in water based variable full color ink jet printing technologies, substrates and associated raw materials, it should become possible to also use the "water based ink jet" systems to manufacture full colour variable instant win lottery tickets on light core substrates. The water based digital printing systems that print full colour variable images in sequence include both continuous ink jet and drop on demand ink jet systems. A few specific suppliers and technologies to look for in the future include the Kodak Versamark VL2000 that can print at a desirable speed for lottery ticket production at approximately 250 feet per minute and Hewlett- Packard's HPT300 Color Ink Jet Web Press that prints in full variable colour at speeds up 400 feet per minute. To achieve acceptable results with water based digital ink jet printing systems modifications to the properties of the coated surface of the light core substrate and the white ink lily pad layer would have to be made so that both surfaces can simultaneously have a sufficient and even level of absorption, adhesion and fastening of full colour variable images that are printed the with heavily water based inks. The modifications could be made by for example using including silica or aluminum based or other like additives into the clay coating slurry that is applied on the substrate 173 and also if required into to the white lily pad ink layers 171 , 170, 169 before they are printed on to the security area 80. These enhancement additives help to treat the clay coating layer 173 providing adequate control over the water based inks as they simultaneously penetrate the coating layer surface 173 and the white ink lily pad 169. The ink colorants are immobilized making it possible to print variable images with in full and attractive colour on both the surface of clay coated 173 and the white ink lily pad layer 168. This will take some time but eventually it should be possible to consistently fasten the full colour variable images that are printed with the runny heavily water based inks so that they would be of acceptable quality for the security areas of lottery tickets. Silica based additives dry quickly when exposed to ambient air making them trickier to work with during the paperboard coating application process and they are also expensive, therefore the use of aluminum based particles would be the recommended option. The application of additives on to the white lily pad layer would likely be applied through conventional printing technique, but a digital technique from the group discussed inside this invention may also be possible. Once a sufficient level of fastening of the water based ink jet, full colour variable images is created for the security area 80s and coated surface of the substrate 173 the subsequent methods and materials described in this invention should be followed. The final result would be similar to what was achieved in this invention using the liquid electrophotographic printing system.

Drawing reference Graphical Image 90 - designed in conjunction with the full colour images, this area may also include visible or U. V. visible Ben day lines or the like, that may be printed by a modern full color digital press or by stationary flexo, silk screen or offset unit(s). Percentage screens of the image(s) 90 or other graphics may also be printed by variable or stationary devices and used to protect game play and/or validation information against cut and paste tampering techniques.

Drawing reference Varnish Layers 94 and 96 - instead of being applied by flexo or silk screen as earlier described another applicator such as offset or the like could be used. The varnish layer applied should be as consistent as possible. The varnish may be solvent or water based.

Drawing reference First Scratch Off Layer 98 and Second Scratch Off Layer 100 - if desired, the first and second layers of dark scratch off ink could be also applied around non-varnished/non- treated areas which surround the perimeter of the security area. This technique is to help reduce the possibility of lifting of the scratch off layer and re-applying it without leaving traces of tampering.

Drawing references 94, 96, 98 and/or 100 - Curing/drying may be done by ultra-violet or infra red lamps or by hot air driers or electro beam. These are currently the most common ways to cure and dry varnishes and scratch off inks however this invention does not limit itself to using these methods. This invention includes the possibility of future methods in curing and drying being developed and which are found to be suitable.

Drawing reference Overprinting 104 - Overprinting on top of the entire security area is to be decided upon the desires of the ticket printers, the customers and the ticket issuers. The degree, complexity, types and methods for overprinting on top of the surface of the second dark scratch off ink layer are well known to those who are skilled at the art of secure lottery ticket production. The base of the overprint layer will be one or more white layers followed by the application of a full colour graphic image. Overprinting on the scratch off inks may be done by full colour variable presses as deemed technically feasible, or by traditional stationary printing units such as offset, flexo and silk screen. Special overprint flexo inks that adhere well to the dark scratch off inks are available from International Ink Company, Gainesville, GA, USA or the Flint Group, Concord, Ontario, contact details as aforementioned.

While this invention has been described as a having a preferred design or designs, it is understood that it is capable of further modifications, uses and/or adaptations of the invention following in general the principle of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure has come within the known or customer practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the central features herein before set forth, and fall within the scope of the invention and of the limits of the appended claims. For example while game play and validation information have been described, other information may be printed in full variable colour images and hidden in the security area of a card.