A transaction card, and processes for the manufacture thereof, having a core layer, optionally, one or more layers or coatings over the core layer, and at least one of a magnetic stripe, a machine readable code, and a payment module chip disposed in or on the card and suitable for rendering the card operable for conducting a transaction. The core layer comprises a metal-doped cured epoxy comprised of metal particles distributed in a binder consisting essentially of a cured, polymerized epoxy resin, the core comprising greater than 50%, preferably greater than 75%, and more preferably greater than 90%, of the weight and/or volume of the card. In some embodiments, the core includes a metal insert enveloped with the metal-doped curable epoxy, wherein the periphery of the epoxy extends beyond the periphery of the metal insert and has material properties more conducive to cutting or punching than the metal insert.

A security element including: a first layer having a first surface; an array of image regions across the surface, each region including at least first and second sub-regions; a first diffractive optically variable effect generating structure in or on the surface across the first sub-regions; and a second diffractive optically variable effect generating structure in or on the surface across the second sub-regions; wherein the surface is arranged so each first sub-region has a first average inclination and each second sub-region has a second average inclination different from the first, wherein the first structure and inclination provide that the first effect is exhibited across the first sub-regions at least at a first viewing angle and the second structure and inclination provide that the second effect is exhibited across the second sub-regions at least at a second viewing angle different from the first. Also, a method of manufacturing the security element.

An IR and/or UV machine-readable optical security device (e.g., micro-optic security thread) that is made up of at least one IR-absorbing component with a characteristic IR signature detectable at two or more IR-wavelengths, at least one UV-absorbing component with a characteristic UV signature detectable at two or more UV-wavelengths, at least one IR-absorbing component that absorbs IR light and emits light at a different invisible wavelength, at least one UV-absorbing component that absorbs UV light and emits light at a different invisible wavelength, or a combination thereof, is provided. The IR and UV machine-readable features do not interfere with the optical effects projected by the optical material.

An IR and/or UV machine-readable optical security device (e.g., micro-optic security thread) that is made up of at least one IR-absorbing component with a characteristic IR signature detectable at two or more IR-wavelengths, at least one UV-absorbing component with a characteristic UV signature detectable at two or more UV-wavelengths, at least one IR-absorbing component that absorbs IR light and emits light at a different invisible wavelength, at least one UV-absorbing component that absorbs UV light and emits light at a different invisible wavelength, or a combination thereof, is provided. The IR and UV machine-readable features do not interfere with the optical effects projected by the optical material.

Provided is an information display medium that can enhance a forgery prevention effect. An information display medium (100) includes a light reflection layer (20) made of a metal or a metallic oxide and partially or fully placed on one surface of a substrate, and the light reflection layer (20) includes a first region (30) where first information is displayed by either of or a combination of an outline shape and a shape of an uneven region, and a second information display region (21a) where identification information formed by partial material removal of the light reflection layer (20), the second information display region being set to partially or fully overlap with the light reflection layer (20) where the first information is displayed in the first region (30).

Provided is an information display medium that can enhance a forgery prevention effect. An information display medium (100) includes a light reflection layer (20) made of a metal or a metallic oxide and partially or fully placed on one surface of a substrate, and the light reflection layer (20) includes a first region (30) where first information is displayed by either of or a combination of an outline shape and a shape of an uneven region, and a second information display region (21a) where identification information formed by partial material removal of the light reflection layer (20), the second information display region being set to partially or fully overlap with the light reflection layer (20) where the first information is displayed in the first region (30).

A greeting card having a housing of metal or a metal alloy that defines an interior void and an electronic ink display screen, a Bluetooth adapter or dongle comprising Bluetooth low energy (BLE) technology within the interior void and operatively configured to communicate with the display screen, a non-transitory memory storage device, and another electronic component within the interior void. The Bluetooth adapter or dongle is configured to receive from an external electronic device a first communication of information describing an initial message to be displayed, and to receive, subsequent in time to receipt of the initial message, a second real time communication of information describing a second message. The non-transitory memory storage device has pre-loaded executable instructions to display the first communication on the display screen, to change or modify the initial message based on the second real-time communication, and to display the second message on the display screen.

A security device is provided, comprising: a colour shifting element that exhibits different wavelengths of light at different viewing angles, and; an at least partially transparent light control layer covering at least a part of the colour shifting element and comprising a surface relief adapted to modify the angle of light from the colour shifting element, wherein; a first region of the light control layer comprises a first optical characteristic, whereby light at a first viewing angle from the first region of the light control layer is perceived to have a resultant optical effect that is the resultant of the wavelength of light exhibited at that viewing angle due to the combination of the colour shifting element and the surface relief of the light control layer, and the first optical characteristic, and; a second region of the light control layer either: (i) is substantially colourless such that light at the first viewing angle from the second region is perceived to have a resultant optical effect exhibited at that viewing angle due to the combination of the colour shifting element and the surface relief of the light control layer, or; (ii) comprises a second optical characteristic different from the first optical characteristic, whereby light at the first viewing angle from the second region of the light control layer is perceived to have a resultant optical effect that is the resultant of the wavelength of light exhibited at that viewing angle due to the combination of the colour shifting element and the surface relief of the light control layer, and the second optical characteristic. Methods of manufacture thereof are also disclosed.

An optically variable security element wherein the areal expansion whereof defines a z direction standing perpendicularly thereon, and has a multicolored, reflective areal region. The areal region includes two relief structures arranged at different height levels in the z direction. The relief structures are each supplied with an ink coating which produce a different color impression. The ink coating of the relief structure disposed at a higher level is configured in the feature region as a regular or irregular grid with grid elements and grid spaces. The dimensions of the grid elements and/or grid spaces are below 140 μm at least in one direction, so that, in the feature region, for a viewer from at least one viewing angle, the ink coating of the relief structure disposed at a lower level is visible through the grid spaces of the ink coating of the relief structure disposed at a higher level.

The present invention provides spectral code strategies that allow spectral codes to be accurately and consistently deployed in a wide range of substrates and background situations. The present invention uses taggant particles with a multilayer structure that is able to produce a strong, consistent spectral signal that is resistant to background noise effects. The spectral output can be read remotely from a distance using multispectral, particularly hyperspectral, imaging techniques.