counterforce - Counterfeiting

Counterfeiting Perspectives
Firstly, the image is only “2D”, with no depth
in the image (a traditional 2D-3D made in
the West would normally have at least two
levels of graphics). Secondly, the 2D image
is comprised of only two colours and there
is a distinct difference in the level of diffusion
in the colours (a 2D-3D usually has at least
four distinct colours with a uniform level of
diffusion of the rainbow hues). The most
interesting feature of the genuine hologram
is the outer ring comprised of small grating
segments. This is a distinctive origination
style, and very different from those used in
the West or by Asian companies who derived
their technology from Western companies
in the 1980-90’s.
To create a similar rotating kinetic feature
A genunine Artesunate hologram
most holographers (both in the West and in Asia)
would use a “Dot-Matrix” machine that exposes tiny dots of grating at different angles
to make features that appear animated, as in this case to rotate as the hologram is
viewed left-to-right. The unusual characteristic of the Artesunate hologram is that
the kinetic feature is not composed of small pixels made by automatic exposure, but
separate sections of grating, each exposed by the classical method, in a holography
studio. At X60 magnification one can see the areas of grating section that have been
exposed around the ring; at X200 magnification one can see that these sections are
double exposed in some areas, due to mis-registration. Lateral motion of light through
four areas in sequence gives rise to the appearance of circular motion.
Given the potential profits to be made from counterfeit drugs it is not at all surprising
that attempts were made to simulate the hologram. But what is unusual is the sheer
quantity of different types of counterfeits that have appeared in the marketplace.
As at August 2007, no fewer than sixteen different types of fake hologram and
simulations have been detected.
Several of the simulations have no similarity to the genuine hologram, as they are
crudely made and not holographic. Anyone familiar with the real hologram would have
no difficulty in recognising that the simulations are not true holograms and are clearly
inferior. Unfortunately, without a public awareness programme to support the genuine
hologram, the sheer quantity of different fake stickers has the effect of diminishing
the significance of the hologram as an authentication device.
Far more significant are the counterfeit packs that carry actual counterfeit holograms.
At least nine different types have been identified, one or two of which actually look
more professional than the genuine hologram in terms of clarity and brightness of the
images.
Bizarrely, several of the fake holograms have been made using the same techniques
as the genuine hologram. For example, the kinetic feature of the outer ring is not
composed of dots made by a Dot-Matrix machine, but is comprised of separate
grating sections (showing clear misalignment of the sections), just as in the original,
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