[INFO] [DISCUSSION] Polymerbit Behind the Scenes Thread

[polymerbit]

Polymerbit Behind the Scenes Thread: 5 YEARS LATER [Q&A].

Hello there,

I wanted to create a thread where we share some of the projects we are in the middle of working on / made in the past. The idea would be to show you some of the behind the scenes and open a discussion.

Certain photos will not be published; such as trade secrets, or the key making process.

But we will go into detail on our work and will answer questions from the community on anything that isn't sensitive.

Newest Project:



Before Polymerbit:



Designed in Sardinia, Italy. Summer 2015

Inspiration for the eventual 0.10 BTC note ( Jan 2017).



Initial work on the border. Early 2016



Pattern creation. Early 2016



Alternative versions for the gensis note.







How the background was designed for the 0.10 BTC.



Failed Testing on Polymer after trials. Summer 2017



Working on the Northern Cardinal. Details were key.




Showcasing the penguins. November 2019


Ink smear testing. Run under water for 15 minutes. Keys remained legible.


Testing potential holograms. Summer 2020






January 2022

[cygan]

find it very good from your side that you give a little insight into your prdouction processes to us (the big crypto collector community ). i am a very big supporter of the BTC polymerbit notes and am always happy when new BTC notes (with denomination) are released.

[Mbitr]

Great idea @polymerbit - it’s nice to see an insight on how the process works 
I’ve always wondered a few things …
How did you get into note making ?
Did you get into note making first and then crypto or vice versa ?
Don’t feel that you have to answer these questions if they are too personal by the way- I don’t want you to dox yourself
Anyway keep up the good work 

[polymerbit]

Great idea @polymerbit - it’s nice to see an insight on how the process works  
I’ve always wondered a few things …
How did you get into note making ?
Did you get into note making first and then crypto or vice versa ?
Don’t feel that you have to answer these questions if they are too personal by the way- I don’t want you to dox yourself
Anyway keep up the good work  

Well thing is I've always been fascinated with money. Used to collect coins & banknotes as a child. This meant spending hours staring at patterns.  

During university my passion turned into not just passively collecting, but actually contributing. There is a certain obsession in understanding how currency is made, and the details of the design process.

At the time I was trying various start up ideas, some failed catastrophically (got into trouble for mailing Gallium in the mail). At the time Adam and I already knew each other. We were experimenting with crypto mining back in late 2013. Regrettably, we gave up on that.

Around 2015 I started working with photoshop and started to really get into banknote design.

Polymerbit started as a simple uni project. I was working on a paper on how local currencies work. I was playing with all sorts of ideas, fiat, silver / gold backed (see above) and then came the idea of Bitcoin.

So I researched the topic and found out about Casascius and cold storage. The thing is, I saw that the paper wallets were so crude.

I was convinced I could design something better. So I wrote the paper, and out of boredom posted a pic on Reddit. Thats where Minerjones found me, and introduced me to Bitcointalk.

Do not worry about that, I'm very public due the fact that I handle keys. I accepted that to be a maker means no anonymity.

TL;DR:

How did you get into note making ? A: Personal Fascination

Did you get into note making first and then crypto or vice versa ? A: Technically note making first

[Mbitr]

Thanks for the response 
I’ve got to say - you are at the top of your field and even every non- crypto collector,I show your notes too are suitably impressed as well 

[MoparMiningLLC]

thank you for sharing - I see some notes that I dont have up there lol

[aoluain]

Firstly - thanks for posting this, its really nice to get some background info on
Polymerbit and its creator. I am fascinated about your notes and how they are
created. I have a Lithographic Background and although apart from the designing
I can appreciate the printing and finishing ^{however that is done} have to
perfect, especially with a limited run of 100 or so prints. I can appreciate also
from a design aspect that eye for detail has to be 100%, as does the print of course.

Secondly - hanks to Minerjones for bringing you onto BCT.

Thirdly - January 2022 !!!!!!

snip





January 2022

[polymerbit]

Firstly - thanks for posting this, its really nice to get some background info on
Polymerbit and its creator.

Well at this point is really is an obsession to strive for perfection. With time we have been getting better using our tools and finding ways to squeeze every bit of quality out of our equipment.  

