You’ve seen it a million times. Benjamin Franklin staring back at you with that slight, knowing smirk. But honestly, if you try to pull a high-resolution image of 100 dollar bill off the internet to use in a design project or a YouTube thumbnail, you’re going to hit a wall pretty fast. It’s not just about copyright. It's about national security.
The "Benjamin" is the most frequent target for counterfeiters worldwide. Because of that, the federal government has turned the physical bill—and even digital representations of it—into a fortress of secret tech.
The CDS: The ghost in your machine
Ever tried to open a scan of a hundred in Photoshop? Try it. Seriously. You’ll likely get a warning box telling you that the application does not support the printing or editing of banknote images.
This isn't a glitch. It’s the Central Bank Counterfeit Deterrence System (CDS).
A group called the Central Bank Counterfeit Deterrence Group (CBCDG), which consists of over 30 central banks, developed this technology to stop people from using personal computers to make "funny money." It’s basically a set of protocols embedded into hardware and software. Your printer knows what a $100 bill looks like. Your scanner knows. Even your photo editing software is snitching on you to itself.
The software looks for specific patterns. The most famous one is the EURion constellation. It’s a pattern of five small green, yellow, or orange circles that look like the Orion constellation. On the $100 bill, these are hidden in plain sight. If you’re looking at an image of 100 dollar bill, look closely at the area around the "100" or the watermarks. Those tiny markings tell your hardware: "Stop. Don't print this."
It’s all about the 2013 redesign
The current version of the $100 bill, which entered circulation in October 2013, is a marvel of engineering. It took years to develop. If you’re looking at an image of the older "small head" bills from the 80s or the pre-2013 "large head" series, you’re looking at a relic.
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The 2013 note added the 3D Security Ribbon. This is that blue strip down the center. It’s not printed on the paper; it’s woven into it. When you tilt a real bill (or a high-quality video of one), the bells inside the ribbon change to 100s. They move. It’s a microscopic lens system.
Then there’s the Bell in the Inkwell. This thing is genius. There is a copper-colored inkwell on the front of the note. Inside is a green bell. When you shift the angle, the bell changes from copper to green, making it appear and disappear. This is called color-shifting ink, or Optically Variable Ink (OVI). It’s expensive. It’s hard to replicate with a standard inkjet printer. That's why high-res digital images often look "flat"—they can't capture the physics of the light hitting those metallic flakes.
The legal minefield of using banknote images
You might think, "I just want a picture for my blog post about saving money."
Fine. But the Secret Service has rules. Detailed ones.
The Counterfeit Detection Act of 1992 (18 U.S.C. § 474) lays it out. If you are going to display an image of 100 dollar bill, it generally has to follow these three rules:
- The size factor: The image must be less than 75% or more than 150% of the actual size of the currency. You can’t make it look "real" in terms of dimensions.
- One-sidedness: You should only show one side.
- Destruction of digital files: Technically, once you're done using the digital file for your specific project, you’re supposed to delete it.
Most people ignore these rules. They go to a stock photo site, download a "royalty-free" image, and move on. But professional photographers who specialize in currency have to be incredibly careful. They often use "prop money" which, if you look closely, says "FOR MOTION PICTURE USE ONLY" or has subtle changes to Franklin's face to avoid being flagged as a counterfeiter.
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Why is everyone obsessed with the 100?
Cash is dying, right? Wrong.
The number of $100 bills in circulation has actually skyrocketed over the last decade. There are more Benjamins out there than $1 bills. A lot of this is driven by international demand. People in unstable economies use the U.S. hundred as a "store of value." It’s a global "blue chip" asset.
When you see an image of 100 dollar bill in the news, it's usually representing inflation, wealth inequality, or illicit trade. It has a psychological weight that a $20 bill just doesn't carry.
The paper itself isn't even paper. It’s 75% cotton and 25% linen. That’s why it feels "crisp" and doesn't fall apart in the wash. It also has tiny red and blue security fibers embedded throughout. If you zoom in on a high-resolution scan, you can see these little hairs. If they look like they are printed on the surface rather than being inside the material, the bill is a fake.
How to spot a fake from a photo
If someone sends you a photo of a stack of cash—maybe a "hustle" influencer on Instagram or a Facebook Marketplace buyer—you can actually check the legitimacy of the image of 100 dollar bill without touching it.
Look at the microprinting.
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On the 2013 series, there is text so small it looks like a solid line to the naked eye. Look at Benjamin Franklin’s jacket collar. It says "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." Look at the space where the portrait watermark is; there is "USA 100" in tiny letters.
Standard digital cameras and cheap scanners struggle with this. If the text is blurry or looks like a series of dots (halftone printing), it’s a copy. Real currency is printed using intaglio printing. This involves massive pressure that actually pushes the paper into the grooves of the plate, creating a raised texture. You can't see "texture" easily in a 2D photo, but you can see how the light catches the ink.
Actionable steps for creators and collectors
If you actually need to use an image of currency for a project, don't just grab the first thing you see on Google Images. You’re asking for a headache.
- Use official sources: The U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) and the U.S. Currency Education Program provide high-resolution images that are already compliant with most legal standards. They often have "SPECIMEN" watermarks on them, which keeps you safe.
- Check the serial numbers: If you see a photo of ten bills and they all have the same serial number, it's a prop. Real bills are unique.
- Avoid the "Old Style": Using images of the pre-1996 small-head bills in a modern business context looks dated and suspicious. Always go for the 2013 "New Color" series for a professional look.
- Mind the "100" in the corner: In the bottom right corner of the front, the number 100 is printed in color-shifting ink. In a photo, it should look either green or copper depending on the photographer's lighting. If it looks flat yellow or gold, the image is likely of a low-quality counterfeit.
Handling the image of the world's most powerful banknote requires a bit more respect than a standard stock photo. Whether it’s for a finance blog or a crime novel cover, knowing the tech behind the bill helps you stay on the right side of the law—and the software filters.
Stick to the size requirements. Use official government "Specimen" assets when possible. If you're photographing your own cash, tilt the bill to capture that blue 3D ribbon; it’s the easiest way to prove to your audience that what they’re seeing is the real deal.