An optically variable surface pattern is made available, having at least two partial areas with reflection elements, wherein the reflection elements of the first partial region on the one hand and the reflection elements of the second partial region on the other hand reflect impinging light in different reflection directions. The first partial region is so covered with a first glazing ink layer that a viewer, upon a change of the viewing angle at which the viewer views the optically variable surface pattern, sees the first partial region glow in a first color upon reaching a first viewing angle. The second partial region glows in a second color that is different from the first color upon reaching a second viewing angle.

An optical security component designed to be observed in a spectral observation band of between 380 nm and 780 nm by direct reflection, comprising an observation face and identifiable information, the component successively including, starting from the side opposite the observation face, a first support layer, identification elements obtained by printing an absorbent material in at least part of the visible spectrum, with a low refractive index, to reproduce at least part of the identifiable information, at least part of the identification elements being structured on one of their faces opposite the face across from the support layer, to form a first subwavelength grating, a second layer, with a high refractive index, covering the first support layer and the identification elements, and a third layer, with a low refractive index, transparent in the observation spectral band of the component.

A process for using an inkjet printer to apply translucent inks for producing a pseudo-metallic visual effect on a substrate is disclosed. The process uses a matte printing technique that results in a metallic appearance when applied to various substrates, such as commercial plastic cards. The resulting card product is also disclosed.

A display includes a first interface section provided with a relief-type diffraction grating constituted by a plurality of grooves, and a second interface section provided with a plurality of recesses or projections arranged two-dimensionally at a center-to-center distance smaller than the minimum center-to-center distance of the plural grooves, and each having a forward tapered shape.

This patent document discloses physical documents including metameric ink pairs. One claim recites a document comprising: a first surface; a second surface, in which the first surface comprises a first set of print structures and a second set of print structures, in which the first set of print structures and the second set of print structures collective convey an encoded signal discernable from optical scan data representing at least a first portion of the first surface, in which the first set of print structures is provided on the first surface with a first ink and the second set of print structures is provided on the first surface with a second, different ink, and in which the first ink and the second, different ink comprise a metameric pair. Of course, other claims and combinations are described as well.

The application discloses apparatus and systems for authenticating physical object, identification documents and security documents. Some such methods and apparatus involve signal encoding or digital watermarking.

An optical device is formed by hot stamping a demetallized hologram to an optically variable foil or to a coating of optically variable ink. In another embodiment a hologram is hot stamped to a banknote or document printed with a color-shifting ink.

A security device is disclosed that has an image formed upon a substrate. The image has a first printed region and a second different printed region both printed with a same ink formulation of field alignable flakes. At least one of the printed regions has optically variable effects. One of the first and second printed regions at least partially surrounds the other. The second printed region is formed of thin parallel lines and the first printed region has substantially wider lines than are printed in the second printed region. The area density of the ink in a line in the first group of wider lines is greater than the area density of a line in the second group of narrower lines. A surprising effect of this image is that particles or flakes in the ink are field aligned so as to produce a visible kinematic dynamic effect visible in the first region and not visible in the second region when the image is tilted or rotated.

A higher forgery prevention effect is realized. A display includes a first interface section provided with a relief-type diffraction grating constituted by a plurality of grooves, and a second interface section provided with a plurality of recesses or projections arranged two-dimensionally at a center-to-center distance smaller than the minimum center-to-center distance of the plural grooves, and each having a forward tapered shape.

A security device is disclosed that has an image formed upon a substrate. The image has a first printed region and a second different printed region both printed with a same ink formulation of field alignable flakes. At least one of the printed regions has optically variable effects. One of the first and second printed regions at least partially surrounds the other. The second printed region is formed of thin parallel lines and the first printed region has substantially wider lines than are printed in the second printed region. The area density of the ink in a line in the first group of wider lines is greater than the area density of a line in the second group of narrower lines. A surprising effect of this image is that particles or flakes in the ink are field aligned so as to produce a visible kinematic dynamic effect visible in the first region and not visible in the second region when the image is tilted or rotated.