The present invention relates to a method for forming a surface relief microstructure, especially an optically variable image (an optically variable device) on a transparent or translucent substrate and a product obtainable using the method. A further aspect of the invention is the use for the prevention of counterfeit or reproduction of a document of value and a method of forming a coating showing an angle dependent color change.

A plate for creating holograms or other light-bending or diffractive microstructures on web-shaped or sheet-shaped printing substrates includes a relief for a relief printing process. The relief is formed of one or more raised dies and one or more adjacent depressions. A non-metallic microrelief for printing or embossing the microstructure is provided exclusively on the dies. The plate may be manufactured in a process in which a primary plate has a negative of the microrelief and the microrelief is created by molding the negative.

A system for generating variable optical images in curable material using generic optical matrices, the system including an applicator configured to apply the curable material to a portion of a substrate supported by a carrier web; a transparent roller comprising surface elements formed on an outside surface of the transparent roller, the transparent roller being configured to form optical structures in the curable material, wherein the surface elements on the transparent roller form the optical structures in the curable material when the surface elements contact the curable material as the substrate travels over the outside surface of the transparent roller; a radiation source within or outside the transparent roller configured to cure the curable material after the optical structures are formed in the curable material; and an image generation component configured to obliterate portions of the optical structures to form a predetermined image.