An optical article printed on a substrate may include an organic binder; and a plurality of reflective magnetic platelets provided in the organic binder, wherein the plurality of reflective magnetic platelets are substantially aligned in accordance with at least part of a surface of revolution, and wherein the plurality of reflective magnetic platelets are aligned to cause a first reflective effect of the optical article when the substrate is rotated around a first axis and to cause a second reflective effect of the optical article when the substrate is rotated around a second axis, wherein the first reflective effect is different from the second reflective effect.

The invention relates to a device for producing security elements (03) on a substrate (02), said device having a first printing couple (21; 22), by means of which substrate (02) being conveyed along a transport path is and/or can be printed with a plurality of first print image elements (12) spaced apart from one another using a first coating medium (11) that contains magnetic particles; a first magnetic cylinder (41), arranged downstream of the first printing couple (21; 22) in the transport path and comprising magnetic elements (43) on its outer circumference; a second magnetic cylinder (42), arranged downstream of the first magnetic cylinder (41) in the transport path and likewise comprising magnetic elements (43) on its outer circumference; and a drying and/or curing device (52), associated with or positioned downstream of the second magnetic cylinder (42) in the transport path, by means of which at least the coating medium (13) of a plurality of second print image elements (14), printed onto the substrate (02) and spaced apart from one another, is and/or can be dried and/or cured at least superficially and/or at least each partially, wherein in the transport path between the first and the second magnetic cylinder (41; 42) a second printing couple (31; 32) is provided, by means of which the substrate (02) is and/or can be printed with the spaced-apart second print image elements (14; 12) using the second coating medium (13) that contains magnetic particles, and wherein a drying and/or curing device (51) positioned upstream of the second printing couple (31; 32) is associated with or positioned downstream of the first magnetic cylinder (41) in the transport path, by means of which device the coating medium (11) containing magnetic particles of the first print image elements (12) printed by the first printing couple (21; 22) is and/or can be dried and/or cured at least superficially and/or at least each partially.

The invention relates to the field of the protection of security documents such as for example banknotes and identity documents against counterfeit and illegal reproduction. In particular, the present invention provides processes for optical effect layers (OEL) exhibiting one or more indicia using a magnetic assembly comprising i) a soft magnetic plate (x31) comprising a) one or more voids (V) and b) one or more dipole magnets (x32-a), wherein the one or more dipole magnets (x32-a) are disposed within the one or more voids (V) and/or are facing said one or more voids (V), and/or one or more pairs of two dipole magnets (x32-b), wherein the dipole magnets (x32-b) of the one or more pairs are disposed below the soft magnetic plate (x31) and are spaced apart from the one or more voids (V).

The invention relates to the field of the protection of security documents such as for example banknotes and identity documents against counterfeit and illegal reproduction. In particular, the present invention provides processes for optical effect layers (OEL) exhibiting two or more nested indicia using a magnetic assembly comprising i) a soft magnetic plate (x31) comprising a) one or more voids (V) and b) one or more indentations (I) and/or one or more protrusions (P), and ii) one or more dipole magnets (x32).

Methods are provided for forming a particular multi-layer micron-sized particle that is substantially transparent, yet that exhibits selectable coloration based on its physical properties. The disclosed physical properties of the particle are controllably selectable refractive indices to provide an opaque-appearing energy transmissive material when pluralities of the particles are suspended in a substantially transparent matrix material. Multiply-layered (up to 30+ constituent layers) particles result in an overall particle diameter of less than 5 microns. The material suspensions render the particles deliverable as aspirated or aerosol compositions onto substrates to form layers that selectively scatter specific wavelengths of electromagnetic energy while allowing remaining wavelengths of the incident energy to pass. The disclosed particles and material compositions uniquely implement optical light scattering techniques in energy (or light) transmissive layers that appear selectively opaque, while allowing 80+% of the energy impinging on the light incident side to pass through the layers.

A method may be provided for manufacturing coated panels that include at least a substrate and a top layer with a printed motif. The top layer may be provided on the substrate. The method may involve providing a synthetic material layer on the substrate. A relief may be provided on the surface of the synthetic material layer provided on the substrate. The relief may include a pattern of recesses. The pattern may be at least partially determined using a digital technique that is applied for providing a synthetic material-repelling agent or a lacquer-repelling agent. The agent may determine at least a portion of the pattern of recesses.

A method may be provided for manufacturing coated panels of the type including at least a substrate and a top layer with a motif. The top layer may be provided on the substrate. The method may involve providing a synthetic material layer on the substrate. A relief may be provided on the surface of said synthetic material layer provided on the substrate. The relief may include a pattern of recesses. The pattern may be at least partially determined by at least one print that is applied by inkjet printing. The relief may be obtained by printing a mask directly on or in the synthetic material layer. After providing the mask, the synthetic material layer may be cured. The mask may provide for selective curing of the synthetic material layer, such that the synthetic material layer is not solidified or solidified at a lesser extent in correspondence of the mask. The not solidified or less solidified portions of the synthetic material layer may be removed by performing a material-removing treatment on the synthetic material layer thereby obtaining the relief.

A method may be provided for manufacturing coated panels of the type including at least a substrate and a top layer with a motif. The top layer may be provided on the substrate. The method may involve providing a synthetic material layer on the substrate. A relief may be provided on the surface of the synthetic material layer provided on the substrate. The relief may include a pattern of recesses and/or projections. The relief may be obtained by providing a mask on or in the synthetic material layer. The mask may enable a selective treatment of the synthetic material layer. A material-removing treatment or a material-depositing treatment may be performed on the synthetic material layer, such that the mask at least partially determines the pattern.

The present invention relates to the field of magnetic assemblies, magnetic apparatuses and processes for producing optical effect layers (OEL) comprising magnetically oriented non-spherical magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles on a substrate and providing an impression of a crescent moon-shaped element moving or rotating upon tilting the optical effect layer (OEL). In particular, the present invention relates to magnetic assemblies, magnetic apparatuses and processes for producing said OELs as anti-counterfeit means on security documents or security articles or for decorative purposes.

Provided are a multilayer coating film with pearl luster that is bright in highlight and that has a small change in graininess due to difference in observation directions, and a method for forming the multilayer coating film. The multilayer coating film contains on a substrate in the following sequence a color-pigment-containing colored base coating film, an interference-pigment-containing effect base coating film, and a clear-coat coating film. The multilayer coating film has a Y value (Y5) in the XYZ color space of 300 or more. The multilayer coating film has a ratio of a 15° sparkle area Sa to a 45° sparkle area Sa of 7 or less.