What are Hologram Stickers and how are they used?

Hologram stickers are adhesive labels that contain a holographic image or design. Holography is a technique that records and reconstructs light patterns to create three-dimensional images. When light hits a hologram sticker, it reflects, causing the image to appear to change or move depending on the angle from which it’s viewed. 

Holograms are common security features on confidential, sensitive, or valuable documents. Items like credit cards, official documents, and packaging use holograms because the complex patterns are difficult to replicate, making them effective in preventing counterfeiting. 

Companies often incorporate holograms over other security features due to their decorative, eye-catching, shiny appearance. Security designers can include logos, branding and unique styles that reflect a brand or company, keeping the hologram in line with the attached item. 

What types of holograms are used on stickers?

Several types of holograms are commonly used on stickers, each offering unique visual effects and varying levels of security. 

2D/3D Holograms

These holograms are made by layering 2D images on different planes to create the illusion of depth. This gives the sticker a 3D effect when viewed from different angles. Visually, these holograms appear multi-layered with a sense of depth and a vibrant colour shift. 

2D/3D hologram stickers are commonly used for product packaging, brand authentication and decorative purposes. 

Dot Matrix Holograms

These holograms are created using a series of tiny dots. This type of hologram allows for fine detailing and high-resolution images to be incorporated into the stickers. Dot matrix holograms generally contain intricate designs that are sharp and precise. These designs can incorporate further embedded hidden security features for authentication purposes. 

Dot matrix holograms are commonly seen on high-security documents such as passports, credit cards and sensitive documents. 

True 3D Holograms

Unlike the 2D/3D style hologram, true 3D holograms have fully three-dimensional objects that appear to exist in real space. These holograms are commonly only produced by accredited security printers due to the advanced holographic techniques that are used to produce them. 

These highly realistic, free-floating 3D images are commonly used on high-security applications where authenticity is crucial, such as government documents or high-value documents. 

Flip-Flop Holograms

These holograms display two or more distinct images that appear to “flip” between each other when the sticker is tilted. There is a clear change between the two images or design variations depending on the angle the hologram sticker is viewed. 

Flip-flop holograms are used in less high-security environments, such as promotional materials, novelty stickers and basic security applications. 

Kinetic (or Dynamic) Holograms

These holograms have an animated or dynamic effect, where parts of the image seem to move or shift when viewed from different angles. This allows the images to appear as if it’s in motion. 

Kinetic holograms are commonly used for their eye-catching effects on packaging, branding and collectable items. 

Rainbow Holograms

Rainbow holograms were given their name as they use a rainbow spectrum of colours that shift as the viewing angle changes. This provides a constant colour change resembling a rainbow, which is particularly vivid in direct light.

Rainbow holograms are commonly used in decorative and aesthetic applications, as well as for branding purposes. 

Microtext Holograms

These holograms embed extremely small text or patterns that aren’t visible to the naked eye but work as an authentication feature when viewed under magnification. The hidden text or micro-images add an additional layer of security to your hologram stickers.

Microtext holograms are used for high-security items such as banknotes, identity cards and certificates. 

Fresnel Holograms

These simple, low-cost holograms are made using Fresnel lenses. This gives the holograms a prismatic, lens-like effect that provides a prism-style effect with colour shifts and reflective qualities. 

Due to being a cheaper price point, fresnel holograms are commonly used for packaging, promotional items and basic anti-counterfeiting measures. 

Common Uses For Hologram Stickers

Hologram stickers are used across various industries due to their adaptability, visual appeal and anti-counterfeiting properties. 

Security and Anti-Counterfeiting 

• Product Authentication: Hologram stickers are commonly used to verify the authenticity of products, especially in industries like electronics, pharmaceuticals, and luxury goods. The holograms are difficult to replicate, helping to prevent counterfeit products.
• Documents and Certificates: Important documents such as diplomas, certificates, and government-issued papers often have hologram seals to certify their legitimacy.
• ID Cards and Passports: Holograms are frequently used on identification cards, passports, and driver’s licenses as a security feature to prevent forgery.
• Banknotes and Credit Cards: Holographic features on currency notes and credit cards provide an extra layer of protection against fraud.

Branding and Packaging

• Product Labels: Many brands use holographic stickers on their product packaging for aesthetic and security purposes. The shiny, eye-catching effect can make the product stand out on shelves.
• Tamper-evident Seals: Hologram stickers can be used as tamper-evident seals on product packaging. If the seal is broken or altered, it indicates the product may have been tampered with.
• Marketing and Promotions: Holographic stickers are used in promotional materials to draw attention, give a premium feel to packaging, or provide a collectable aspect to the product.

Collectables and Merchandise

• Limited Edition or Collector’s Items: Hologram stickers are often used on limited-edition products, collectables, and merchandise, such as trading cards, toys, or video game memorabilia, to verify authenticity and increase perceived value.
• Sports Memorabilia: Many sports merchandise items, like autographed memorabilia, are verified with hologram stickers that guarantee authenticity.

Event Tickets and Badges

• Concerts, Festivals, and Sporting Events: High-value event tickets, VIP passes, and entry badges often have hologram stickers to prevent fraud and unauthorised duplication.
• Conference and Exhibition Badges: Holograms on badges can help ensure that attendees are authorised to enter certain areas or events.

Warranty and Product Registration

• Warranty Labels: Companies often use hologram stickers on warranty cards or product labels, indicating that the item is genuine and covered under warranty.
• Product Registration Stickers: Hologram labels are used to track products and their registration, ensuring authenticity during product returns or servicing.

Industrial and Electronics Applications

• Serial Number Tags: Holographic stickers are sometimes used as part of product identification systems, including serial number labels on industrial equipment, computers, and other electronics, providing an additional layer of security.
• Certification Marks: Many electronics products feature hologram certification stickers to show compliance with industry standards (e.g., CE, UL).

How Secure Are Hologram Stickers?

Due to the complexity of the holographic production process, hologram stickers are considered a high-security feature. Hologram stickers are tamper-evident, meaning they can’t be removed from products without being destroyed. The process of creating holograms is difficult to replicate without specialised equipment and holography expertise. 

While hologram stickers are considered a highly effective security tool, they’re not 100% foolproof. Determined counterfeiters with access to advanced technology could attempt to create conceiving replicas. However, the skill and cost required to produce holograms often make counterfeiting attempts uneconomical or easily detectable. 

Layers of security 

Many hologram stickers used for security purposes use a combination of security features, such as tamper-evident adhesives, variable data (like serial numbers) and visual effects. The multi-layered approach to security ensures that even if one aspect of the hologram is imitated, other features will still be effective in preventing counterfeiting and unauthorised tampering. 

High-security official documents such as passports, visas and licences will combine holograms with other security features to enhance the level of security on the documents. Security inks, watermarked papers, embedded threads, foil stamps and personalisation are all effective layers of security when combined with a hologram. 

Effective Hologram Solutions

Hologram stickers are a highly effective security tool due to their complexity, customizability, and unique visual properties. They offer a strong deterrent against counterfeiting and tampering, making them a trusted method for authenticating products, documents, and packaging across various industries. While not impossible to replicate, the effort and technology required to do so make them one of the most secure labelling options available today.

If you’re looking for hologram printing for your products or documents, reach out to our team. We can help you decide on the best hologram solution for your needs and budget.