If you sell your dolls, how do you make certificates of autheticity?

Not something I've tried, but I'd imagine getting blanks printed on nice paper with whatever unique features you want your CoA to have combined with keeping a non-public cloud-backed-up database of your CoA numbers and what they attach to (mold, skintone, date cast, any special features, purchaser) Anyone could still try to duplicate your work, but someone should be able to message you and see if the original information matches what they are holding.

 

I would say, look at CoAs provided by companies that do offer them. Then you can get an idea of what information should be on it.

You can go with a printing service, to get some cards printed up. Some places are a little pricey, but some have fairly inexpensive options.
Or if you have access to a really nice printer, you could print them up yourself.

As far as making them not-easily-copied, you could do something like, add a sticker, or a stamp on top of the CoA itself, so that if it were to be photocopied, the sticker would not look right. Or if they tried to add another sticker or stamp on top, it would be the wrong size.
I think that Fairyland has a holographic sticker on theirs, for example.

 

Since you are looking at a small batch, maybe you could get some fancy ink to sign the certificate with? I know I got some stuff for my ink pens that have duotone shimmer that looks stunning to write with. I use it on a handful of documents for fun, and cause of the duotone it can't be scanned properly

There is also this one site I could track down (it's in my bookmarks someplace) that offers shimmering ink in mini sample containers and you could pick two to mix to make it harder to copy. I say mini but there is quite a bit of ink in them. just not a full bottle. My batch I got a year ago is still going strong. I've been able to fill my pen twice with ink leftover for probably another two rounds if I'm good. They run about .50cents to $2 depending on the brand of the sample

 

I'd probably put a sticker like one of the other posters said, but maybe put something under the it so that when you shine a light from under you can see a difference. Or put UV ink. Theres a bunch of options for customization I'd honestly go WILD. But yeah create a data base, which shouldn't be too difficult given that you aren't casting too many dolls.

 

I think if I was making my own COA's I would get a custom embosser. An embossed stamp on paper would be hard to replicate.

 

Not for bjd’s but I make custom fashion dolls and I send COA’s with them. Its not for recasting prevention purposes but I just like to send coa with art work. I have designed and drawn my own design, scanned it and uploaded that to vistaprint where I got it printed on pearl paper cards. That ‘s where I also ordered my colored stickers. When I sell a doll I also write down the dolls name and sign it by hand. Just cost me about 60 cents per coa and they would be hard to reproduce, at least not by simply photocopy.

 

This is gonna sound like a bit of a downer, but there's not much which can be done to stop recasters making fake CoAs. Not that they will copy any you make, but they just can print anything and call it a CoA.

On the other hand, think of it more as a way to make something beautiful and appealing for your customers. I'm not at the point yet where I need to worry about CoAs, but I'd likely just use a business card printing service for them. Some CoAs I have from doll companies have the serial number added on with a label maker, as well as a signature. Some are business card sized, and some are larger with gold foil printed envelopes! Just work within your budget though. Using nice inks, and having a good design will make the certificate a joyful thing on its own. Your customers will appreciate the work you put in to making something pretty! (If you don't believe me, I'll start gushing over the packaging that came with my Cocoriang doll XD)

 

A cool thing I’ve seen is a plastic business card with the company logo on it. I think Black Cherry does that. Looks very classy.

 

The two options normally used are: add a sticker or emboss to the COA.

For the first, you have two types: printed (with a pattern) o embossed too. The printed ones may have your logo or whatever you prefer, along with (optionally) an unique number. Even you can have your own face printed in a silver gradient. There are infinite thing to make them "unique" and "hard to duplicate".

For the emboss part, you would buy a dry embossing machine (which is like a stapler with a metal plate with your design). It's used to emboss or stickers or the paper with the information (or both). In this case, it'd be more than recommendable that the stamp matches the "logo" engraved into the doll. As you can "replace" (put in/out) the stamp, it's doable easily.

In both cases, the COA must be printed in a very good paper with the best ink you can. Think that the COA must last longer than the object it certifies. In the best scenario, it should use waterproof ink...

 

from what id see there's quite a variety when it comes certificates, from a single fancy a4 page to a small contact like card to a medium holiday like card with lots a pages, in my opinion you should probably plastify it so it can last and desin it according with your type of brand if your brand is more childish in nature with a more kawai/cutesy style you should probably use pastels or bold primary color with small doodles on the conners of the certificate if your brand is more fancy and pristine you should use a quite monotone/beige color scheme or a black with white and/or gold, silver accents, is up to you really... these are just some sugestions, from my perosnal opnion i like when the paper has a pattern on it be it folk or aristocratic...also i highly agree with the person above me any kind of emboss would make it harder for people to replicate so go for that

 

I have always thought of making some sort of watermark on the doll itself. Whenever it´s inside the head (Not headcap) or under the dolls feet I am not sure yet. But I would paint it like a tattoo and then seal it with clear resin to make it permanent, so people have an other option to check if the doll is authentic. I would of course also make a paper Coa with archival ink and personal written details and signature. I want to design the coa´s myself and have it printet from a company and then write the individual details.

If anyone does try the permanent tattoo, just remember to test on a separate piece first than your doll ^^;,

 

Also i think in our modern digital era you can make some db of authenticity where can be stored first buyer.

 

That already exists. I, for example, do that to my origami sculptures in stainless steel cloth: I take photos of the model before signing it and those are the ones used to sell it. Then, I sign the sculpture and keep that photo private associated with the sculpture title and number (sculptures are always limited to 7 or less).

So, whenever anyone wants a confirmation, they can show the COA and request directly to me (sending me a photo of the signature) if it matches the registry.

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Also, I forgot to mention what I do instead of using a dry embossing machine: I use my stone signet ring and sealing wax in the COA. So far, no one has been able to falsify it...

 

I also wondered this. I know a few small artist make their own dolls and sell them but I never really saw how they make those

 

I've never made a CoA, but I have done business cards. I doubt the process is too different.
1. Use a photo-editing software like Gimp, PS or InkScape (or a painting software like Clip Studio, SAI, Medibang or Krita if you want to include digital art in your CoA) and design how you want you CoA to look like.
2. Search for pages that allows you printing your business-design (Business Card Printing | Custom Business Cards Online | MOO US for example.) Price can change depending the place, quantity, size and printed materials.

If you want to use an aunthenticity system (Some companies use this method), for example a QR code in your CoA, this article might me helpful: QR Codes on Business Cards | QR Code Generator PRO

 

Would something like this be any good? a small batch of custom holographic stickers that you could attach to a printed COA?
Holographic Stickers - Free Delivery - UK Made | Sticker it