A security feature, which is made up of a security device that is coupled to machine detectable indicia, is provided. The security feature may be used with a banknote, with the security feature serving to authenticate the banknote. Harvesting the security device will disturb the machine readable effect or signal generated by the machine detectable indicia, thereby allowing detection of the harvesting.

This disclosure includes a system and method for producing a back-lit color laser image, and an identity document using this method and back lighting system. The body of the identity document may be transparent. In various implementations, the light back-lights the color laser image which may be formed of sub-pixels partly covered by non-reflective surfaces in the protective layer. The light may enter through tiny holes in decorative patterns on the reverse side of the document. Various implementations may find particular applications for identity cards, credit cards, passports, driving licences, secure entry badges, etc.

This disclosure includes a system and method for producing a back-lit color laser image, and an identity document using this method and back lighting system. The body of the identity document may be transparent. In various implementations, the light back-lights the color laser image which may be formed of sub-pixels partly covered by non-reflective surfaces in the protective layer. The light may enter through tiny holes in decorative patterns on the reverse side of the document. Various implementations may find particular applications for identity cards, credit cards, passports, driving licences, secure entry badges, etc.

A printed game card, sheet or ticket set can incorporate multiple individual tickets separated by perforation, scoring or folds, for example. In various embodiments, the game card or sheet is printed with at least one playable game on each individual ticket, wherein the games can be instant win games with game indicia and one or more layers of varnish or rubber-based material that is removable to reveal the indicia. Each ticket on the game card, sheet or ticket set can include individual validation and/or activation indicia. The indicia can be human-readable and/or computer readable. Further, the entire game card, sheet or ticket set can include game or sheet activation indicia, such that when the entire sheet is sold, the entirety of individual game tickets can be activated simultaneously. When the individual game ticket validation codes are read, embodiments of the present invention can operate to individually assess whether the ticket is a winner, as well as whether the ticket has previously been redeemed.

A decorative element (2), in particular in the form of a transfer film, a laminating film or a security thread, as well as a security document with a decorative element and a method for producing same is described. The decorative element (2) has a microstructure (4) which generates an optical effect in incident light and/or with light passing through. In a first area (32), the microstructure (4) has a base surface (40) and several base elements (41) which have in each case an element surface raised or lowered compared with the base surface (40) and a flank arranged between the element surface and the base surface (40). The base surface (40) of the microstructure defines a base plane spanned by coordinate axes x and y. The element surfaces of the base elements (41) in each case run substantially parallel to the base plane. In at least one or more first zones of the first area (32), the element surfaces of the base elements (41) and the base surface (40) are spaced apart in a direction running perpendicular to the base plane (40) in the direction of a coordinate axis z by a first distance which is chosen such that a color is generated in the one or more first zones in particular by interference of the light reflected at the base surface and the element surfaces in incident light and/or in particular by interference of the light transmitted through the element surfaces and the base surfaces with light passing through.

A decorative element (2), in particular in the form of a transfer film, a laminating film or a security thread, as well as a security document with a decorative element and a method for producing same is described. The decorative element (2) has a microstructure (4) which generates an optical effect in incident light and/or with light passing through. In a first area (32), the microstructure (4) has a base surface (40) and several base elements (41) which have in each case an element surface raised or lowered compared with the base surface (40) and a flank arranged between the element surface and the base surface (40). The base surface (40) of the microstructure defines a base plane spanned by coordinate axes x and y. The element surfaces of the base elements (41) in each case run substantially parallel to the base plane. In at least one or more first zones of the first area (32), the element surfaces of the base elements (41) and the base surface (40) are spaced apart in a direction running perpendicular to the base plane (40) in the direction of a coordinate axis z by a first distance which is chosen such that a color is generated in the one or more first zones in particular by interference of the light reflected at the base surface and the element surfaces in incident light and/or in particular by interference of the light transmitted through the element surfaces and the base surfaces with light passing through.

The invention relates to a handling device for a valuable article that is usable as a means of payment and is of flat extent or punctiform. The handling device comprises a carrier element of flat extent that is foldable and bendable into a wave form and at least one valuable article fixed thereto. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a handling device for a valuable article.

Improvements in security substrates that are used in the production of security documents are provided. The security substrate includes a base substrate having a plurality of openings extending through a thickness of the base substrate. The plurality of openings define a frame of the base substrate with an island of the base substrate lying within the frame. The island is connected to the frame by a plurality of spurs formed from the base substrate, with the spurs being spaced around a periphery of the island and being separated by the plurality of openings. The frame has an inner periphery, where at least 50% of the inner periphery lies adjacent to the plurality of openings.

Improvements in security substrates that are used in the production of security documents are provided. The security substrate includes a base substrate having a plurality of openings extending through a thickness of the base substrate. The plurality of openings define a frame of the base substrate with an island of the base substrate lying within the frame. The island is connected to the frame by a plurality of spurs formed from the base substrate, with the spurs being spaced around a periphery of the island and being separated by the plurality of openings. The frame has an inner periphery, where at least 50% of the inner periphery lies adjacent to the plurality of openings.

A sheet material having a security device applied over a paper machine made or soft-edged through-hole and a method for preparing such a sheet material is provided. By way of the inventive method, the through-hole(s) is formed in a forming fibrous web before it becomes sufficiently consolidated and then the security device is applied onto the fibrous web and preferably over the through-hole(s) at or near a couch roll or similar tool of a paper machine when the fibrous web constitutes a sufficiently consolidated, fully formed wet web. Applying the security device and then further consolidating the region underlying the device at this stage of paper manufacture when the fibers would not be displaced, greatly reduces (if not eliminates) the possibility of the through-hole(s) becoming occluded or blocked. Moreover, papers made in accordance with the inventive method, when subjected to the Circulation Simulation Test, showed minimal damage at the paper/security device interface. Further, the surface-applied security devices showed acceptable levels of intaglio ink adhesion, and the papers had higher cross-direction (CD) tensile strength and much less show-through on opposing sides thereof.