How would you like to design a bitcoin banknote?

[bitbadger]

This looks interesting.
https://rbitco.in/Print

The colouring of this looks good. The pink and the gold with the underlying patterns. Gives it a professional "financial" look which is important.

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[canton]

It looks good
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4H1VE3EAtI

Thanks! I released that video today, and there's a dedicated thread soliciting merits / problems with this design:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=169836.0

I think the folding/tamper security features are fairly important for a paper currency/wallet since without it people can essentially steal your funds by taking a photograph of your bills. Means you could never show off your beautiful currency to someone wearing Google Glasses for example.

Here's the front and back side (prior to folding, with an alternative big-ol bitcoin logo on the front)


Here's what it looks like when folded (including a typo on the reverse, oops!)

[johnniewalker]

Man I wish someone would just come up with a simple program that compiles all of the designs, allows users to submit designs (which should be approved first-just to make sure they're not like the Ron Paul/Eagle bill at the beginning of this thread lol) and, like bitaddress, generates a keypair and puts it on the bills as QR codes in the load and redeem fields. There are so many good designs, its something the whole community could benefit from. If I could afford it, I'd offer a reward/bounty for something like this.

[R2D221]

Man I wish someone would just come up with a simple program that compiles all of the designs, allows users to submit designs (which should be approved first-just to make sure they're not like the Ron Paul/Eagle bill at the beginning of this thread lol) and, like bitaddress, generates a keypair and puts it on the bills as QR codes in the load and redeem fields. There are so many good designs, its something the whole community could benefit from. If I could afford it, I'd offer a reward/bounty for something like this.

Something as simple as a wiki page listing all good designs could be done, in my opinion.

[canton]

Man I wish someone would just come up with a simple program that compiles all of the designs, allows users to submit designs (which should be approved first-just to make sure they're not like the Ron Paul/Eagle bill at the beginning of this thread lol) and, like bitaddress, generates a keypair and puts it on the bills as QR codes in the load and redeem fields. There are so many good designs, its something the whole community could benefit from. If I could afford it, I'd offer a reward/bounty for something like this.

It's on the way! Check out this thread:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=155847.0;all

[odolvlobo]

I was worried that a paper wallet might be destroyed by water if it caused the ink to bleed, making the qr code and text unreadable, so I experimented.

First, I printed some paper wallets on my cheap printer. Then, I applied varying amounts of Krylon acrylic spray in different ways and dropped water on the paper.

1. 1 coat on the front and wet the front.
2. 2 coats on the front and wet the front.
3. 3 coats on the front and wet the front.
4. enough acrylic to soak the paper and wet the front.
5. 1 coat on the front and wet the back.
6. 1 coat on both sides and wet both sides
7. wet the front of unprotected paper

I allowed the paper to sit until it was dry.


Here are the results:

Unfortunately for the experiment, the ink that my printer uses (Epson DuraBrite Ultra) resists water very well. The #7 unprotected ink was mostly unaffected by water. It smeared noticeably in one area, but not enough to affect the readability.

Assuming that not all ink is so resistant, here are my other observations:

#1, #2, #3, #6 - A single coat is sufficient to prevent the water from soaking into the paper, but multiple coats make the surface of the paper shiny.

#4 - Soaking the paper with acrylic tended to reduce the contrast of the paper and cause the ink to bleed very slightly, but not enough to make it unreadable. Other inks may behave differently.

#5 - Because the ink was water resistant, it was not possible to tell if coating one side protects the ink from water on the other. I suspect that it might.


Conclusion:

Coating both sides with acrylic spray protects the ink from water very well. A single light coating is sufficient. It might be sufficient to just coat the side with the ink. Some inks resist water, and coating paper with acrylic spray may be unnecessary. Spraying the paper with enough acrylic to soak it is not a good idea.

[Michael_S]

Sorry for reviving this thread - given the fact that the mBTC may soon reach USD parity, I am wondering if some new bitcoin bill designs (e.g. from salfter?) are around showing mBTC denomination?

