Software and lasers are used in finishing apparel to produce a desired wear pattern or other design. A technique includes determining a fabric's response to a laser, capturing an initial image of a wear pattern on a garment, and processing the initial image to obtain a working image in grayscale. The working image is further processed to obtain a difference image by comparing each pixel relative to a dark reference. The difference image is converted to a laser values image by using the previously determined fabric response to the laser.

A filament material and a method for producing the same is disclosed. For example, the filament material includes a polymer resin that is compatible with an extrusion based printing process and a marking additive that allows selective portions of the filament material to change color when exposed to a light, wherein the marking additive is added to approximately 0.01 to 25.00 weight percent (wt %).

A laser irradiation apparatus includes: multiple irradiation units each to emit a laser beam to a surface of a base to form a pattern, the multiple irradiation units, including: a first irradiation unit to emit a first laser beam; and a second irradiation unit to emit a second laser beam; and a circuitry to: control the first irradiation unit to irradiate only a first irradiation region on a surface of a base with the first laser beam; and control the second irradiation unit to irradiate only a second irradiation region on the surface of the base with the second laser beam. The first irradiation region and the second irradiation region are not overlapping each other.

The invention relates to a method for transferring colored markings or labels onto plastic surfaces by means of a laser beam, to a transfer medium for carrying out said method and to articles, the plastic surfaces of which are laser-marked or laser-labeled by way of such a method.

A material of formula (I)
M.sup.1.sub.aM.sup.2.sub.bW.sub.cO.sub.d(P(O).sub.nR.sub.m).sub.e  (I)
wherein each of M.sup.1 and M.sup.2 is independently ammonium or a metal cation; a is 0.01 to 0.5; b is 0 to 0.5; c is 1; d is 2.5 to 3; e is 0.01 to 0.75; n is 1, 2 or 3; m is 1, 2 or 3; and R is an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group.

A security device for security documents provides an angle-dependent Moire effect. A security device for a security document and method for making the security device are provided. At least two interlaced laser engraved images form an angle dependent parallax effect. First and second images are laser engraved at a substrate of the security document. To render the security device more difficult to copy, a colour changing effect or a nonreciprocal transmission effect may be achieved by adding a coloured (absorptive or emissive) layer between or within non-laser engravable layers situated between the laser engravable layers, and/or by adding a patterned phase diffraction grating situated between the laser engravable layers.

Described herein a heat transfer label comprising a support portion comprising a release layer having a first side and a second side and a first carrier at least partially disposed on the first side of the release layer; and a transfer portion comprising a engravable first ink layer having a first side and a second side; and an adhesive layer having a first side and a second side, wherein a graphic design is engraved on the first ink layer using the laser light after the heat transfer label is at least partially bonded onto a substrate. Also described herein are methods of laser engraving a heat transfer label comprising at least partially bonding the heat transfer label described herein onto a substrate; and at least partially laser engraving the ink layer.

A security device for security documents providing an angle-dependent Moiré effect. A security device for a security document and method for making the security device are provided. At least two interlaced laser engraved images forming an angle dependent parallax effect. First and second images are laser engraved at a substrate of the security document and the substrate comprises a non-laser-engravable layer between laser engravable layers.

Provided is an articulated robot arm capable of laser printing. The articulated robot arm includes: a communicator for receiving beverage order information; a grip part gripping and moving a cup; an articulation part having one side coupled to the grip part and including a plurality of articulation units; a controller controlling operations of the grip part and the articulation part; and a laser beam irradiation unit provided on at least a partial area of the grip part and irradiating a laser beam to print the beverage order information on the cup.

A polymer based composite contains (a) a polyamide component, (b) a (co)-polyamide based on ether units and amide units, and (c) carbon black. It has been found that (1) the (co)-polyamide (b) offers sufficient absorbency for the printing ink, and (2) the selection of the polyamide component, the (co)-polyamide, and the amount of the carbon black result in both sufficient transparency and sufficient absorption centers for the laser energy. A moulded article can be made of the polymer based composite. A layered structure can be made containing at least one layer made of the polymer based composite and a security and/or valuable document containing the layered structure.