Sending a sensitive document without appropriate protection is now a major security flaw. Printed diplomas, official deeds, payslips or identity documents can be forged, copied or misused if they are not based on a secure medium.

Faced with the rise in document fraud, watermarked paper has become a benchmark solution. Integrated directly into the paper medium, the watermark guarantees the authenticity, integrity and traceability of a document, from its design through to its final use.

Unlike a simple visual marking, the watermark is an integral part of the paper. It is not added afterwards: it is inseparable from the printed document, which makes it a particularly reliable and durable security feature.

To find out more, discover our dedicated page on secure watermarked paper.

The French State has long used watermarked paper to secure its most sensitive documents. Civil-status records, judicial documents, official certificates and administrative materials rely on media that are impossible to reproduce identically.

This choice reflects a simple observation:
a document printed on standard paper can be copied, scanned or forged without difficulty. Conversely, a document printed on watermark-secured paper immediately reveals any attempt at reproduction or alteration.

Watermarked paper incorporates into its structure a pattern, text or design, called a sécurigram.
This marking appears by transparency when the document is held up to the light.

The sécurigram:

• is integrated during the paper’s manufacture,
• is not printed on the surface,
• is impossible to reproduce by photocopier or scanner.

During a fraudulent reproduction, the watermark disappears or becomes inconsistent, which immediately makes the copy suspicious.

Imagine a diploma, a medical prescription or an official deed printed on ordinary paper: a simple photocopy may be enough to deceive an unwary third party.
With watermarked paper, this reproduction becomes ineffective. The document loses its main security feature.

This is why paper watermarks are used to:

• protect the authenticity of official documents,
• limit falsification,
• strengthen trust in printed documents.

Choosing watermarked paper means adopting a recognised and proven security solution.
It makes it possible to:

• deter attempts at document fraud,
• protect the legal value of documents,
• guarantee their authenticity over time.

Watermarking is not an additional technical constraint: it is a foundation of paper document security.

Implementing a paper watermark relies on a structured approach, integrated from the document’s design stage.

Not all documents require the same level of protection.
Watermarked paper is particularly suited to:

• diplomas and certificates,
• judicial and civil-status records,
• medical prescriptions,
• payslips,
• certificates and official correspondence.

This analysis determines the most suitable type of sécurigram.

The watermark is integrated directly into the paper’s structure, during its manufacture or via secure printing processes.
It can take the form of:

• a personalised text,
• a logo,
• a specific pattern.

This sécurigram becomes a constituent element of the document. It can neither be removed nor faithfully reproduced.

Once printed on watermarked paper, the document benefits from a high level of security, without affecting its legibility or use.

Even in the event of a copying attempt, the medium immediately reveals the fraud, thereby protecting both the sender and the recipient.

At ETIC France, document security relies above all on the paper medium when it comes to sensitive documents or those with strong evidential value.

Expertise in secure printing

ETIC supports:

• organisations,
• local authorities,
• institutions,
• businesses,

in implementing secure printing solutions tailored to the challenges of document fraud.

Watermarked paper is one of the pillars of this approach, as it guarantees native, durable and hard-to-circumvent protection.

At a time when document fraud remains a major threat, ETIC offers solutions designed to:

• protect the authenticity of printed documents,
• strengthen trust between parties,
• provide lasting security for administrative and professional exchanges.

Paper watermarking has become an essential standard for document protection.
It secures documents from the design stage, without relying on external tools or complex checks.

👉 Discover our full range of secured-document solutions

With ETIC France, document security is not an option:
it is a requirement built into every document.

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