A security device is provided including a first pattern of elements and a second, overlapping, pattern of elements spaced by a transparent layer, the first and second patterns in combination obstructing the passage of light transmitted to a viewer through the device to a varying degree depending on the viewing position. The first and second patterns of elements are configured such that a first region of the device exhibits a maximum change in the degree of obstruction when the device is tilted relative to the viewer about a first tilt axis, and a second region of the device exhibits a maximum change in the degree of obstruction when the device is tilted relative to the viewer about a second tilt axis which is not parallel to the first tilt axis.

An apparatus, comprising a handle of a captive but freely-moveable wand, the handle useable to move an attached wand viewfinder over a clear front window of a front component to selectively reveal parts of printed matter on a hidden back component, wherein the clear front window has semi-transparently printed matter thereon, wherein inside the apparatus, a concealed component tethered to the wand is selectively moveable between the semi-transparently printed matter and the printed matter on the hidden back component, and wherein the tethered concealed component has an opening that lies in alignment with a matching opening in the wand viewfinder so that, with selective movement of the tethered concealed component: (a) both the printed matter on the clear front window is shown superimposed over the selectively revealed parts of the printed matter on the back component in the wand view finder and (b) solely the semi-transparently printed matter is shown on the clear front window outside the wand viewfinder.

A method for producing security elements, security elements, a security document with at least one security element as well as a transfer film with at least one security element wherein a three-dimensional object is recorded and a surface profile of the three-dimensional object, described by a function F(x,y), is determined, wherein the function F(x,y) describes the distance between the surface profile and a two-dimensional reference surface spanned by co-ordinate axes x and y at the co-ordinate points x and y. A first microstructure is determined in such a way that the structure height of the first microstructure is limited to a predetermined value smaller than the maximum distance between the surface profile and the two-dimensional reference surface, and the first microstructure provides an observer with a first optical perception which corresponds to the surface profile of the three-dimensional object described by the function F(x,y).

A method for producing security elements, security elements, a security document with at least one security element as well as a transfer film with at least one security element wherein a three-dimensional object is recorded and a surface profile of the three-dimensional object, described by a function F(x,y), is determined, wherein the function F(x,y) describes the distance between the surface profile and a two-dimensional reference surface spanned by co-ordinate axes x and y at the co-ordinate points x and y. A first microstructure is determined in such a way that the structure height of the first microstructure is limited to a predetermined value smaller than the maximum distance between the surface profile and the two-dimensional reference surface, and the first microstructure provides an observer with a first optical perception which corresponds to the surface profile of the three-dimensional object described by the function F(x,y).

A numbering system is provided having an identifier with hexadecimal, vigesimal, quadrivigesimal, or any other suitable alphanumeric characters includable on a card and an account identifiable using the identifier. The card can be a gift card, a customer loyalty card, or a customer incentive card. An interface may be connected to a communications network that is accessible to associate the identifier with an account and manage funds associable with the account. Funds data may be associable with the account and storable on the remote server, the funds data relating to the funds transferred by a user to a card issuer. The identifier may be storable on the card in an electronically readable format, and may be included on the card via printing and/or imprinting. A method is provided for using the numbering system.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a marking in a coating on a substrate or on the surface of a molding, where the marking represents a negative marking within a luminescent surrounding field and is generated using a laser beam, to a marking produced with the aid of the method, and to the use thereof, in particular for the labeling of products.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a marking in a coating on a substrate or on the surface of a molding, where the marking represents a negative marking within a luminescent surrounding field and is generated using a laser beam, to a marking produced with the aid of the method, and to the use thereof, in particular for the labeling of products.

The invention provides an authenticatable ballot and method wherein a printable substrate is provided with at least one of overt authenticating indicia and covert authenticating indicia. The overt and covert authenticating indicia provide a means for voters and ballot counting entities to authenticate ballots by verifying the presence of sanctioned overt and covert authenticating indicia. The overt authenticating indicia is observable by the human eye without the use of any specialized tool or light source. The covert authenticating indicia are not readily apparent to the human eye and require the indicia to be resolved using a specialized tool, such as an ultraviolet or infrared light source.

The invention provides an authenticatable ballot and method wherein a printable substrate is provided with at least one of overt authenticating indicia and covert authenticating indicia. The overt and covert authenticating indicia provide a means for voters and ballot counting entities to authenticate ballots by verifying the presence of sanctioned overt and covert authenticating indicia. The overt authenticating indicia is observable by the human eye without the use of any specialized tool or light source. The covert authenticating indicia are not readily apparent to the human eye and require the indicia to be resolved using a specialized tool, such as an ultraviolet or infrared light source.

The disclosure relates to the field of graphical elements and is directed to an optical effect layer (OEL), a device and a method for producing same. The disclosure provides an optical effect that is easy to detect as such and exhibits a viewing-angle dependent apparent motion of image features over an extended length if the viewing angle with respect to the OEL changes. An OEL includes a binder material being at least partially transparent and a plurality of particles dispersed within the layer. Each particle has a non-isotropic reflectivity and may be magnetic or magnetizable. The orientation of the particles forms an orientation pattern extending over a length within an extended surface of the OEL, such that the local average of an angle between (i) a straight line along an observed longest dimension within the corresponding cross-section shape, and (ii) said first direction x varies according to a function () of a position (P) along said first direction.