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 color secure identification document and a color 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 image and text information; printing a color image on the black-and-white image with color ink so that the color image and the black-and-white image are aligned and coincide with each other to form a personalized data surface; and printing a transparent protective layer on the upper surface of the personalized data surface with a transparent varnish, wherein the protective layer covers the color image.

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 diffraction grating display body includes: a plurality of cell sets each having a plurality of cell groups in which cells R, G, and B corresponding to red, green, and blue, respectively, in each pixel in a piece of color gradation image data, are arranged in a predetermined order, wherein the cells in the cell groups in at least one cell set among the plurality of cell sets have diffraction gratings with mutually different spatial frequencies and the same grating angle, the cell groups included in at least one cell set among the plurality of cell sets have diffraction gratings with mutually different grating angles among the cell groups, and each of the cells R, G, and B included in at least one cell set among the plurality of cell sets have a predetermined cell area so that the display body with a wide observation area is obtained.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of deriving information from an optically readable security element, the method comprising: optically reading the optically readable security element, the optically readable security element comprising one or more optically readable structures, optically readable in response to excitation of the one or more optically readable structures, the one or more optically readable structures being arranged to interact with one or more proximal structures of the optically readable security element, the interaction being such that an excitation-emission relationship for the one or more optically readable structures interacting with the one or more proximal structures, is different to an excitation-emission relationship for the one or more optically readable structures and the one or more proximal structures in isolation; the reading comprising: determining data indicative of an optical property of the optically readable security element using first emission electromagnetic radiation, emitted in response to first excitation of the one or more optically readable structures; and deriving the information from the determined data.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of deriving information from an optically readable security element, the method comprising: optically reading the optically readable security element, the optically readable security element comprising one or more optically readable structures, optically readable in response to excitation of the one or more optically readable structures, the one or more optically readable structures being arranged to interact with one or more proximal structures of the optically readable security element, the interaction being such that an excitation-emission relationship for the one or more optically readable structures interacting with the one or more proximal structures, is different to an excitation-emission relationship for the one or more optically readable structures and the one or more proximal structures in isolation; the reading comprising: determining data indicative of an optical property of the optically readable security element using first emission electromagnetic radiation, emitted in response to first excitation of the one or more optically readable structures; and deriving the information from the determined data.

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 in two or more orientations. A first image of a credential in a first orientation and a second image of the credential in a second orientation may be received. An optical characteristic of a secure feature of the credential may be determined based on light reflected from the secure feature in both the first image and the second image. 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 how a comparison of the determined optical characteristic of the secure feature to the expected optical characteristic of the secure 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 in two or more orientations. A first image of a credential in a first orientation and a second image of the credential in a second orientation may be received. An optical characteristic of a secure feature of the credential may be determined based on light reflected from the secure feature in both the first image and the second image. 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 how a comparison of the determined optical characteristic of the secure feature to the expected optical characteristic of the secure feature.

A system and methods directed to the authentication/verification of identification and other documents. Such documents may include identity cards, driver's licenses, passports, documents being used to show a proof of registration or certification, voter ballots, data entry forms, etc. The authentication or verification process may be performed for purposes of control of access to information, control of access to and/or use of a venue, a method of transport, or a service, for assistance in performing a security function, to establish eligibility for and enable provision of a government provided service or benefit, etc. The authentication or verification process may also or instead be performed for purposes of verifying a document itself as authentic so that the information it contains can confidently be assumed to be accurate and reliable.

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.