An image display element includes a display layer configured to display first to n-th (where n is an integer of 2 or more) images; a light-shielding pattern layer disposed opposite to the display layer and having alternately disposed light-shielding parts and light-transmitting parts, and a transparent layer disposed between the display layer and the light-shielding pattern layer. The display layer contains a coloring matter, where the coloring matter forms first to n-th images; each of the first to n-th images is divided in a discrete manner corresponding to the arrangement pattern of the light-transmitting parts; and an image visible through the light-shielding pattern layer changes depending on the angle from which the light-shielding pattern layer is viewed.

A pattern for producing a moire image with a sense of movement and technique for creating such patterns. A moire display includes: a first pattern; and a second pattern disposed offset from the first pattern by a predetermined distance, the second pattern having a phase which continuously changes relative to the first pattern in at least one region. For example, a moire image with a sense of movement can be produced when the second pattern has a phase that changes according to a function in at least one section. Accordingly, a moire image with a sense of natural movement can be produced by inputting an input image and data such as a feature value of the input image.

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 invention relates to optical effect layers (OEL) showing a viewing-angle dependent optical effect, devices and processes for producing said OEL and items carrying said OEL, as well as uses of said optical effect layers as an anti-counterfeit means on documents. The OEL comprises a plurality of non-spherical magnetic or magnetizable particles, which are dispersed in a coating composition comprising a binder material, the OEL comprising two or more loop-shaped areas, being nested around a common central area that is surrounded by the innermost loop-shaped area, wherein, in each of the loop-shaped areas, at least a part of the plurality of non-spherical magnetic or magnetizable particles are oriented such that, in a cross-section perpendicular to the OEL layer and extending from the center of the central area to the outer boundary of the outermost loop-shaped area, the longest axis of the particles in each of the cross-sectional areas of the looped-shaped areas follow a tangent of either a negatively curved or a positively curved part of hypothetical ellipses or circles.

The invention relates to a data carrier comprising a storage layer forming a plurality of first surface elements (6). The storage layer (2) has at least one optical characteristic, which is optically anisotropic and which varies spatially between the first surface elements (6). A cover layer (3) over the storage layer (2) forms a plurality of second surface elements (10), each acting as a polarisation filter for a predetermined polarisation direction. The predetermined polarisation direction varies between the second surface elements (10). The storage layer can contain in particular bacteriorhodop sin in the form of a purple membrane. The invention also relates to a method for the production and reading of a data carrier of this type.

In the field of protection of value documents and value commercial goods, the present disclosure relates to the field of security threads or stripes to be incorporated into or onto security documents, and security documents having security threads or stripes. The security threads or stripes include i) first optically variable layer imparting a first different color impression at different viewing angles, ii) second optically variable layer imparting a second different color impression at different viewing angles, iii) first color constant layer having a color matching color impression of the first or second optically variable layer at a first viewing angle, iv) second color constant layer having a color matching color impression of the first or second optically variable layer at a second viewing angle, and v) a substrate. The layers are jointly visible from one side of the security thread or stripe.

Examples are directed toward a substrate offset printed with front side markings on a first side and back side markings on a second side. The front side markings and the back side markings have dimensions in a micrometer range. The front side when viewed with reflected light comprises first portions of a plurality of characters. The back side when viewed with reflected light comprises second portions of the plurality of characters. The first portions and the second portions are printed, when viewed with transmitted light, to show the plurality of characters as whole characters having dimensions in the micrometer range.

A laser printing apparatus and method for a color dynamic image are provided. The laser printing apparatus includes an optical system and a recording material; the recording material includes a refraction layer formed by multiple microspheres or microlenses, and a shading layer formed on a focal plane of the multiple microshperes or microlenses; the optical system includes a laser and an graph generator, a laser light emitted by the laser irradiates onto the recording material after being processed by the image generator, the laser light irradiating onto the recording material is focused on the shading layer via the refraction layer, and a focus point is formed on the shading layer when energy of the focused laser light is greater than an evaporation threshold value of the shading layer.

A security device including an array of lines printed or otherwise provided on a substrate, the lines including materials which have the same appearance under visible light illumination but which appear different from each other in the visible under a combination of visible and non-visible, ultraviolet illumination. At least some of the lines in the array appear different from other lines under the combination of visible and non-visible, ultraviolet illumination. A second, surface relief array of lines imposed on the first array, the orientation, line widths and spacings of the first and second arrays being such that the device exhibits a variable appearance as it is tilted while exposed to the combination of visible and non-visible illumination.

A security article may include a substrate. The security article may include a layer of security ink. The layer of security ink may include a set of color-shifting interference particles. The security article may include a layer of magnetic color-shifting ink. The layer of magnetic color-shifting ink may include a set of magnetically aligned magnetic particles. A color-shifting property of the layer of security ink and a color-shifting property of the layer of magnetic color-shifting ink may have a threshold level of similarity to create a color matching effect.

A method and security device, including: a semi-transparent layer exhibiting a first pattern of regions having high optical density and/or raised surface profile relative to layer intervening regions; and a color layer exhibiting a second pattern of elements of at least one color. First and second patterns partially overlap and are configured so the device, appearance varies at different viewing angles. First pattern has color layer following the contours of raised regions. Security device includes: a photosensitive film exhibiting pattern of regions of relatively high and low optical density, the pattern arising from photosensitive film exposure to radiation of a responsive predetermined wavelength from the photosensitive film; and a color layer overlapping the pattern exhibited by photosensitive film, which exhibits increase in optical density upon radiation exposure of a predetermined wavelength and concurrent or subsequent heating. Increases in optical density being due to the bubbles formation within the photosensitive film.