A payment card includes hidden features (e.g., textual messages, graphics, emphasis features associated with conspicuous features of the payment card, or the like) undiscernible under only visible light, but discernable under ultraviolet light. The hidden features can be incorporated into multiple layers of a side of the payment card and can be present with different transparencies, different colors, and different persistence.

The invention relates to a marking composition, by means of which better protection of goods than hitherto available can be achieved independently of the coloring of the goods. The marking composition comprises an infrared-absorbing particulate component and carbon derivative, wherein the weight ratio of infrared-absorbing component to carbon derivative is in the range of approx. 10:1 to approx. 10,000:1.

The invention relates to a marking composition, by means of which better protection of goods than hitherto available can be achieved independently of the coloring of the goods. The marking composition comprises an infrared-absorbing particulate component and carbon derivative, wherein the weight ratio of infrared-absorbing component to carbon derivative is in the range of approx. 10:1 to approx. 10,000:1.

According to the present invention, there is provided, at low cost, a thread/yarn for making it possible to easily determine whether a product is a genuine product or a forgery/imitation product, thereby suppressing the manufacture and marketing of forgery/imitation products. This forgery-preventing thread/yarn is formed by making use of a film comprising abase sheet and letters or images printed on the base sheet, the film being slit to have a width of 0.15 mm˜0.75 mm. A thread, yarn or a flat thread representing a genuine product can be cheaply manufactured since it can be obtained by simply slitting a film to a width of 0.15 mm˜0.75 mm. Further, it is possible to easily determine whether a product is a genuine product or a forgery/imitation.

According to the present invention, there is provided, at low cost, a thread/yarn for making it possible to easily determine whether a product is a genuine product or a forgery/imitation product, thereby suppressing the manufacture and marketing of forgery/imitation products. This forgery-preventing thread/yarn is formed by making use of a film comprising abase sheet and letters or images printed on the base sheet, the film being slit to have a width of 0.15 mm˜0.75 mm. A thread, yarn or a flat thread representing a genuine product can be cheaply manufactured since it can be obtained by simply slitting a film to a width of 0.15 mm˜0.75 mm. Further, it is possible to easily determine whether a product is a genuine product or a forgery/imitation.

A method of manufacturing a document of a series identical documents in content except for a respective identifier which identifies each document within the series, each identifier having at least a first indicium, the or each indicium defining a boundary; the method having the steps of: providing a substrate; applying a first background print, defining part of the boundary of an indicium receiving area; applying the respective identifier on the substrate, such that the first indicium is provided in the indicium receiving area; the first background print and the respective identifier being applied such that when the document is viewed in at least one of transmission and reflection the juxtaposition of the first background print and the first indicium is such that a keyline extending around a portion of the boundary of the first indicium is defined between the first indicium and the boundary of the indicium receiving area.

A payment card includes hidden features (e.g., textual messages, graphics, emphasis features associated with conspicuous features of the payment card, or the like) undiscernible under only visible light, but discernable under ultraviolet light. The hidden features can be incorporated into multiple layers of a side of the payment card and can be present at different transparencies. The hidden features, applied during manufacturing, can be i) selected (e.g., randomly or sequentially) from an available hidden features list; ii) supplied by user input; and/or iii) selected based on a user's previous hidden feature(s) (e.g., the same as or different from the previous hidden feature). A quality check can include comparing an image of the payment card illuminated under ultraviolet light with the selected hidden feature(s).

A payment card includes hidden features (e.g., textual messages, graphics, emphasis features associated with conspicuous features of the payment card, or the like) undiscernible under only visible light, but discernable under ultraviolet light. The hidden features can be incorporated into multiple layers of a side of the payment card and can be present at different transparencies. The hidden features, applied during manufacturing, can be i) selected (e.g., randomly or sequentially) from an available hidden features list; ii) supplied by user input; and/or iii) selected based on a user's previous hidden feature(s) (e.g., the same as or different from the previous hidden feature). A quality check can include comparing an image of the payment card illuminated under ultraviolet light with the selected hidden feature(s).

A credential with one or more security features is disclosed. The disclosed credential includes a windowed security feature. The windowed security feature is taught to include a mirror element positioned in proximity with a transparent window and a first photo-luminescent feature positioned relative to the transparent window and the mirror element such that the mirror element enhances a luminescence of the first photo-luminescent feature when viewed and illuminated through the transparent window.

A credential with one or more security features is disclosed. The disclosed credential includes a windowed security feature. The windowed security feature is taught to include a mirror element positioned in proximity with a transparent window and a first photo-luminescent feature positioned relative to the transparent window and the mirror element such that the mirror element enhances a luminescence of the first photo-luminescent feature when viewed and illuminated through the transparent window.