Famous Printer Used Advanced Processes Over Two Centuries Ago
In DALLAS PRINTING’s official ranking of the most famous printers of all time, Founding Father Benjamin Franklin is second only to Johannes Gutenberg (of movable-type printing press and Gutenberg Bible fame). One of the most accomplished Americans ever, Franklin was well-known as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, publisher, and political philosopher as well as a printer.
The Wall Street Journal recently published an article about how Franklin developed previously unknown (lost to time) methods to safeguard printed money notes against counterfeiting. New research revealed the innovations through advanced atomic-level imaging, which were detailed in a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Franklin and his associates held government contracts to print the paper currencies of the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware colonies in the 1770’s. Researchers discovered that the black ink used by Franklin and his associates was made of graphite, resulting in a more vivid black (other printers used lamp-black or bone-black ink). Blue threads woven throughout their bills were dyed with indigo, a plant-based pigment (others used Prussian blue, a mineral-based pigment). Their paper was strengthened with muscovite, a variety of mica, which provided a shimmer on the paper’s surface (other printers utilized paper produced with kaolinite, a clay mineral). When Franklin combined these features with images of intricately veined leaves on his early paper money and a variety of fonts (some proprietary to him only), the result was currency that was nearly impossible for counterfeiters to copy. Many of Franklin’s security measures were precursors to those used on modern currency, such as special color-shifting ink, watermarks, holograms, and security threads.
There is some real irony to this story, however. The hundred-dollar bill, which bears Franklin’s portrait (aka “Benjamins”), is the largest denomination currently issued by the U.S. government and is also the most frequently counterfeited.
Labor Law Conference
The Texas Workforce Commission recently held a 2-day Employment Law conference in San Antonio, and DALLAS PRINTING was in attendance. The TWC put on a superb program, which included information on topics such as employment law update (recent changes to employment law on both the state and federal level), workers compensation, independent contractors, injured employees, unemployment claims and appeals, wage and hour law, and ADA accommodations. The conference provided invaluable guidance on understanding relevant labor law and how to ensure compliance. Kudos to the TWC for providing such an excellent resource to Texas employers.
College Football Schedules
We’ve designed and printed our annual Texas College Football Schedule posters again this year. Several in-state colleges are changing conferences this year, with additional moves happening in 2024. These free posters are available for pick up in our lobby, or we’d be glad to deliver some with your next order – just let us know if you’d like some. This poster would look really cool in your man cave, she-shed, or on a teenager’s wall.
