Explore The Beauty of Life with Crane’s Interactive Banknote 

From Remote Demonstrations to Enhanced Public Education 

Crane Currency is launching an interactive, web-based version of its Beauty of Life house note. Users can now explore the banknote’s design and security features directly in a web browser, with no app or special software required. The experience shows how central banks can use Crane’s Interactive Banknote software to help the public recognize and verify new and upgraded banknotes.  

When the global pandemic shut down nearly all travel, the currency industry, which relies heavily on person-to-person and expert-to-expert interaction, struggled to adapt. It was a challenging time for Crane to introduce the BREEZE® security thread, a new micro-optic thread designed for low-denomination, high-velocity banknotes. The thread, since upgraded to cBREEZE™, offered a selection of customization options. 

The challenge was educating central banks on these options when all business was being conducted remotely. 

The solution drew on Crane’s expertise in micro-optic design software. The company created an HTML-based tool that allowed central banks to select options and tailor the appearance of the security thread while interacting with it using a computer mouse or touchscreen. 

“Many of the central banks that used the tool really liked it, but as travel resumed, we paused this digital approach and reverted to the use of samples, house notes and in-person presentations to educate central banks,” said Mari-Anne Snäll, Senior Marketing Manager, Crane Currency. 

Today, that early foray into user-driven banknote interactivity is seeing new life at Crane. Central bank public education campaigns are embracing opportunities for the public to interact digitally with new and upgraded banknotes. 

Mari-Anne explains, “It’s always been the case that central banks used a variety of media to advertise new and upgraded banknotes. Over the past decade, the use of smartphone applications has become a standard tool of public education, but we acknowledge that apps are not always popular with the public.” 

People’s willingness to download third-party apps can be affected by their desire for convenience and speed, as well as privacy concerns. These factors can limit the reach of educational smartphone applications and erode a central bank’s return on investment. 

“It was in 2021, when we were experimenting with online interactivity that Forbes published a story entitled, ‘91% of us hate being forced to install apps...’ That mirrored my personal experience as businesses requested that I download an app even for the most basic information. That personal experience reinforced our view that central banks will need other options for advertising new and upgraded banknotes.” 

Exploring Banknotes Without an App 

Crane’s Interactive Banknote offers one such option. The web-based software allows the public to explore a banknote and its features interactively, without downloading an app or any special software. It runs directly on the central bank’s website. 

Central banks can direct the public to the interactive banknote alongside information on issuance dates, co-circulation periods and other essential details. 

“The Interactive Banknote provides the public a one-stop digital entry point for the information they and businesses should know about the new banknote or series. Importantly, this includes how the note’s security features look and behave as they tilt the note,” says Mari-Anne. 

Animations Rooted in Micro-Optic Design

The development of Crane’s Interactive Banknote was born out of its experience in demonstrating micro-optic features. These digital animations are an integral part of the technology’s customization and production processes. They are not artistic renditions. 

“With the advent of AI, we’re seeing many more industry presentations with animations. Many of these are visually interesting but are not linked to the actual process of feature production,” said Kara Zona, Head of Micro-Optic Design. 

Since the introduction of the first MOTION® security thread in 2005, customizing a thread’s design has involved creating a digital replica. Its appearance and response to changes in viewing angle were driven by the same mathematics used to create the tooling for mass production. 

Today, these digital animations are used to create accurate, moving representations of MOTION® Switch, RAPID® HD and RAPID® Vision security threads and MOTION SURFACE® stripes. 

The Beauty of Life in Detail 

The Beauty of Life house note shows how Crane’s digital animations have kept pace with advances in MOTION SURFACE technology. 

Capturing the slick moist skin of a salamander as light plays over its three-dimensional body are some of the uniquely realistic qualities that are replicated accurately in the 2D animations of Crane. These are remarkably effective in previewing the advanced visual effects exhibited on the actual security feature. 

“From the beginning, Crane’s digital animations have allowed our customers to work with us to iterate design options as they learn about the technology and zero in on their chosen feature design,” said Kara. “We feel that these animations will be increasingly used by central banks on interactive platforms like Crane’s to educate people on what to look for, and how to validate their banknotes.” 

Supporting Public Education

A poll organized by Crane during its Virtual MBF sessions underscored the importance of public education to the success of a new banknote or series. Eighty-five percent (85%) of responding central banks rated public education as either important or very important to the success of a new banknote issue. 

Tools such as the Interactive Banknote can help central banks make the most of their education and promotional budgets. 

“Robust smartphone applications can be made to look and behave really well,” says Mari-Anne. “However, they are expensive to develop, and face what we know is growing reluctance to download applications.” 

The Interactive Banknote offers central banks a way to bring that interactivity directly to their websites, with no downloads required. 

Explore the interactive Beauty of Life house note right here below: