A method is disclosed which is performed by at least one first apparatus. In the method, information indicative of at least one characteristic of a franking is obtained. It is determined whether or not the franking is a counterfeit franking and/or a reused franking based on the obtained information or based on the obtained information and based on reference information indicative of at least one characteristic of a franking. The at least one characteristic includes at least one of a physical characteristic of the franking, a visual characteristic of an image provided on the franking, and/or a characteristic based on at least one material of the franking.

A method is disclosed which is performed by at least one first apparatus. In the method, information indicative of at least one characteristic of a franking is obtained. It is determined whether or not the franking is a counterfeit franking and/or a reused franking based on the obtained information or based on the obtained information and based on reference information indicative of at least one characteristic of a franking. The at least one characteristic includes at least one of a physical characteristic of the franking, a visual characteristic of an image provided on the franking, and/or a characteristic based on at least one material of the franking.

The disclosure relates to the technical field of secure identification document, specifically to a method for producing a secure identification document with a color portrait and a secure identification document thereof. The method comprises: etching identity information on the substrate of the data surface of document by laser, and the identity information comprises a black-and-white portrait and text information; printing a color portrait in a blank space of the substrate with color ink to obtain a personalized data surface, and the color portrait is an enlargement of the black-and-white portrait in equal proportion; and printing a transparent protective layer with a transparent varnish on the upper surface of the personalized data surface, wherein the protective layer covers the color portrait.

A security document is disclosed to include an image area provided on a front side of the document that includes image content, an information area provided on the front side that includes informational content, and a security feature including a pattern of perforations provided in an overlapping relationship with the image area and the information area so as to simultaneously bind and secure the image content with the informational content.

A security document is disclosed to include an image area provided on a front side of the document that includes image content, an information area provided on the front side that includes informational content, and a security feature including a pattern of perforations provided in an overlapping relationship with the image area and the information area so as to simultaneously bind and secure the image content with the informational content.

In order to increase the security of value or security documents 100, a multi-luminescent security element 400 is provided which contains at least one first luminescence means 510 and at least one second luminescence means 520. The first luminescence means 510 can be excited under first excitation conditions Sp-1 for the purpose of luminescence, and the second luminescence means 520 can be excited under second excitation conditions Sp-2 for the purpose of luminescence, said second excitation conditions Sp-2 differing from the first excitation conditions Sp-1. The multi-luminescent security element 400 is additionally equipped with at least one absorber means 600 which prevents an excitation of the at least one first luminescence means 510 under the second excitation conditions Sp-2 for the purpose of luminescence.

In order to increase the security of value or security documents 100, a multi-luminescent security element 400 is provided which contains at least one first luminescence means 510 and at least one second luminescence means 520. The first luminescence means 510 can be excited under first excitation conditions Sp-1 for the purpose of luminescence, and the second luminescence means 520 can be excited under second excitation conditions Sp-2 for the purpose of luminescence, said second excitation conditions Sp-2 differing from the first excitation conditions Sp-1. The multi-luminescent security element 400 is additionally equipped with at least one absorber means 600 which prevents an excitation of the at least one first luminescence means 510 under the second excitation conditions Sp-2 for the purpose of luminescence.

Security features used on identification documents such as plastic cards and passport pages are described. The security features include a textured portion that is formed on a portion of the surface of the identification document using a laser. The security features can also include a printed portion and/or a laser marked portion. The printed portion (if present) can be formed above or beneath the textured portion. The laser marked portion (if present) is formed within the thickness of the identification document below the textured portion. The textured portion and the printed portion and/or the laser marked portion can be in congruence with one another to form the security feature.

Security features used on identification documents such as plastic cards and passport pages are described. The security features include a textured portion that is formed on a portion of the surface of the identification document using a laser. The security features can also include a printed portion and/or a laser marked portion. The printed portion (if present) can be formed above or beneath the textured portion. The laser marked portion (if present) is formed within the thickness of the identification document below the textured portion. The textured portion and the printed portion and/or the laser marked portion can be in congruence with one another to form the security feature.

Aspects described herein may provide detection of a physical characteristic of a credential, thereby allowing for authentication of the credential. According to some aspects, these and other benefits may be achieved by detecting the physical characteristic with the credential. An image of a credential may be received. An optical characteristic of a secure feature of the credential may be determined. An expected optical characteristic of the secure feature may be determined based on known properties of the secure feature. A determination as to whether the credential is authentic may be based on a comparison of the determined optical characteristic of the secure feature to the expected optical characteristic of the secure feature.