An asymmetric pigment including a first Fabry-Perot structure; and a second Fabry-Perot structure; wherein the first Fabry-Perot structure and the second Fabry-Perot structure have a similar hue angle within +/−45 degrees is disclosed. Other asymmetric pigments are also disclosed as well as methods of making the disclosed pigments.

This disclosure relates to counterfeit detection and deterrence using advanced signal processing technology including steganographic embedding and digital watermarking. Digital watermark can be used on consumer products, labels, logos, hang tags, stickers and other objects to provide counterfeit detection mechanisms.

A method of manufacturing a water-insoluble pattern on and/or within a substrate is described. Also described, is a substrate obtained by such a method, a product including such a substrate and the use of the substrate in different applications.

An anti-counterfeiting pattern having an optically variable structure, comprising lithographic lines and gravure blind embossed relief lines printed on a carrier. The lithographic lines are a set of lithographic curve lines having a curvature, the widths of the lithographic curve lines changing from thick to thin, or thin to thick. The gravure blind embossed relief lines are a set of curve lines corresponding to the lithographic lines, and having the same curvature. The relief lines are overprinted on the lithographic lines with a width variation identical to that of said lithographic lines. Accurate overprinting of the two printing types forms a curved relief structure wherein the width of the lines changes continuously. When a printed product is rotated and observed, a continuously variable optical effect will be seen, which is visual, readily to identify, anti-copying and difficult to forgery.

Disclosed is a security document including an image layer with in a first image area an identification image. The document has in a second image area an authentication image that is composed of a first authentication image that is a positive version of the first image and a second authentication image that is a negative version of the first image. The authentication images can be observed at different angles and form a tilt image. Mutual comparison of the positive and negative tilt images and comparison with the identification image provides improved detection of unauthorized alterations.

A method for building a security image for a security structure of a security document from multiplexing color images, including selecting a marking method capable of producing sets of colors on the security document comprising different colors that can be displayed according to illumination/observation modes of the security structure, establishing a plurality of color sets that can be displayed by the security structure in a plurality of the different illumination/observation modes, distributing the color sets in a plurality of groups of color sets, establishing combinations of groups of color sets having at least one color set in common across the number of different illumination/observation modes, selecting a combination of a group of color sets based on the number of desired illumination/observation modes and the number of colors per color image, and determining the color images to multiplex by means of the combination of the group of color sets selected.

A substrate is printed with front side and back side markings. The front side when viewed with reflected light includes: a first marking printed with a first gradient of two colors; a second marking printed with a second gradient of two colors; a first symbol printed with a third gradient of two colors; a second symbol printed with a fourth gradient of two colors; a third symbol printed with a fifth gradient of two colors; and a fourth symbol printed with a sixth gradient of two colors. The back side when viewed with reflected light includes: a third marking printed with the fourth gradient; a fourth marking printed with the third gradient; a fifth symbol printed with the second gradient; a sixth symbol printed with the first gradient; a seventh symbol printed with the sixth gradient; and an eighth symbol printed with the fifth gradient.

An asymmetric pigment including a first Fabry-Perot structure; and a second Fabry-Perot structure; wherein the first Fabry-Perot structure and the second Fabry-Perot structure have a similar hue angle within +/45 degrees is disclosed. Other asymmetric pigments are also disclosed as well as methods of making the disclosed pigments.

Systems, devices, and methods may use input/output (I/O) apparatus and an optical switching medium to switch, or route, optical data signals. The optical switching medium may include a plurality of optical switching regions. The I/O apparatus may transmit optical data signals to and receive optical data signals from the optical switching medium to provide switching functionality.

A method for printing a printing designed as a color-tilting surface onto an object surface includes a) printing a relief structure having strip-shaped webs onto the object surface, the strip-shaped webs being spaced apart and raised relative to the surface and each having first and second side flanks, and b) conformal printing of a pattern with first color strips parallel to but laterally offset from the webs. As a result, the first color strips more strongly determine color, brightness and/or another visual, optical or wavelength-related property viewed obliquely from the first side flanks than viewed obliquely from the second side flanks. At least in step b) a digital printing technique carries out the printing to permit variable predetermination of at least the first color strip dimensions, positions and/or contours. A colored isotropic printing ink and/or printing compound is used as the printing ink and/or printing compound.