A chemically etched two dimensional matrix symbol is provided on a substrate. The substrate may be metal or plastic. In another embodiment, a process is described for forming a plurality of two dimensional matrix symbols at the same time in batches. The two dimensional data matrix symbol comprises a substrate, a plurality of grooves and a plurality of raised areas and a plurality of ink spots disposed in the grooves according to a predefined code. The matrix is readable by a scanning device.

A security document has a substrate (1) with a foil element (6) applied to it. The foil element (6) includes a security feature, such as a diffractive structure (12), for example a hologram. To easily detect a removal of the foil element (6) using conventional detection devices, markings (4, 14, 15) intersecting with the foil element (6) are printed onto the top surface (7) of the foil element (6), the bottom surface (8) of the foil element (6), or onto the substrate (1), thus that they are removed together with the foil element (6).

A booklet includes a sheet-like first substrate, and a sheet-like second substrate that is attached to the first substrate. The first substrate includes a light-transmitting region, and an optical functional unit is provided to the light-transmitting region. A latent image is provided to a surface of the second substrate that is opposite to the first substrate at a position corresponding to the optical functional unit. The latent image manifests when the optical functional unit operates by overlapping the first substrate with the second substrate.

A security document includes a substrate, and an imaging thermal coating on at least a portion of the surface of the substrate for thermal printing on the security document. The imaging thermal coating is soluble in one or more solvents. A warning message is printed on the substrate in an ink which is substantially insoluble in the one or more solvents. An obscuring coating on the substrate covers the warning message such that the warning message is not apparent to an observer. The obscuring coating is soluble in the one or more solvents, such that the obscuring coating is removed from the substrate if the document is subjected to washing with the one or more solvents to remove printed images on the imaging thermal coating. By this arrangement, an attempt to alter the security document by washing the security document with the one or more solvents is made apparent.

A security device and method are provided for verifying the authenticity of articles, tracking articles, detecting the diversion of articles, and detecting the production of unauthorized articles. The security device includes a substrate and an optically variable security code. The security device may further include a machine-readable representation of the security code. The security device may still further include a unique serial number, which may be machine-readable. The substrate may be an article or, alternatively, the security device may be affixed to an article. An article including at least one of the security devices is also disclosed.

An index label and a method for applying an index label to a sheet or folder. A label assembly includes labels in a column, and each of the labels includes a fold line. A registration structure is adjacent the label column. Each label can be partially folded into a raised position, and the item to be label placed adjacent the raided portions, such as using the registration structure to align the item. The raised portion is lowered and adhered to the item. The remainder of the label is then removed from the label assembly and folded to adhere to itself and/or the item to form an index label on the item.