According to one example, there is provided a visual security feature. The visual security feature comprises a security feature printed on a media. The security feature includes a security code printed on the media, and a holographic image is embossed on the printed security feature.

An improved form of optical security device for use in the protection of documents and articles of value from counterfeit and to verify authenticity is provided. The inventive device, which is made up of an optionally embedded array of icon focusing elements, at least one grayscale in-plane image, and a plurality of coextensive control patterns of icons contained on or within the in-plane image, each control pattern being mapped to areas of the grayscale in-plane image having a range of grayscale levels, provides enhanced design capability, improved visual impact, and greater resistance to manufacturing variations.

An improved form of optical security device for use in the protection of documents and articles of value from counterfeit and to verify authenticity is provided. The inventive device, which is made up of an optionally embedded array of icon focusing elements, at least one grayscale in-plane image, and a plurality of coextensive control patterns of icons contained on or within the in-plane image, each control pattern being mapped to areas of the grayscale in-plane image having a range of grayscale levels, provides enhanced design capability, improved visual impact, and greater resistance to manufacturing variations.

The invention relates to a marking composition, by means of which better protection of goods than hitherto available can be achieved independently of the coloring of the goods. The marking composition comprises an infrared-absorbing particulate component and carbon derivative, wherein the weight ratio of infrared-absorbing component to carbon derivative is in the range of approx.. 10:1 to approx.. 10,000:1.

The invention relates to a marking composition, by means of which better protection of goods than hitherto available can be achieved independently of the coloring of the goods. The marking composition comprises an infrared-absorbing particulate component and carbon derivative, wherein the weight ratio of infrared-absorbing component to carbon derivative is in the range of approx.. 10:1 to approx.. 10,000:1.

A method of producing a security device (60) is disclosed. The method comprises inkjet printing a liquid crystal material onto a first region (61) of a substrate and ink jet printing the same liquid crystal material onto a second region (62) of the substrate. The volume of the liquid crystal material printed per unit area of the substrate in the first region of the substrate is different to the volume of the liquid crystal material printed per unit area of the substrate in the second region of the substrate such that the wavelength of the peak reflectance of the liquid crystal material on the first region is different to the wavelength of the peak reflectance of the liquid crystal material on the second region.

A method of producing a security device (60) is disclosed. The method comprises inkjet printing a liquid crystal material onto a first region (61) of a substrate and ink jet printing the same liquid crystal material onto a second region (62) of the substrate. The volume of the liquid crystal material printed per unit area of the substrate in the first region of the substrate is different to the volume of the liquid crystal material printed per unit area of the substrate in the second region of the substrate such that the wavelength of the peak reflectance of the liquid crystal material on the first region is different to the wavelength of the peak reflectance of the liquid crystal material on the second region.

The invention relates to a security element (1), a security document (2) with at least one security element (1), a transfer foil (3) with at least one security element (1) as well as a method for producing a security element (1), wherein the security element has at least one layer (11) that is electrically alterable in its optical effect. It is here provided that the at least one layer (11) that is electrically alterable in its optical effect has liquid crystals (12) that can be oriented in an electric field, wherein the at least one layer (11) that is electrically alterable in its optical effect has rod-shaped dye molecules (13), and the orientations of the longitudinal axes (14) of the rod-shaped dye molecules (13) are alterable depending on the orientations of the longitudinal axes (16) of the spatially adjacent liquid crystals (12) that can be oriented in the electric field, and/or wherein the liquid crystals (12) that can be oriented in the electric field are formed in such a way that the liquid crystals (12) that can be oriented in the electric field simultaneously act as dye molecules.

The invention relates to a security element (1), a security document (2) with at least one security element (1), a transfer foil (3) with at least one security element (1) as well as a method for producing a security element (1), wherein the security element has at least one layer (11) that is electrically alterable in its optical effect. It is here provided that the at least one layer (11) that is electrically alterable in its optical effect has liquid crystals (12) that can be oriented in an electric field, wherein the at least one layer (11) that is electrically alterable in its optical effect has rod-shaped dye molecules (13), and the orientations of the longitudinal axes (14) of the rod-shaped dye molecules (13) are alterable depending on the orientations of the longitudinal axes (16) of the spatially adjacent liquid crystals (12) that can be oriented in the electric field, and/or wherein the liquid crystals (12) that can be oriented in the electric field are formed in such a way that the liquid crystals (12) that can be oriented in the electric field simultaneously act as dye molecules.

A card manufacturing system includes a locating device and a separation device. The locating device is configured to identify a position of one or more information carrying cards formed integrally with a laminate sheet and generate information corresponding to the position of the one or more information carrying cards. The separation device includes at least one singulation mechanism configured to separate each of the one or more information carrying cards from the laminate sheet. The singulation mechanism separates the one or more information cards based on the information corresponding to the position of the one or more information carrying cards.