There is provided a medium issuance system which can easily transfer print on an intermediate transfer sheet to a polycarbonate transfer medium. The medium issuance system 50 includes an intermediate transfer sheet supply section 52 for supplying an intermediate transfer sheet 53 to a polycarbonate transfer medium 1, and a hot stamp 55 for heating and pressing the intermediate transfer sheet 53 to transfer print 10A, 10C on the intermediate transfer sheet 53 to the transfer medium 1. The hot stamp 55 heats and presses the intermediate transfer sheet 53 at a temperature of not less than 120 C. and not more than 200 C., and at a pressure of not less than 0.1 kgf/cm.sup.2 and not more than 1000 kgf/cm.sub.2.

Disclosed are fibers which contain identification fibers. The identification fibers can contain a one or more of chemical markers and one or more distinct features, or taggants, which may vary among the fibers or be incorporated throughout all of the fibers. The chemical markers and distinct features can be representative of specific supply chain information. The supply chain information can be used to track the fibers from manufacturing through intermediaries, conversion to final product, and/or the consumer. The disclosed embodiments also relate to the method for making and characterizing the fibers. Characterization of the fibers can include identifying chemical markers and distinct features and correlating the chemical markers and distinct features to manufacturer-specific taggants to determine supply chain information.

An assembly including a first magnet; a substrate positioned above the first magnet, and having a surface for receiving a composition including a plurality of magnetizable platelets; and a second magnet, positioned above the substrate is disclosed. The assembly can be used in a method of making an optical security element. The optical security element and the method of making the optical security element are also disclosed.

An assembly including a first magnet; a substrate positioned above the first magnet, and having a surface for receiving a composition including a plurality of magnetizable platelets; and a second magnet, positioned above the substrate is disclosed. The assembly can be used in a method of making an optical security element. The optical security element and the method of making the optical security element are also disclosed.

In authentication of machineries and cards (artifact) that are used in social acts such as economic acts, an approach of artifact metrics corresponding to biometrics is effective. Therefore, the subject is to find out a material that satisfies requirements of artifact metrics and is, preferably, suppliable stably and also economically, to establish the production method thereof, and to apply these to an individual authentication system of artifact. Porous glass, which possesses a spinodal phase separation structure, is an individual authentication medium as artifact metrics. There is provided a production method thereof, and an individual authentication system utilizing the individual authentication medium.

An image producing device that produces an image by thermally transferring an image pattern from a transfer ribbon to a transfer medium. The device includes take-up means for taking up the transfer ribbon, supply means for supplying the transfer ribbon according to the taking up of the transfer ribbon performed by the take-up means, thermal transfer means for thermally transferring an image to the transfer medium by bringing the transfer ribbon that is between the supply means and the take-up means into contact with the transfer medium, and a regulating means for regulating the supply of the transfer ribbon performed by the supply means.

An image producing device that produces an image by thermally transferring an image pattern from a transfer ribbon to a transfer medium. The device includes take-up means for taking up the transfer ribbon, supply means for supplying the transfer ribbon according to the taking up of the transfer ribbon performed by the take-up means, thermal transfer means for thermally transferring an image to the transfer medium by bringing the transfer ribbon that is between the supply means and the take-up means into contact with the transfer medium, and a regulating means for regulating the supply of the transfer ribbon performed by the supply means.

A method of manufacturing a hybrid security structure for a security document, the method comprising the steps of: providing a document substrate; applying to the document substrate, by a first process, a first element comprising a first electrically conductive region of the hybrid security structure; applying to the document substrate, by a second process, a second element comprising a second electrically conductive region of the hybrid security structure, wherein the first process is different from the second process; and electrically coupling the first and second electrically conductive regions of the hybrid security structure for detection by a capacitance sensor.

A method of manufacturing a hybrid security structure for a security document, the method comprising the steps of: providing a document substrate; applying to the document substrate, by a first process, a first element comprising a first electrically conductive region of the hybrid security structure; applying to the document substrate, by a second process, a second element comprising a second electrically conductive region of the hybrid security structure, wherein the first process is different from the second process; and electrically coupling the first and second electrically conductive regions of the hybrid security structure for detection by a capacitance sensor.

Thermal transfer image data is used to transfer part of a transfer material layer in a transfer ribbon to an image-receiving layer in an intermediate transfer ribbon to form a plurality of image cells on the intermediate transfer ribbon. A method for providing thermal transfer image data includes converting a multitone input image into a multitone image having fewer different tone values than the input image, based on a predetermined threshold; and dithering respective tone values of the image.