Bank Notes

Once a bank note design has been finalized, the process moves to production. Production standards and specifications established by the Bank of Canada ensure that available printing technology is fully exploited to produce bank notes of high and consistent quality.

First, a set of initial plates is made and tested for quality on small, hand-operated presses. When the Bank of Canada is satisfied with the print quality of a single note, large lithographic and intaglio plates are made to produce sheets of notes. (Bank notes are printed on large sheets of paper, 45 to a sheet.) The lithographic plates provide the smooth multicoloured portion of the design, while the intaglio plates provide the relief. Each plate carries a part of the total design of the bank note, with a total of eight plates required for a typical note.

More printing tests are then conducted to ensure that the quality of the printed sheet is acceptable. When the sample sheets have met quality standards, the go-ahead is given for the presses to roll. Sheets are carefully examined before being cut into single notes and delivered to the Bank of Canada's operation centres in Montreal and Toronto for distribution to financial centres.