A security document (200) includes a secure substrate (205). The secure substrate includes a viewing side (209) and a backing side (211), and a micro-optic system (305, 321) providing an optically variable effect (OVE) (513) on the viewing side. The security document further includes a protective layer (225), and a mask layer (215) disposed between the protective layer and the backing side of the secure substrate.

A security document (200) includes a secure substrate (205). The secure substrate includes a viewing side (209) and a backing side (211), and a micro-optic system (305, 321) providing an optically variable effect (OVE) (513) on the viewing side. The security document further includes a protective layer (225), and a mask layer (215) disposed between the protective layer and the backing side of the secure substrate.

Disclosed are an optical anti-counterfeiting element and an optical anti-counterfeiting product. The optical anti-counterfeiting element includes: a substrate, wherein the substrate includes a first surface and a second surface opposite each other; a micrographic layer formed on the second surface of the substrate, wherein the micrographic layer includes a micro-graphic-text region showing a preset graphic-text information and a background region, at least part of the micro-graphic-text region or the background region is covered with a small reflection surface, and the small reflection surface is covered with a color modulation structure; and a sampling layer formed on the first surface of the substrate, wherein the sampling layer is configured for sampling the micro-graphic-text layer and composing, with sampled graphics, the preset graphic-text information of a preset color showing a moire magnification effect. A colored anti-counterfeiting feature with a color varying effect showing a moire magnification effect can be generated without coloring.

A substrate is printed with front side and back side markings in a first color ink. The front side when viewed with reflected light includes a first marking printed in a first saturation and a first symbol printed in the first saturation. The back side when viewed with reflected light includes: a second marking printed in a second saturation; a second symbol printed in the second saturation; a third marking printed in the first saturation; and a third symbol printed in the first saturation. The first marking, the second marking, and the third marking are printed to provide an interlocking pattern of low saturation color and high saturation color when viewed with transmitted light. The second symbol is visible, and the first symbol and the second symbol are not distinguishably visible, when viewed with transmitted light.

A security element for manufacturing value documents has a structure including first and second motifs which change their appearance when the security element is tilted over a tilting angle range. The structure has first micro-elements, which are arranged with a first pattern and a first motif, and second micro-elements, which are arranged with a second pattern and a second motif. The first and second patterns are nested within each other on an areal region of the security element and have different visual appearances according to the tilting of the securing element.

A method of inspecting a substantially transparent light control layer for an optically variable security device and a corresponding inspection apparatus, the substantially transparent light control layer including a surface relief defined by an array of substantially transparent refractive microstructures. The method includes: directing a beam of substantially collimated light towards a first region that is expected to contain the surface relief of the light control layer so as to generate an inspection light pattern; providing reference data that is indicative of a light control layer that meets a predetermined quality threshold; comparing the inspection light pattern with the reference data; and determining whether the light control layer meets the predetermined quality threshold based on the comparison.

A micro-optic device, including: a substrate; a plurality of image elements; and a plurality of focusing elements, each focusing element focuses light towards, or causes light to be diverged from or constructively interfere at a real or imaginary focal point, the focusing elements causing the image elements to be sampled so as to project imagery which is observable to a user from at least a first viewing angle, wherein a first focusing structure including at least a first group of the focusing elements and a first imagery structure including at least a first group of the image elements are integrated into a first unitary structure on a first side of the substrate.

A micro-optic device, including: a substrate; a plurality of image elements; and a plurality of focusing elements, each focusing element focuses light towards, or causes light to be diverged from or constructively interfere at a real or imaginary focal point, the focusing elements causing the image elements to be sampled so as to project imagery which is observable to a user from at least a first viewing angle, wherein a first focusing structure including at least a first group of the focusing elements and a first imagery structure including at least a first group of the image elements are integrated into a first unitary structure on a first side of the substrate.

The present invention relates to an optically variable security element for securing valuable articles, having a substrate having opposing first and second main surfaces and, arranged on the first main surface, an optically variable pattern that comprises an embossing pattern and a coating. The coating comprises at least one imprinted line grid and a background layer that contrasts with the line grid. The embossing pattern comprises a two-dimensional grid of elevated and/or depressed embossing elements. Both are combined in such a way that substantially on every embossing element lies at least one line segment of a line in the line grid, and at least one of the parameters position of the line segment on the embossing element, orientation of the line segment on the embossing element and form of the line segment varies location dependently across the dimension of the optically variable pattern. Due to the line grid, a movement effect, especially a pump or rotation effect, is created when the security element is tilted.

The present invention relates to an optically variable security element for securing valuable articles, having a substrate having opposing first and second main surfaces and, arranged on the first main surface, an optically variable pattern that comprises an embossing pattern and a coating. The coating comprises at least one imprinted line grid and a background layer that contrasts with the line grid. The embossing pattern comprises a two-dimensional grid of elevated and/or depressed embossing elements. Both are combined in such a way that substantially on every embossing element lies at least one line segment of a line in the line grid, and at least one of the parameters position of the line segment on the embossing element, orientation of the line segment on the embossing element and form of the line segment varies location dependently across the dimension of the optically variable pattern. Due to the line grid, a movement effect, especially a pump or rotation effect, is created when the security element is tilted.