A method is disclosed which is performed by at least one first apparatus. In the method, information indicative of at least one characteristic of a franking is obtained. It is determined whether or not the franking is a counterfeit franking and/or a reused franking based on the obtained information or based on the obtained information and based on reference information indicative of at least one characteristic of a franking. The at least one characteristic includes at least one of a physical characteristic of the franking, a visual characteristic of an image provided on the franking, and/or a characteristic based on at least one material of the franking.

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.

The invention relates to the use of one or more compounds of the 4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene family for the preparation of a security element for a product, in particular a document, said security element comprising a polymer and said compound(s) being incorporated in said polymer, and to a method for ensuring the security of a product, in particular that of a document.

The invention relates to the use of one or more compounds of the 4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene family for the preparation of a security element for a product, in particular a document, said security element comprising a polymer and said compound(s) being incorporated in said polymer, and to a method for ensuring the security of a product, in particular that of a document.

A payment card includes hidden features (e.g., textual messages, graphics, emphasis features associated with conspicuous features of the payment card, or the like) undiscernible under only visible light, but discernable under ultraviolet light. The hidden features can be incorporated into multiple layers of a side of the payment card and can be present at different transparencies. A container (e.g., presentation box) can include a circuit to detect when the container is opened and cause the hidden features to be illuminated with ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light source can be incorporated into the container itself, or can be incorporated into the payment card (e.g., activated by supplying a signal to the payment card from the container).

In order to increase the security of value or security documents 100, a multi-luminescent security element 400 is provided which contains at least one first luminescence means 510 and at least one second luminescence means 520. The first luminescence means 510 can be excited under first excitation conditions Sp-1 for the purpose of luminescence, and the second luminescence means 520 can be excited under second excitation conditions Sp-2 for the purpose of luminescence, said second excitation conditions Sp-2 differing from the first excitation conditions Sp-1. The multi-luminescent security element 400 is additionally equipped with at least one absorber means 600 which prevents an excitation of the at least one first luminescence means 510 under the second excitation conditions Sp-2 for the purpose of luminescence.

In order to increase the security of value or security documents 100, a multi-luminescent security element 400 is provided which contains at least one first luminescence means 510 and at least one second luminescence means 520. The first luminescence means 510 can be excited under first excitation conditions Sp-1 for the purpose of luminescence, and the second luminescence means 520 can be excited under second excitation conditions Sp-2 for the purpose of luminescence, said second excitation conditions Sp-2 differing from the first excitation conditions Sp-1. The multi-luminescent security element 400 is additionally equipped with at least one absorber means 600 which prevents an excitation of the at least one first luminescence means 510 under the second excitation conditions Sp-2 for the purpose of luminescence.

A method of enhancing a fluorescent image on a substrate, the method including forming the fluorescent image on the substrate, the fluorescent image including a fluorescent marking material, forming a border on the substrate adjacent to the fluorescent image, the border including a non-fluorescing marking material and a thickness, wherein the border at least partially circumscribes the fluorescent image.

A method of enhancing a fluorescent image on a substrate, the method including forming the fluorescent image on the substrate, the fluorescent image including a fluorescent marking material, forming a border on the substrate adjacent to the fluorescent image, the border including a non-fluorescing marking material and a thickness, wherein the border at least partially circumscribes the fluorescent image.

Forming a unique stochastically branching pattern includes providing a first fluid between a surface of a first substrate and a surface of a second substrate and introducing a second fluid between the surface of the first substrate and the surface of the second substrate. The second fluid is in direct contact with the first fluid at a formation temperature, and a viscosity of the first fluid at the formation temperature exceeds a viscosity of the second fluid at the formation temperature. The first substrate and the second substrate are separated to yield a unique stochastically branching pattern comprising the first fluid on the surface of the first substrate.