In a scratch-off sweepstake game, the winning field on the scratch-off ticket is hidden behind a layer of ink. The final recipient of the scratch ticket can scratch away this layer of ink, called the scratch field. This exposes the picture underneath. To scratch away the scratch-off coating, a hard surface, such as a tabletop, and a sharp-edged object, such as a coin or fingernail, are recommended. The scratch-off ticket itself is usually made of paper or cardboard, but plastic versions are also possible. How to make a scratch card is explained below in our FAQ answers.

For scratch tickets, the image is first printed on coated paper using offset printing. The paper coating is a seal on the surface of the paper. This is important so that the scratch-off ink cannot penetrate the paper fibre. After all, the scratch coating should be removable without leaving any residue. Nevertheless, for a perfect result, it is almost always necessary to apply a base coat in screen printing at the location of the future scratch field. The actual scratch-off ink is then also applied by screen printing. Rub removable ink is available as standard in silver matt or gold matt.

For small series, there is also an inexpensive alternative in the form of scratch-off labels that you can apply yourself. More on this below in our FAQ answers.

The ideal product for small runs of scratch tickets is the simsa scratch-off label: this offers the option of applying a scratch coating yourself. We provide you with transparent self-adhesive labels with a scratch coating. Simply peel the label off the backing paper, stick it to the print and the scratch ticket is ready.

The actual scratch-off ticket under the scratch-off label can be produced cost-effectively in digital printing. For small series, it can even be printed on your own office printer. The only important thing here is that the image to be exposed under the scratch-off field is designed as a low-contrast solid area, i.e. a dark grey text in a light grey solid area for instance. This ensures an equal height of the toner. Otherwise, in the case of build-up techniques such as laser toner or UV inkjet, the image to be revealed under the scratch-off-field can become discreetly recognisable in the case of strong contrasts. So please do not print black on white!

The scratch-off stickers can be designed in any simple contours, such as circles, rectangles, triangles, polygons or heart shapes. Sizes range from as small as a fingernail to 680x980mm maximum size.

Scratch labels are good for short runs, high time flexibility or in-house printing underneath. The scratch-off labels in the form of self-adhesive labels can be picked up and applied by hand whenever and wherever you need them.

Another great advantage of scratch-off labels is that they also work on very rough, absorbent uncoated paper.

And when it comes to discretion and data security, the scratch-off label on a printout you have made yourself is also a great solution for ensuring that no one can see the data undernetah the field you have to scratch off.

Scratch labels are available in matt silver or matt gold as standard, but coloured labels or even logos and photos are also possible. More on this below in our FAQ answers.

You can get scratch-off labels at www.simsa.at

Medium to large quantities of scratch tickets are first offset printed on glossy coated paper with the underlying image. Then scratch-off ink is applied over the offset print in the desired places using screen printing. The rub-off ink is opaque. It is available in silver or gold as standard. The scratch-off field must then be easy to scratch off in the application. To ensure that this works properly and that no grey haze remains, which would impair the view of the offset print, a release layer is needed. This can be either a chemically very repellent formulated glossy dispersion varnish in offset printing. Much better, however, is a basecoat in screen printing, which works even if the paper is only matt-coated.

For uncoated uncoated papers as well as for small quantities, on the other hand, hand-applied scratch-off labels are used. More on this above in our FAQ answers on the subject of "How and where can I get scratch-off tickets in small quantities?

Yes, this is possible using simsa photo scratch labels, often also called "simsa scratch-off photo stickers". Here, a colourful printed image can be rubbed off to reveal an underlying image of a printed paper. In addition to texts and logos in any colour, photos can also be used. In this way, unexpected sequences of images can be used to create amazing moments of surprise. The scratch-off photo labels have to be applied to the printed product by hand and are therefore more suitable for small and medium quantities.

Basically yes, you just have to plan and execute this correctly in terms of production technology!

A code, numbering or personalisation under a scratch-off field can make sense for many applications. First and foremost, for the listing of prizes won or winning numbers in a competition or sweepstake. Codes are often used for access authorisations to websites or as licence numbers to activate software or online services.

The technology in detail:

Medium to large quantities of scratch tickets are cost-effectively pre-printed with the image in offset printing and then screen-printed with scratch fields. In offset printing, several individual lots are printed together on one sheet, e.g. 16 scratch-off tickets in DIN A7 format on a 350x500mm sheet. Within this number of tickets, different images can be printed under the scratch field, for example 14 tickets with "Unfortunately no" and 2 tickets with "Instant win". This method is therefore particularly suitable for classic prize draws or a limited number of different images.

However, if there are different codes throughout, they must be printed digitally. With digital printing techniques that build up height in the ink layer, such as laser toner or UV inkjet, the motif to be unveiled by a scratched off field can, however, be discreetly recognisable through the scratch-off ink in the case of strong contrasts. The image must therefore be designed as a low-contrast solid surface under the scratch field, for example, a dark grey text in a light grey solid surface. Or an orange text in a yellow solid. This ensures an equal height. So please do not print the code black on white!

Small quantities of scratch tickets can also be produced very cost-effectively and flexibly using our self-adhesive scratch label. You can even add scratch fields to printouts on your own office printer. This offers absolute discretion and maximum data protection for sensitive codes, as the information is only known within your own company. The same rules apply to the design of the code field as mentioned in the previous paragraph. 

Again and again people ask us whether you can also buy rub-removable ink from us. In principle, we would be happy to, but you will not be able to apply it in the right thickness. Also, many substrates are not suitable at all without pre-treatment. As a result, the effect will not work. However, a very simple DIY solution is our stick-on scratch-off labels! These scratch-off labels are available in almost any size and in many contours. They are also available in small quantities and are even suitable for uncoated paper, which normally cannot be coated with scratch-off printing.

More about this above in our FAQ answers on the subject of "How and where can I get scratch-off tickets in small quantities?

As a stick-on scratch-off label in almost any colour. A good 80% of all Pantone colours can be produced as scratch-off labels. Multicoloured versions are also possible, for example to add text or a logo or even a photography.

For direct printing on paper, i.e. for the production of larger quantities of scratch-off tickets, the standard colours are silver and gold. With somewhat longer lead times for industry-side mixing and minimum quantities, there are also black and white scratch-off inks as well as some coloured shades.