A method of forming a digital embossing on a surface by bonding hard press particles to a carrier. A liquid binder pattern is applied on the carrier by a digital drop application head. Hard press particles are applied on the carrier and the binder pattern such that some hard press particles are bonded to the carrier by the liquid pattern and non-bonded press particles are removed. The carrier with the bonded hard press particles is pressed to the surface and an embossing is formed when the carrier with the hard press particles is removed.

A method of forming a digital embossing on a surface by bonding hard press particles to a carrier. A liquid binder pattern is applied on the carrier by a digital drop application head. Hard press particles are applied on the carrier and the binder pattern such that some hard press particles are bonded to the carrier by the liquid pattern and non-bonded press particles are removed. The carrier with the bonded hard press particles is pressed to the surface and an embossing is formed when the carrier with the hard press particles is removed.

The embossing device for fine embossing of packaging material has a set of embossing rolls with female embossing and male embossing rolls, in each case the structural elements (ML1) of the female embossing roll (M1) and the structural elements (PL1) of the male embossing rolls (P1) being assigned to each other, and the structural elements of one of the rolls being produced independently of the structural elements of the other rolls. At least one structural element (ML1; PL1) of at least one roll (M1, P1) is provided on its bottom surface (B1) and/or surface (S1) and/or side surfaces and/or in its immediate surroundings with light-scattering elements (DM1, D1), the height (H) of which is 10 μm to 150 μm. As a result of the use of light-scattering elements with small dimensions, the contrast of the structural elements can be increased substantially, by which means the overall aesthetic image is improved considerably.

The embossing device for fine embossing of packaging material has a set of embossing rolls with female embossing and male embossing rolls, in each case the structural elements (ML1) of the female embossing roll (M1) and the structural elements (PL1) of the male embossing rolls (P1) being assigned to each other, and the structural elements of one of the rolls being produced independently of the structural elements of the other rolls. At least one structural element (ML1; PL1) of at least one roll (M1, P1) is provided on its bottom surface (B1) and/or surface (S1) and/or side surfaces and/or in its immediate surroundings with light-scattering elements (DM1, D1), the height (H) of which is 10 μm to 150 μm. As a result of the use of light-scattering elements with small dimensions, the contrast of the structural elements can be increased substantially, by which means the overall aesthetic image is improved considerably.

A process for producing a surface covering with an embossed printed surface is described. A substrate (16) is continuously moved through a production line, and this substrate (16) is first provided, in a printing equipment (12), with a printed pattern and thereafter, in an embossing equipment (14), with an embossed pattern, which is registered with the printed pattern. The printing equipment (12) produces the printed pattern in-line with the production of the embossed pattern. During printing in the printing equipment (12), the printed pattern is stretched or compressed, dynamically responsive to indicators of misalignments between the printed pattern and the embossed pattern, so as to correct or prevent the misalignments. A production line for carrying out this process is also proposed.

A process for producing a surface covering with an embossed printed surface is described. A substrate (16) is continuously moved through a production line, and this substrate (16) is first provided, in a printing equipment (12), with a printed pattern and thereafter, in an embossing equipment (14), with an embossed pattern, which is registered with the printed pattern. The printing equipment (12) produces the printed pattern in-line with the production of the embossed pattern. During printing in the printing equipment (12), the printed pattern is stretched or compressed, dynamically responsive to indicators of misalignments between the printed pattern and the embossed pattern, so as to correct or prevent the misalignments. A production line for carrying out this process is also proposed.

A multilayer body (1, 2, 3) and a method for producing a security element are described. The multilayer body has a metal layer (21). An optically active surface relief is molded at least in areas in a first surface of the metal layer (21) facing the upper side of the multilayer body or forming the upper side of the multilayer body and/or in a second surface of the metal layer (21) facing the underside of the multilayer body or forming the underside of the multilayer body. In at least one first area (31 to 39) of the multilayer body the surface relief is formed by a first relief structure (61). In at least one direction (617) determined by an allocated azimuth angle, the first relief structure (61) has a sequence of elevations (612) and depressions (614), the elevations (612) of which follow on from each other with a period P which is smaller than a wavelength of visible light, wherein the minima of the depressions (614) lie on a base surface and the first relief structure (61) has a relief depth t which is determined by the spacing of the maxima of the elevations (612) of the first relief structure (61) from the base surface in a direction perpendicular to the base surface. The profile shape and/or the relief depth t of the first relief structure (61) is chosen such that the colored appearance of the light (52, 53) incident on the first area (31 to 39) at least at a first angle of incidence and directly reflected by the metal layer (21) in the first area or directly transmitted through the metal layer is modified, in particular is modified by plasmon resonance of the metal layer with the incident light.

A multilayer body (1, 2, 3) and a method for producing a security element are described. The multilayer body has a metal layer (21). An optically active surface relief is molded at least in areas in a first surface of the metal layer (21) facing the upper side of the multilayer body or forming the upper side of the multilayer body and/or in a second surface of the metal layer (21) facing the underside of the multilayer body or forming the underside of the multilayer body. In at least one first area (31 to 39) of the multilayer body the surface relief is formed by a first relief structure (61). In at least one direction (617) determined by an allocated azimuth angle, the first relief structure (61) has a sequence of elevations (612) and depressions (614), the elevations (612) of which follow on from each other with a period P which is smaller than a wavelength of visible light, wherein the minima of the depressions (614) lie on a base surface and the first relief structure (61) has a relief depth t which is determined by the spacing of the maxima of the elevations (612) of the first relief structure (61) from the base surface in a direction perpendicular to the base surface. The profile shape and/or the relief depth t of the first relief structure (61) is chosen such that the colored appearance of the light (52, 53) incident on the first area (31 to 39) at least at a first angle of incidence and directly reflected by the metal layer (21) in the first area or directly transmitted through the metal layer is modified, in particular is modified by plasmon resonance of the metal layer with the incident light.

A method of forming a digital print on a surface by applying powder of dry ink including colourants on the surface, bonding a part of the dry ink powder to the surface by a digital heating print head such that the digital print is formed by the bonded dry ink colourants and removing non-bonded dry ink from the surface.

A method of forming a digital print on a surface by applying powder of dry ink including colourants on the surface, bonding a part of the dry ink powder to the surface by a digital heating print head such that the digital print is formed by the bonded dry ink colourants and removing non-bonded dry ink from the surface.