A security element for a security and/or valuable document includes a matrix based on an organic polymeric material and at least one electrically conductive pigment dispersed in the matrix and at least one organic luminescent substance dispersed in the matrix. In the presence of the conductive pigment the luminescent substance is capable of non-contact excitation of light emission where the particle size is less than 200 nm. The luminescent substance is not encapsulated and is directly surrounded by the matrix and is embedded therein.

A system (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) for producing a security element (4), in particular a vignette for a windshield (6) of a means of transport, is specified. This comprises a carrier element (3) with a first and a second surface, wherein a first sub-element (1) of the security element (4) is arranged in a first area (31) of the first surface and a second sub-element (2) of the security element (4) is arranged in a second area (32) of the first surface separated from the first area (31) by a fold edge (33). These sub-elements (1, 2) can be made to overlap with the first sub-element (1) by folding of the carrier element (3) along the fold edge (33) and can be adhered by means of an adhesive (25) arranged on the side of the second sub-element (2) facing away from the carrier element (3). An individualization feature (14) can be attached to a side of the first (1) and/or the second (2) sub-element facing away from the carrier element (3). Furthermore, a method for producing a security element (4) by means of such a system (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600), as well as a security element (4) obtained thereby, is specified.

A moir magnification device including a transparent substrate carrying: an array of micro-focusing elements, the focusing elements defining a focal plane; a first array of microimage elements in a first colour and a second array of microimage elements in a second colour, the first and second arrays of microimage elements are located in a plane substantially coincident with the focal plane of the focusing elements, the second array of microimage elements being laterally offset from the first. The pitches of the micro-focusing elements, first and second arrays of microimage elements and their relative locations are such that the array of micro-focusing elements cooperates with each of the first and second arrays of microimage elements to generate respective magnified versions of the microimage elements due to the moir effect. An interruption zone is perceived between the magnified versions of the first and second microimage arrays, respectively, and exhibits no magnified versions.

The invention relates to a method of aligning magnetic flakes, which includes: coating a substrate with a carrier having the flakes dispersed therein, moving the substrate in a magnetic field so as to align the flakes along force lines of the magnetic field in the absence of an effect from a solidifying means, and at least partially solidifying the carrier using a solidifying means while further moving the substrate in the magnetic field so as to secure the magnetic flakes in the carrier while the magnetic field maintains alignment of the magnetic flakes. An apparatus is provided, which has a belt for moving a substrate along a magnet assembly for aligning magnetic flakes. The apparatus also includes a solidifying means, such as a UV- or e-beam source, and a cover above a portion of the magnet assembly for protecting the flakes from the effect of the solidifying means.

Identity document comprising a data medium with data. These data comprise an image of a face. This image consists of two component images that are observed at different angles. By simultaneously viewing the two images, the person studying the identity document can obtain further information about the face. This is possible because the two images are applied at a relatively small angle of 5 to 20.

A display includes a first optical effect layer including a first interface part, the first interface part being provided with recesses or protrusions arranged two-dimensionally at the minimum center-to-center distance in a range of 200 nm to 500 nm, each of the recesses or protrusions having a forward-tapered shape; a reflective material layer covering at least a part of the first interface part; and a second optical effect layer including, at a position of a first portion of the first interface part that is covered with the reflective material layer, a portion that faces the reflective material layer with the first optical effect layer interposed therebetween or faces the first optical effect layer with the reflective material layer interposed therebetween, the second optical effect layer containing at least one of a cholesteric liquid crystal, a pearl pigment and a multilayer interference film.

An identity document includes in a single plane a two-dimensional image and under optical elements a ghost image for verifying the authenticity of the two-dimensional image. The ghost image is a stereo image and the stereo image is based on the two-dimensional image. The stereo image includes at least two images of the person on the identity card wherein at least one of the two images is a calculated image. The stereo image may further include a floating image, the floating image being arranged to be perceived to float over the ghost image.

A diffusely reflective optical film includes a blended layer extending from a first to a second zone of the film. The blended layer includes first and second polymer materials separated into distinct first and second phases, respectively. The blended layer may have the same composition and thickness in the first and second zones, but different first and second diffusely reflective characteristics in the first and second zones, respectively. The difference between the first and second diffusely reflective characteristics may not be attributable to any difference in composition or thickness of the layer between the first and second zones. Instead, the difference between the first and second diffusely reflective characteristic may be attributable to a difference in birefringence of the first and/or second polymer materials between the first and second zones. The blend morphology of the blended layer may be substantially the same in the first and second zones.

A document and an Anti-counterfeiting method for use in such documents are described. Said document and Anti-counterfeiting method include introducing a plurality of raised nanoscopic to microscopic structures, here referred to as reconfigurable structures, formed over a polymer substrate to induce optical changes, such as structural color and/or optical fuzziness. Dynamic changes using liquids provide the anti-counterfeiting measures.

Magnetic field-generating device including a plurality of elements selected from magnets and pole pieces and including at least one magnet. Plurality of elements are (i) located below supporting surface or space configured to receive a substrate acting as supporting surface or (ii) forming a supporting surface, and are configured to provide a magnetic field with magnetic field lines running substantially parallel to supporting surface or space in two or more areas above supporting surface or space. Two or more areas form nested loop-shaped areas surrounding a central area; and/or the plurality of elements include a plurality of magnets, which are rotatable around an axis of rotation such that areas with field lines running substantially parallel to supporting surface or space combine upon rotation around axis of rotation, thereby forming, upon rotation around axis of rotation, a plurality of nested loop-shaped areas surrounding one central area.