Techniques are described in which articles (e.g., security documents, traffic signage and personal protective equipment) are formed to include an infrared absorptive material. In some instances, the infrared absorptive material includes a reduced tungsten oxide, such as cesium tungsten oxide, calcium tungsten oxide, potassium tungsten oxide, or the like, and exposed to radiation such that one or more regions of the security document has a modified appearance, thereby providing a visual marking or information on the article. Example articles include at least one layer including a polymer and an infrared absorptive material including a reduced tungsten oxide. The layer includes a radiation-treated region that exhibits a first appearance under visible light and at least one non-radiation-treated region that exhibits a second, different appearance under visible light. The at least one radiation-treated region may be formed by exposing the at least one radiation-treated region to infrared light to change at least one property of the reduced tungsten oxide in the radiation-treated region compared to the reduced tungsten oxide in the non-radiation-treated region. The first appearance may be whiter than the second appearance.

Techniques are described in which articles (e.g., security documents, traffic signage and personal protective equipment) are formed to include an infrared absorptive material. In some instances, the infrared absorptive material includes a reduced tungsten oxide, such as cesium tungsten oxide, calcium tungsten oxide, potassium tungsten oxide, or the like, and exposed to radiation such that one or more regions of the security document has a modified appearance, thereby providing a visual marking or information on the article. Example articles include at least one layer including a polymer and an infrared absorptive material including a reduced tungsten oxide. The layer includes a radiation-treated region that exhibits a first appearance under visible light and at least one non-radiation-treated region that exhibits a second, different appearance under visible light. The at least one radiation-treated region may be formed by exposing the at least one radiation-treated region to infrared light to change at least one property of the reduced tungsten oxide in the radiation-treated region compared to the reduced tungsten oxide in the non-radiation-treated region. The first appearance may be whiter than the second appearance.

A method for manufacturing a value document includes: providing a value document substrate; printing the value document substrate with magnetically orientable effect pigments which are dispersed in a UV-curable lacquer; the step of exposing the lacquer containing the magnetically orientable effect pigments to a dynamic magnetic field; the step of irradiating the lacquer containing the effect pigments with UV radiation; and optionally the step of embossing the cured or at least partially cured UV lacquer.

A method for manufacturing a value document includes: providing a value document substrate; printing the value document substrate with magnetically orientable effect pigments which are dispersed in a UV-curable lacquer; the step of exposing the lacquer containing the magnetically orientable effect pigments to a dynamic magnetic field; the step of irradiating the lacquer containing the effect pigments with UV radiation; and optionally the step of embossing the cured or at least partially cured UV lacquer.

An optical effect device (300) comprising: a substrate (302) having a first surface (304) and a second surface (306); a plurality of structures (308) arranged on the first surface (304), each structure (308) having a first facet (310) and a second facet (314), the first facet (310) of each structure (308) being substantially parallel to the first surface (304) of the substrate (302), the second facet (314) of each structure (308) defining a slope with respect to the first surface (304), and the first facets (310) of the plurality of structures (308) forming a first facet set. The first facet set defines a first optical effect when the optical effect device (300) is viewed from a first viewing angle range

A flat security element with optical security features includes at least one first surface region with a first sub-wavelength structure. The structure elements that define the first sub-wavelength structure periodically repeat in the plane of the security element. In order to be able to convey a motif with increased forgery protection using at least two different color impressions, which motif is easy to produce, the first sub-wavelength structure of at least one partial region of the first surface region is additionally provided with an interference coating for producing a color-shifting effect.

A flat security element with optical security features includes at least one first surface region with a first sub-wavelength structure. The structure elements that define the first sub-wavelength structure periodically repeat in the plane of the security element. In order to be able to convey a motif with increased forgery protection using at least two different color impressions, which motif is easy to produce, the first sub-wavelength structure of at least one partial region of the first surface region is additionally provided with an interference coating for producing a color-shifting effect.

A method for producing security elements, security elements, a security document with at least one security element as well as a transfer film with at least one security element, wherein a three-dimensional object is recorded and a surface profile of the three-dimensional object, described by a function F(x,y), is determined, wherein the function F(x,y) describes the distance between the surface profile and a two-dimensional reference surface spanned by co-ordinate axes x and y at the co-ordinate points x and y. A first microstructure is determined in such a way that the structure height of the first microstructure is limited to a predetermined value smaller than the maximum distance between the surface profile and the two-dimensional reference surface, and the first microstructure provides an observer with a first optical perception which corresponds to the surface profile of the three-dimensional object described by the function F(x,y).

The present invention relates in particular to a security element (1) for a valuable document, which comprises an array (R) of at least two contiguous or adjacent lines (2, 2′, 2″), at least one of these lines (2) being raised and having two opposing and at least partially inclined sides (20, 21) that each originate along one of the longitudinal and opposing edges (200, 210) of the line (2), characterised by the fact that the two opposing inclined flanks (20, 21) meet at a single, uninterrupted, sinuous junction area (22), that extends in the longitudinal direction of the line (2), the sides (20, 21) having no discontinuities or interruptions at least in the longitudinal direction.

The present invention relates in particular to a security element (1) for a valuable document, which comprises an array (R) of at least two contiguous or adjacent lines (2, 2′, 2″), at least one of these lines (2) being raised and having two opposing and at least partially inclined sides (20, 21) that each originate along one of the longitudinal and opposing edges (200, 210) of the line (2), characterised by the fact that the two opposing inclined flanks (20, 21) meet at a single, uninterrupted, sinuous junction area (22), that extends in the longitudinal direction of the line (2), the sides (20, 21) having no discontinuities or interruptions at least in the longitudinal direction.