There is described the use of a transparent film comprising a non-fibrous substrate layer of regenerated cellulose in the manufacture of a security article exhibiting printed information, wherein said transparent film is the material on which printed information and optionally one or more other security feature(s) is disposed, and wherein said transparent film exhibits one or more, and preferably all, of the following properties: haze of no more than 10%, preferably no more than 5%, preferably no more than 4%, preferably no more than 2.5%; birefringence of from about 400 to about 800 nm; a surface energy of at least about 38 dynes, preferably at least about 40 dynes, preferably at least about 42 dynes, and preferably no more than from about 60 dynes; and a water vapour permeability in the range of from about 20 to about 40, preferably from about 25 to about 35, preferably from about 28 to about 32 g/m.sup.2/24 hours at 25° C. and 75% relative humidity, and/or in the range of from about 110 to about 130, preferably from about 115 to about 125, preferably from about 118 to about 122 g/m.sup.2/24 hours at 38° C. and 90% relative humidity.

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.

An authentication method includes receiving, at a processor, a signal representing an image of a serialization code and multiple flecks of a label, the flecks having a random distribution. The processor detects the serialization code and applies a modification to the image to produce a modified image. A subset of flecks of the modified image is detected, and metrics associated with each fleck from the subset of flecks are identified. The identified metrics are compared with metrics associated with a unique signature, and a message is displayed, via a user interface, indicating an authenticity of the label based on the comparison.

An authentication method includes receiving, at a processor, a signal representing an image of a serialization code and multiple flecks of a label, the flecks having a random distribution. The processor detects the serialization code and applies a modification to the image to produce a modified image. A subset of flecks of the modified image is detected, and metrics associated with each fleck from the subset of flecks are identified. The identified metrics are compared with metrics associated with a unique signature, and a message is displayed, via a user interface, indicating an authenticity of the label based on the comparison.

A method of manufacturing a document of a series identical documents in content except for a respective identifier which identifies each document within the series, each identifier having at least a first indicium, the or each indicium defining a boundary; the method having the steps of: providing a substrate; applying a first background print, defining part of the boundary of an indicium receiving area; applying the respective identifier on the substrate, such that the first indicium is provided in the indicium receiving area; the first background print and the respective identifier being applied such that when the document is viewed in at least one of transmission and reflection the juxtaposition of the first background print and the first indicium is such that a keyline extending around a portion of the boundary of the first indicium is defined between the first indicium and the boundary of the indicium receiving area.

A method of manufacturing a document of a series identical documents in content except for a respective identifier which identifies each document within the series, each identifier having at least a first indicium, the or each indicium defining a boundary; the method having the steps of: providing a substrate; applying a first background print, defining part of the boundary of an indicium receiving area; applying the respective identifier on the substrate, such that the first indicium is provided in the indicium receiving area; the first background print and the respective identifier being applied such that when the document is viewed in at least one of transmission and reflection the juxtaposition of the first background print and the first indicium is such that a keyline extending around a portion of the boundary of the first indicium is defined between the first indicium and the boundary of the indicium receiving area.

An authentication method includes receiving, at a processor, a signal representing an image of a serialization code and multiple flecks of a label, the flecks having a random distribution. The processor detects the serialization code and applies a modification to the image to produce a modified image. A subset of flecks of the modified image is detected, and metrics associated with each fleck from the subset of flecks are identified. The identified metrics are compared with metrics associated with a unique signature, and a message is displayed, via a user interface, indicating an authenticity of the label based on the comparison.

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.