If so, I will use those for my new bitcoin vouchers (see signature) to be distributed in 2014...

[bitmarket.io]

Get something that has a lot of attention to detail.  Super micro fine print.  Also intertwine some hologram into the fabric like they do with the super sexy new $100 bills with that super cool blue strip.

[salfter]

Sorry for reviving this thread - given the fact that the mBTC may soon reach USD parity, I am wondering if some new bitcoin bill designs (e.g. from salfter?) are around showing mBTC denomination?

If so, I will use those for my new bitcoin vouchers (see signature) to be distributed in 2014...

It's been a while since I've touched this code, but since the moment to which you refer has arrived, I've pushed an update that redenominates my notes in mBTC:

https://github.com/salfter/btcnotes/

I thought about also changing it to use compressed addresses, but that would require a fork of vanitygen (such as mine) that supports compressed addresses. 

[BADecker]

Be sure to put a lot of pure gold threads in it. And laminate it so that the gold doesn't wear off or fall out.

[Michael_S]

Sorry for reviving this thread - given the fact that the mBTC may soon reach USD parity, I am wondering if some new bitcoin bill designs (e.g. from salfter?) are around showing mBTC denomination?

If so, I will use those for my new bitcoin vouchers (see signature) to be distributed in 2014...

I updated my own project myself. Here is  the result.

[salfter]

I've pushed an update that redenominates my notes in mBTC.  I thought about also changing it to use compressed addresses, but that would require a fork of vanitygen (such as mine) that supports compressed addresses. 

I held off on this change because I was having a bit of trouble producing a native Win32 build of an updated vanitygen.  I figured that out this morning...the result is here:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57535575/vanitygen-0.23-red-win32.zip

With this last piece in place, it took just a few changes to the generator script to produce notes with compressed addresses:

https://github.com/salfter/btcnotes/

[takagari]

A cheque style 8.5/11 I could buy with a well designed backing and the ability for me to print my own numbers on the front, with a basic word template, and than those scratch off stickers I could apply after printed would be pretty awesome.

[odolvlobo]

I made this for myself. If anyone wants it just tell me and I will modify as you like. I took some ideas for the design from users 75rtuga and Canton, and the back has a "earthflag" (http://earthflag.eu) on the background

You should experiment with a real private key. The key and QR code are much bigger than the bitcoin address.

[Premium Account Reseller]

I think this is worth considering especially if bitcoin's value were to rise in the next year. I also liked the idea of printing the value in bitcoins and USD, EUR, etc. as it would make it seem more accessible to the average person and probably attract some interest.

[btcltccoins]

Actually i would like to design of bitcoin just like Dollar, because i really like the design of Dollar, no one can say that Dollar design is awful, i wish bitcoin will be come in note currency like a dollar, litter bit different , i think people will like it. 

[romero121]

Bitcoin banknote is a bad idea, because it can be printed, and shady people can run fractional reserve ponzi scheme on it.

It's better to keep bitcoin digital, and untouchable uncontrollable.

Yeah that's right but if bitcoin needs high popularity surely the physical currency form need to exist. Also it need to be created in such a manner it can't get duplicated.

[Blackmet]

Bitcoin banknote is a bad idea, because it can be printed, and shady people can run fractional reserve ponzi scheme on it.

It's better to keep bitcoin digital, and untouchable uncontrollable.

I can't agree with you cause if bitcoin will get popularity and become a fiat, banknotes will need for people and make good design is really important.

[franky1]

the whole concept was to make the 'naive fiat world' imagine bitcoin like bearer bonds.

i have handed out many 'notes'.. but not to use as a bank note (changing hands many times) but instead used as a bearer bond that is put in a safe place so no other people can see it.

it helps to get people to understand the paper wallet concept easier, then they dont have to worry about backing up private keys on computers all the time. because its a paper wallet.. essentially

[vinaha]

Well since you guys resurrected this ancient thread, I'd just like to say I wish Casascius would make coins again.