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 novelty communication object, such as a sign or printed object (book, brochure, greeting card or the like), and method of making, wherein at least one page, surface or sheet of the object has not only directly visible images, but also a plurality of cut-outs or other portions at least partially transparent or optically reactive to light, which can become visible when a user shines an illumination source such as a flashlight at the page and projects an image of the transparent or optically reactive portions onto a neighboring wall or other surface, or backlights the transparent or optically reactive portions for direct viewing. The plurality of transparent or optically reactive areas are preferably selected so that the illuminated image has a different visual appearance than the directly visible image, thereby enhancing the overall narrative content of the communication object.

A novelty communication object, such as a sign or printed object (book, brochure, greeting card or the like), and method of making, wherein at least one page, surface or sheet of the object has not only directly visible images, but also a plurality of cut-outs or other portions at least partially transparent or optically reactive to light, which can become visible when a user shines an illumination source such as a flashlight at the page and projects an image of the transparent or optically reactive portions onto a neighboring wall or other surface, or backlights the transparent or optically reactive portions for direct viewing. The plurality of transparent or optically reactive areas are preferably selected so that the illuminated image has a different visual appearance than the directly visible image, thereby enhancing the overall narrative content of the communication object.

The present invention relates to a method and product resulting from application distortion security images in an anti-copy document, printed on demand, which may be variable and use laser printers or printer/copiers and/or ink-jet printers and/or digital presses.

The present invention relates to a method and product resulting from application distortion security images in an anti-copy document, printed on demand, which may be variable and use laser printers or printer/copiers and/or ink-jet printers and/or digital presses.

The invention relates to the field of the protection of security documents such as for example banknotes and identity documents against counterfeit and illegal reproduction. In particular, the invention relates to optical effect layers (OEL) showing a viewing-angle dependent optical effect, devices and processes for producing said OEL and items carrying said OEL, as well as uses of said optical effect layers as an anti-counterfeit means on documents. The OEL comprises a plurality of non-spherical magnetic or magnetizable particles, which are dispersed in a coating composition comprising a binder material, wherein in at least a loop-shaped area of the OEL at least a part of the plurality of non-spherical magnetic or magnetizable particles are oriented such that their longest axis is substantially parallel to the plane of the OEL, and wherein, in a cross-section perpendicular to the OEL and extending from the center of the central area, the longest axis of the oriented particles present in the loop-shaped area forming the impression of the loop-shaped body follow a tangent of either a negatively curved or a positively curved part of a hypothetical ellipse or circle.

The invention relates to the field of the protection of security documents such as for example banknotes and identity documents against counterfeit and illegal reproduction. In particular, the invention relates to optical effect layers (OEL) showing a viewing-angle dependent optical effect, devices and processes for producing said OEL and items carrying said OEL, as well as uses of said optical effect layers as an anti-counterfeit means on documents. The OEL comprises a plurality of non-spherical magnetic or magnetizable particles, which are dispersed in a coating composition comprising a binder material, wherein in at least a loop-shaped area of the OEL at least a part of the plurality of non-spherical magnetic or magnetizable particles are oriented such that their longest axis is substantially parallel to the plane of the OEL, and wherein, in a cross-section perpendicular to the OEL and extending from the center of the central area, the longest axis of the oriented particles present in the loop-shaped area forming the impression of the loop-shaped body follow a tangent of either a negatively curved or a positively curved part of a hypothetical ellipse or circle.

A billboard or other large display for displaying information has a billboard frame, an artwork layer, and either a plurality of columns of LED light plates or vertical strips of LED lights. The LED plates are small backlight panels formed in an array covering large areas suitable for standard billboards. The LED plates are secured to one another to hang from the billboard frame in separate columns. The columns are situated between the artwork layer and the billboard frame to provide a backlight for the artwork layer. The artwork layer can include two or more layers such that different artwork is displayed depending on the ambient lighting conditions as well as the backlight operation. The LEDs are preferably controlled by a controller to provide desired backlight conditions as well as to display content.

A billboard or other large display for displaying information has a billboard frame, an artwork layer, and either a plurality of columns of LED light plates or vertical strips of LED lights. The LED plates are small backlight panels formed in an array covering large areas suitable for standard billboards. The LED plates are secured to one another to hang from the billboard frame in separate columns. The columns are situated between the artwork layer and the billboard frame to provide a backlight for the artwork layer. The artwork layer can include two or more layers such that different artwork is displayed depending on the ambient lighting conditions as well as the backlight operation. The LEDs are preferably controlled by a controller to provide desired backlight conditions as well as to display content.

In a printed article, pigment flakes are magnetically aligned so as to form curved patterns in a plurality of cross-sections normal a continuous imaginary line, wherein radii of the curved patterns increase along the imaginary line from the first point to the second point. When light is incident upon the aligned pigment flakes from a light source, light reflected from the aligned pattern forms a bright image which appears to gradually change its shape and move from one side of the continuous imaginary line to another side of the continuous imaginary line when the substrate is tilted with respect to the light source.