A method of manufacturing a security device including: conveying a substrate web including a photosensitive film along a transport path; exposing the photosensitive film to radiation of a predetermined wavelength through a mask, wherein the mask includes a predetermined pattern of regions which are substantially opaque to radiation of the predetermined wavelength and at least semi-transparent to radiation of the predetermined wavelength, respectively; during the exposure, moving the mask alongside the substrate web along at least a portion of the transport path at substantially the same speed as the substrate web, such that there is substantially no relative movement between the mask and the substrate web; and heating the substrate web including the exposed photosensitive film. In this way, regions of the photosensitive film exposed to the radiation of the predetermined wavelength undergo an increase in optical density such that the photosensitive film displays a reproduction of the predetermined pattern.

The invention relates to a security element (1). The security element (1) has a viewing side and a back side that is opposite the latter. The security element comprises at least one luminous layer (2) that can provide light (20), and at least one mask layer (4) that, when the security element (1) is viewed from the viewing side, is arranged in front of the at least one luminous layer (2). The at least one mask layer (4) has at least one opaque region (5) and at least two transparent openings (41, 42). The at least two transparent openings (41, 42) has a substantially higher transmittance than the at least one opaque region (5) in respect of light (20) provided by the at least one luminous layer (2), preferably a transmittance that is at least 20% higher, particularly preferably a transmittance that is at least 50% higher.

The invention relates to a security element (1). The security element (1) has a viewing side and a back side that is opposite the latter. The security element comprises at least one luminous layer (2) that can provide light (20), and at least one mask layer (4) that, when the security element (1) is viewed from the viewing side, is arranged in front of the at least one luminous layer (2). The at least one mask layer (4) has at least one opaque region (5) and at least two transparent openings (41, 42). The at least two transparent openings (41, 42) has a substantially higher transmittance than the at least one opaque region (5) in respect of light (20) provided by the at least one luminous layer (2), preferably a transmittance that is at least 20% higher, particularly preferably a transmittance that is at least 50% higher.

A security document and a method of forming a security document are disclosed. The method comprises: (a) providing a security document substrate having a security article integrated within or attached thereto, the security article being exposed within an aperture region in the security document substrate, the security article comprising a first optical effect layer that is visible within the aperture region, and; (b) applying, in said aperture region within which the security article is exposed, an array of substantially transparent refractive structures on the exposed security article, wherein the array of refractive structures cooperates with the first optical effect layer to exhibit a first optically variable effect.

A security document and a method of forming a security document are disclosed. The method comprises: (a) providing a security document substrate having a security article integrated within or attached thereto, the security article being exposed within an aperture region in the security document substrate, the security article comprising a first optical effect layer that is visible within the aperture region, and; (b) applying, in said aperture region within which the security article is exposed, an array of substantially transparent refractive structures on the exposed security article, wherein the array of refractive structures cooperates with the first optical effect layer to exhibit a first optically variable effect.

A security device including an array of lines printed or otherwise provided on a substrate, the lines including materials which have the same appearance under visible light illumination but which appear different from each other in the visible under a combination of visible and non-visible, ultraviolet illumination. At least some of the lines in the array appear different from other lines under the combination of visible and non-visible, ultraviolet illumination. A second, surface relief array of lines imposed on the first array, the orientation, line widths and spacings of the first and second arrays being such that the device exhibits a variable appearance as it is tilted while exposed to the combination of visible and non-visible illumination.

A security device including an array of lines printed or otherwise provided on a substrate, the lines including materials which have the same appearance under visible light illumination but which appear different from each other in the visible under a combination of visible and non-visible, ultraviolet illumination. At least some of the lines in the array appear different from other lines under the combination of visible and non-visible, ultraviolet illumination. A second, surface relief array of lines imposed on the first array, the orientation, line widths and spacings of the first and second arrays being such that the device exhibits a variable appearance as it is tilted while exposed to the combination of visible and non-visible illumination.

A secure lens sheet or layer suitable for use in a micro-optic system, which is made up of a plurality of joined fine lens arrays (e.g., joined fine lenticular and/or joined fine non-cylindrical lens arrays), is provided. Each array has a lens pitch different from adjacent or contiguous arrays and/or is orientated in a direction different from adjacent or contiguous arrays. A micro-optic security device, which utilizes the inventive secure lens sheet and one or more overlying or underlying arrangements of micro-sized image icons (e.g., line data), is also provided. The image icon arrangement(s) and the secure lens layer are configured such that one or more synthetic images are projected by the security device. These projected images may show a number of different optical effects. With such a combination lens layer, some regions could be optically active when the device is tilted in one direction, some could be active when tilted in the opposite direction, and some areas could be active when the device is tilted in either (or any) direction. The inventive micro-optic security device may be partially embedded in and/or mounted on a surface of a security article (e.g., paper or polymer security document, label, card), or integrated therein.

A secure lens sheet or layer suitable for use in a micro-optic system, which is made up of a plurality of joined fine lens arrays (e.g., joined fine lenticular and/or joined fine non-cylindrical lens arrays), is provided. Each array has a lens pitch different from adjacent or contiguous arrays and/or is orientated in a direction different from adjacent or contiguous arrays. A micro-optic security device, which utilizes the inventive secure lens sheet and one or more overlying or underlying arrangements of micro-sized image icons (e.g., line data), is also provided. The image icon arrangement(s) and the secure lens layer are configured such that one or more synthetic images are projected by the security device. These projected images may show a number of different optical effects. With such a combination lens layer, some regions could be optically active when the device is tilted in one direction, some could be active when tilted in the opposite direction, and some areas could be active when the device is tilted in either (or any) direction. The inventive micro-optic security device may be partially embedded in and/or mounted on a surface of a security article (e.g., paper or polymer security document, label, card), or integrated therein.

A method and security device, including: a semi-transparent layer exhibiting a first pattern of regions having high optical density and/or raised surface profile relative to layer intervening regions; and a color layer exhibiting a second pattern of elements of at least one color. First and second patterns partially overlap and are configured so the device, appearance varies at different viewing angles. First pattern has color layer following the contours of raised regions. Security device includes: a photosensitive film exhibiting pattern of regions of relatively high and low optical density, the pattern arising from photosensitive film exposure to radiation of a responsive predetermined wavelength from the photosensitive film; and a color layer overlapping the pattern exhibited by photosensitive film, which exhibits increase in optical density upon radiation exposure of a predetermined wavelength and concurrent or subsequent heating. Increases in optical density being due to the bubbles formation within the photosensitive film.