Essay: A trial or design of a new note. It may be a sketch, hand-drawn, painted, printed or partially printed.

Pattern: The intricate and specified arrangement of elements in a banknote created in different colours to be printed.

Proofs: The final design of an issue prepared by the printing company as a sample for the issuing authority, but not intended for circulation. Proofs are always printed on a different type of paper from that used for the final issue, whereas specimen notes are on the same paper.

Trial: Some banknotes are printed in its current form and presented for approval. They could be printed on watermark paper or otherwise.

In the creation of a banknote, designers and printers made a series of essays, patterns, proofs and trials. Noteworthy amongst them were Tom Archer at Nasik for the Reserve Bank of India series. John Simpson, the designer for the Government of India and Bradbury Wilkinson & Co. and Waterlow & Sons, made designs for the Nizam of Hyderabad. These designers would combine artistry and beauty to provide strong security features on the banknotes.
In 1922 as the Government of India considered a new issue of banknotes, Sir John Simpson and S.G. Bospius were given the task of developing a new design and a series of patterns. Simpson’s portrait of King George was selected and first issued in 1923 for the Rupees 10 denomination. This and other denominations that continued till 1931 bore the portrait of King George V depicted on the plaster cast bust made by Sir Bernard Russell.
The early notes of Portuguese India were designed by the Bank of England and the Essays are noticeably beautiful. Similarly, the Essays of Bradbury Wilkinson & Co. for the 1906 issue are aesthetically striking.