A display technique capable of displaying special images. A display includes an image display layer and a mask layer. The image display layer includes one or more colored portions, and displays a transmitted light image corresponding to the one or more colored portions when illuminated with white light. The mask layer includes a transparent material layer having a first major surface and a second major surface, and the first major surface includes one or more regions each composed of first and second strip-shaped parts alternately arranged in a width direction. The second strip-shaped parts are provided with a relief structure. A portion of the mask layer corresponding to at least one of the one or more regions conceals a portion of the transmitted light image corresponding to the second strip-shaped parts.

A display technique capable of displaying special images. A display includes an image display layer and a mask layer. The image display layer includes one or more colored portions, and displays a transmitted light image corresponding to the one or more colored portions when illuminated with white light. The mask layer includes a transparent material layer having a first major surface and a second major surface, and the first major surface includes one or more regions each composed of first and second strip-shaped parts alternately arranged in a width direction. The second strip-shaped parts are provided with a relief structure. A portion of the mask layer corresponding to at least one of the one or more regions conceals a portion of the transmitted light image corresponding to the second strip-shaped parts.

A micro-optic security device (105) includes a planar array of microlenses (305), which are configured to focus light along a plurality of focal paths (610) associated with a viewing angle. The micro-optic security device further includes an icon layer stack (905) disposed along the plurality of focal paths. The icon layer stack includes a first icon layer (620) with volumes of cured material of a first color (613b) and volumes of substantially transparent material at locations outside of focal paths of the first range of viewing angles. The icon layer stack also includes a second icon layer (640) with volumes of substantially transparent cured material at locations along focal paths of the first range of viewing angles, and volumes of cured material of a second color (637a) at locations along focal paths of a second range of viewing angles.

A micro-optic security device (105) includes a planar array of microlenses (305), which are configured to focus light along a plurality of focal paths (610) associated with a viewing angle. The micro-optic security device further includes an icon layer stack (905) disposed along the plurality of focal paths. The icon layer stack includes a first icon layer (620) with volumes of cured material of a first color (613b) and volumes of substantially transparent material at locations outside of focal paths of the first range of viewing angles. The icon layer stack also includes a second icon layer (640) with volumes of substantially transparent cured material at locations along focal paths of the first range of viewing angles, and volumes of cured material of a second color (637a) at locations along focal paths of a second range of viewing angles.

A moiré image processing device is provided, including a light-transmitting film, a light sensor, and an image processor. The light-transmitting film includes a plurality of microlenses, and a light-incident surface and a light-exit surface, where the microlenses are disposed on the light-incident surface, the light-exit surface, or a combination thereof according to a distribution pattern. The light sensor includes a photosensitive surface, where the photosensitive surface faces the light-exit surface, there are a plurality of pixels on the photosensitive surface, and the pixels sense the microlenses to obtain a photosensitive image corresponding to the distribution pattern. The image processor is coupled to the light sensor, where the image processor performs, according to a virtual image and the photosensitive image, image processing of simulating a moiré effect to generate a moiré image, where the virtual image corresponds to the distribution pattern and is similar to the photosensitive image.

A laminate of the present invention includes, in a thickness direction of the laminate, a transfer foil in which at least a patch substrate, a relief forming layer, a reflective layer, and an adhesive layer are sequentially laminated, a protective sheet that is provided on a first side of the transfer foil in the thickness direction, and an information recording sheet that is provided on a second side of the transfer foil facing away from the protective sheet in the thickness direction.

A laminate of the present invention includes, in a thickness direction of the laminate, a transfer foil in which at least a patch substrate, a relief forming layer, a reflective layer, and an adhesive layer are sequentially laminated, a protective sheet that is provided on a first side of the transfer foil in the thickness direction, and an information recording sheet that is provided on a second side of the transfer foil facing away from the protective sheet in the thickness direction.

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).

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).