A security element (1) for a security paper, value document or the like, having a carrier (8) which has an areal region (3) which is divided into a multiplicity of pixels (4) which respectively includes at least one optically active facet (5), whereby the majority of the pixels (4) respectively have several of the optically active facets (5) of identical orientation per pixel (4), and the facets (5) are so oriented that the areal region (3) is perceptible to a viewer as an area that protrudes and/or recedes relative to its actual spatial form.

The object of the present invention is to provide an optical information medium having a colored glossy effect which is single- or multi-colored in regions where a reflective layer is present, but colorless in regions where the reflective layer is absent. The optical information medium of the present invention includes a bonding part (receiving layer), at least one image part, and an adhesive layer (protective layer) covering the at least one image part, wherein each of the image part includes a micro-protrusion/depression structure including part having a micro-protrusion/depression structure on at least a part of the surface opposite to the bonding part, a reflective layer, and a mask layer, in the order from the bonding part (receiving layer), the micro-protrusion/depression structure including part is colorless or colored in one or more translucent or opaque color, and at least one of the micro-protrusion/depression structure including part of the image part is colored in one or more translucent or opaque color.

The object of the present invention is to provide an optical information medium having a colored glossy effect which is single- or multi-colored in regions where a reflective layer is present, but colorless in regions where the reflective layer is absent. The optical information medium of the present invention includes a bonding part (receiving layer), at least one image part, and an adhesive layer (protective layer) covering the at least one image part, wherein each of the image part includes a micro-protrusion/depression structure including part having a micro-protrusion/depression structure on at least a part of the surface opposite to the bonding part, a reflective layer, and a mask layer, in the order from the bonding part (receiving layer), the micro-protrusion/depression structure including part is colorless or colored in one or more translucent or opaque color, and at least one of the micro-protrusion/depression structure including part of the image part is colored in one or more translucent or opaque color.

A platelet-shaped magnetic effect pigment for use in a printing ink, includes a layer construction with a magnetic layer and at least one optical functional layer. The magnetic layer is based on magnetic particles fixed within a solid matrix and having a largely uniform preferential magnetic direction deviating from the platelet plane.

An improved system and method for reading an upconversion response from nanoparticle inks is provided. A is adapted to direct a near-infrared excitation wavelength at a readable indicia, resulting in a near-infrared emission wavelength created by the upconverting nanoparticle inks. A short pass filter may filter the near-infrared excitation wavelength. A camera is in operable communication with the short pass filter and receives the near-infrared emission wavelength of the readable indicia. The system may further include an integrated circuit adapted to receive the near-infrared emission wavelength from the camera and generate a corresponding signal. A readable application may be in operable communication with the integrated circuit. The readable application receives the corresponding signal, manipulates the signal, decodes the signal into an output, and displays and/or stores the output.

An improved system and method for reading an upconversion response from nanoparticle inks is provided. A is adapted to direct a near-infrared excitation wavelength at a readable indicia, resulting in a near-infrared emission wavelength created by the upconverting nanoparticle inks. A short pass filter may filter the near-infrared excitation wavelength. A camera is in operable communication with the short pass filter and receives the near-infrared emission wavelength of the readable indicia. The system may further include an integrated circuit adapted to receive the near-infrared emission wavelength from the camera and generate a corresponding signal. A readable application may be in operable communication with the integrated circuit. The readable application receives the corresponding signal, manipulates the signal, decodes the signal into an output, and displays and/or stores the output.

The present invention relates to the technical field of security documents comprising a security feature, such as a windowed security thread, a security foil, a security patch, a hologram or an ink printed security feature, and a protective coating, and methods of manufacturing of said security documents. The security feature has a security feature thickness t.sub.f of at least about 5 μm (micrometers) and a security feature surface facing away from the substrate consisting of a first region adjacent to the edges of the security feature and a second region non-adjacent to the edges of the security feature. The protective coating covers the security feature surface facing away from the substrate, a first substrate surface adjacent to the edges of the security feature, and a second substrate surface, which is different from the substrate surface covered by the security feature and the first substrate surface. The protective coating covering the security feature surface facing away from the substrate and the first substrate surface is transparent, the protective coating covering the first region has a thickness t.sub.b1, the protective coating covering the second region has a thickness t.sub.b2, the protective coating covering the first substrate surface has a thickness t.sub.c, and the protective coating covering the second substrate surface has a thickness t.sub.a. The thickness t.sub.c is larger than the thickness t.sub.f, which is larger than the thickness t.sub.a; the thickness t.sub.b2 is larger than the thickness t.sub.a; and either the thickness t.sub.c is larger than the thickness t.sub.b1, which is larger than or equal to the thickness t.sub.b2; or the thickness t.sub.c is equal to the thickness t.sub.b1, which is larger than the thickness t.sub.b2. The variable protective coating thickness on the surface of the security document provides the inventive security document with an increased resistance against physical and chemical attacks from the environment, while maintaining the mechanical resistance properties required for such security documents.

A value document with a carrier element and a foil element arranged in a partial region of the carrier element. The carrier element has, at least in the partial region, a luminescence marker which is adapted to give off luminescence radiation which has at least a first wavelength and a second wavelength in each case in the infrared spectral region. The foil element has a reflection layer and a spectral selection layer. The selection layer is arranged between the carrier element and the reflection layer. The reflection layer is configured to reflect infrared radiation and the selection layer is configured to spectrally selectively inhibit transmission of infrared radiation. The inhibition of the transmission of the first wavelength and the inhibition of the transmission of the second wavelength differ by at least 10%.

Methods of applying a pattern and security devices are disclosed. In one arrangement, a receiving member (10) having a layered structure (12) is provided. The layered structure (12) comprises a layer of phase change material (PCM, 2). The phase change material (PCM, 2)is thermally switchable between a plurality of stable states having different refractive indices relative to each other. An embossing member (5) is stamped into the receiving member (10). The embossing member (5) heats a selected portion of the layer of phase change material (PCM, 2) via contact with the receiving member (10) during the stamping. The heating thermally switches phase change material (PCM, 2) in the selected portion and thereby applies a pattern of different refractive indices to the layer of phase change material (PCM, 2).

A security element, e g. for an ID card (7) or passport, banknote, ticket, etc, comprises a plurality of superposed layers (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) and a security image or object (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) comprising a plurality of discrete security components, each said discrete security component constituting or providing a portion of the complete security image or object, which portion is less than the hole of the security image or object, wherein each said discrete security component is provided or formed on or within a respective one of the said plurality of superposed layers of the element (7). The layers can be laminated together. The components can be: a security rainbow hologram/DOVID (1); a tactile security feature (2); a 3D holographic optical element (3); an IR visible printing (4); an UV visible printing (5); a colour switch printing (6).