An optically variable security element for securing valuable articles that viewing-angle-dependently displays a motif having at least one curve depiction that, from a first viewing direction, is visible as an initial curve having two or more connected, non-collinear segments and that, when the security element is tilted about a predetermined axis, splits into the individual segments in that the segments of the initial curve move alternatingly in different directions away from the initial curve. Each of the segments has associated with it one movement segment in the form of a sub-region of an areal motif region, such that, from the first viewing direction, the segments display the initial curve having the connected segments and that, from viewing directions tilted about the predetermined axis, they display curve depictions in which, with increasing tilt angle, the segments lie alternatingly in different directions increasingly further away from the initial curve.

A single plasma nozzle of a plasma treatment station is used to treat the card surface prior to performing drop-on-demand printing on the card surface. The single plasma nozzle has a plasma discharge width that is less than the width of the card. The card and the plasma nozzle are moved relative to one another using a two direction control scheme during plasma treatment in order to be able to plasma treat a desired area of the card surface. The card and the plasma nozzle may also be moveable toward or away from one another to change the distance therebetween.

In an image forming apparatus, an extraction processing portion extracts one or more items of personal information from image data of a card read by an image reading portion. A document data acquiring portion acquires image data of a fixed-form document. A document layout acquiring portion acquires document layout information that indicates one or more composite positions in the image data of the fixed-form document where the one or more items of personal information are to be combined. A composition processing portion generates composite image data by combining the personal information extracted by the extraction processing portion with the image data of the fixed-form document in accordance with the document layout information. A print control portion causes an image forming portion to execute a composite image printing process of printing a composite image represented by the composite image data on a sheet.

In an image forming apparatus, an extraction processing portion extracts one or more items of personal information from image data of a card read by an image reading portion. A document data acquiring portion acquires image data of a fixed-form document. A document layout acquiring portion acquires document layout information that indicates one or more composite positions in the image data of the fixed-form document where the one or more items of personal information are to be combined. A composition processing portion generates composite image data by combining the personal information extracted by the extraction processing portion with the image data of the fixed-form document in accordance with the document layout information. A print control portion causes an image forming portion to execute a composite image printing process of printing a composite image represented by the composite image data on a sheet.

Apparatuses and methods are provided for manufacturing a transaction card. The disclosed apparatuses and methods may be used to form a transaction card frame configured to house a data storage component. The card frame may be formed of a resin mixture comprising a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). The card frame may also have a Shore D hardness in the range of 20-80.

An image processing apparatus in an embodiment is an image processing apparatus for forming structures on a print medium, the structures being configured to express such a characteristic that sparkle points change in position with change in angle of observation. The image processing apparatus in this embodiment includes a generation unit configured to generate arrangement data based on information on a characteristic of sparkle points, the arrangement data specifying arrangement of the structures of two or more types that are capable of being formed on the print medium and at least include one or more first structure associated with a first inclination angle and one or more second structures associated with a second inclination angle different from the first inclination angle.

A micro-optical inspection arrangement comprises micro-focusing elements which are composite bodies consisting of a main part and an additional part and which have a reference focal length. The main parts are provided as micro-focusing element preforms, and the additional parts are formed from one or more functional coatings. The invention also relates to a method for producing such a micro-optical inspection arrangement and to a micro-optical displaying arrangement comprising the micro-optical inspection arrangement according to the invention and a microstructure arrangement, in particular a moir magnification arrangement and a modulo magnification arrangement. The invention also relates to security elements and data carriers that have the micro-optical inspection arrangement according to the invention.

A micro-optical inspection arrangement comprises micro-focusing elements which are composite bodies consisting of a main part and an additional part and which have a reference focal length. The main parts are provided as micro-focusing element preforms, and the additional parts are formed from one or more functional coatings. The invention also relates to a method for producing such a micro-optical inspection arrangement and to a micro-optical displaying arrangement comprising the micro-optical inspection arrangement according to the invention and a microstructure arrangement, in particular a moir magnification arrangement and a modulo magnification arrangement. The invention also relates to security elements and data carriers that have the micro-optical inspection arrangement according to the invention.

The anti-counterfeiting structure includes an allochroic part having a characteristic of changing from a first material to a second material in response to laser irradiation, the allochroic part including a discolored part consisting only of the second material and having first information, and a foamable member having a characteristic of changing from an unfoamed state to a foamed state in response to laser irradiation, the foamable member including a foamed part that contains second information, the second information being associated with the first information and constituting, together with the first information, an information group unique to the anti-counterfeiting structure. At least a part of the discolored part does not overlap with the foamed part in a plan view of the discolored part and the foamed part.

A plastic card is printed on by transferring an adhesive to a surface of the plastic card from a thermal transfer ribbon using a thermal printhead. A donor material is then applied over the transferred adhesive to adhere the donor material to the card surface with portions of the card surface not containing the transferred adhesive not being covered by the donor material. The techniques described herein permit the addition of high value features, such as three dimensional features, matte finishes, metallic or metallic appearing features, optical structures, and the like, to the surfaces of plastic cards. In addition, the techniques described herein can be integrated into existing card processing systems, such as central issuance card processing systems, that use thermal printing technology.