A method for individualizing security documents provides that high security quality, application-neutral printed image 1 identical for a group of security documents is overprinted with second printed image 2 individualizing the security document, whereby the printing ink of second printed image 2 is repelled by the printing ink of first printed image 1. The printing ink of the second printed image is therefore deposited only in the areas of the first printed image where no printing ink of the first printed image is present. Preferably, the first printed image is produced by intaglio printing and the second printed image by means of liquid printing ink, in particular by the ink jet method.