Adam has managed to crack quite a few important challenges with his engineering background. He also has joined me in design. The certificate is his work. Fully vector artwork no less.

Collaboration with other companies and creators from here helped to get to another level.

----

In short, the main reasons why you see this increase:

1) Greater knowledge in the design process, colour science, materials, supply chain

2) More time invested- our new notes take longer to design and prepare for print

3) New printing processes & better calibration

4) Collaborations and knowledge sharing

5) You keep funding our search for new tech

The reality is that these days it's really a question of money. With adequate funding, we could push much further since we have the right contacts.

----

Now yes, you saw correctly. I published a work in progress. About 47 hours in on the reverse.

[Eclipse33]

What a fantastic thread, I find myself getting more and more involved with similar designs each day as I work towards innovation surrounding my posters.



The effort that goes into some of your notes is truly remarkable, I am happy to have a few in my collection.

[almond]

thanks for the AMA, I'm enjoying the thread.

Would it be possible to embed some sort of an RFID chip in a polymerbit ?  And might there be a way to load them requiring the presence of the RFID chip to redeem ?  That could make a polymerbit as secure as a hardware wallet, and remove the trust issue of purchasing a form of paper wallet.  And it could be used in traditional 2FA too !
BTC

[polymerbit]

thanks for the AMA, I'm enjoying the thread.

Would it be possible to embed some sort of an RFID chip in a polymerbit ?  And might there be a way to load them requiring the presence of the RFID chip to redeem ?  That could make a polymerbit as secure as a hardware wallet, and remove the trust issue of purchasing a form of paper wallet.  And it could be used in traditional 2FA too !
BTC

We have experimented with both already.  

Adam engineered a way to block the chip until the hologram is peeled over.

The reason why we stopped working with NFC is the intense production process. About 40% longer than printing keys.




Rotterdam, The Netherlands Late 2017

A run of 16 notes sponsored by VIA



Dallas, TX. 2018 Woman holding of our VIA sponsored notes. A run of 100 NFC.


Now, since we are working on making our own substrate in house. We could possibly embed a chip inside.

[MoparMiningLLC]

dammit man - every post just shows me more notes I dont have lol

love the work! keep it up, please.

Soon I want to try and do a custom note with you as well!

[almond]

I have just become a big fan of the NFC notes.  It's regrettable that it costs 40% time to develop, but good things are worth waiting for.  And worth paying a little more for.  Unless you think the price would be so high that they would not sell......
BTC

[MoparMiningLLC]

I just scored one of the polymerbit nfc notes   in my latest purchase of 4 notes I did not yet have.

[polymerbit]

I just scored one of the polymerbit nfc notes   in my latest purchase of 4 notes I did not yet have.

Wonderful. I found some photos of the production process. And here is one of the notes where it was sent back to be printed.

[MoparMiningLLC]

I just scored one of the polymerbit nfc notes   in my latest purchase of 4 notes I did not yet have.

Wonderful. I found some photos of the production process. And here is one of the notes where it was sent back to be printed.

I need one of these!

[cygan]

Polymerbit one of my favorite manufacturers of crypto cold storage wallets does a very perfect and very solid job and in addition the presentation of the notes are in my taste ... and the most important thing is that the whole community has a direct contact with you @polymerbit👌💪

[polymerbit]

Polymerbit one of my favorite manufacturers of crypto cold storage wallets does a very perfect and very solid job and in addition the presentation of the notes are in my taste ... and the most important thing is that the whole community has a direct contact with you @polymerbit👌💪

Contact is always good 

Speaking of manufacturing....

I'm still thinking we need to bring back this red foil. It really does pop.

It was selected out of 20 different suppliers.

[polymerbit]

Working on a new affordable Polymer series of at-least 4 different denominations.

Idea was 1,2,3 & 4 mbtc. If you have any suggestions of what else you would like to see, let us know  

[aoluain]

Very smart looking indeed, love the idea if an affordable series, how does the affordability
transpire over to the physical note?

For denominations, I like the idea of going into the lower mBTC's, it fitting for the affordability
feature of the notes IMO.

Will the series be based on a "Nautical" theme?

EDIT ::::

Oh and a .5mBTC would be nice!