The present invention relates to a smart and secure label stock with security features. The present invention relates to a label stock produced from a substrate utilizing adhesive and liner materials and having a plurality of security features on the rear side of the substrate made using specialized inks and various authentication features for different applications.

The present invention provides a photoluminescent security ink for continuous ink-jet printing, wherein said ink has a viscosity of about 1.5 mPas to about 6 mPas at 25 C., and comprises: a) from about 4 wt-% to about 6 wt-% of uncapped NaX.sub.1-y-zF.sub.4Yb.sub.yZ.sub.z nanoparticles; b) from about 1.5 wt-% to about 10 wt-% of a dispersing agent; c) from about 80 wt-% to about 90 wt-% of an organic solvent; and d) from about 0.1 wt-% to about 1 wt-% of a conductive salt, as well as a process for producing said ink, and a process for manufacturing a photoluminescent security feature on an article, or a value document, with said ink.

The present disclosure relates to signal processing such as digital watermarking and other encoded signals. One claim recites a substrate comprising a plurality of first areas and a plurality of second areas, in which each of the plurality of first areas comprises a color ink printed therein with a UV topcoat layer printed over the color ink, in which the UV topcoat layer includes a material that absorbs at or around 350 nm and emits in the visible spectrum, and in which each of the plurality of second areas comprises the color ink printed therein, and in which the plurality of first areas is arranged on the substrate in a 2-dimensional pattern that is machine-readable from image data depicting the plurality of first areas, and in which the 2-dimensional pattern represents signal elements that cover only between 1-20% of an area on the substrate, and in which contrast in the image data between the plurality of first areas and the plurality second areas comprises a contrast difference in the range 75%>contrast difference>8%. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided in the specification with reference to specific implementations and related examples.

The present disclosure relates to signal processing such as digital watermarking and other encoded signals. One claim recites a substrate comprising a plurality of first areas and a plurality of second areas, in which each of the plurality of first areas comprises a color ink printed therein with a UV topcoat layer printed over the color ink, in which the UV topcoat layer includes a material that absorbs at or around 350 nm and emits in the visible spectrum, and in which each of the plurality of second areas comprises the color ink printed therein, and in which the plurality of first areas is arranged on the substrate in a 2-dimensional pattern that is machine-readable from image data depicting the plurality of first areas, and in which the 2-dimensional pattern represents signal elements that cover only between 1-20% of an area on the substrate, and in which contrast in the image data between the plurality of first areas and the plurality second areas comprises a contrast difference in the range 75%>contrast difference>8%. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided in the specification with reference to specific implementations and related examples.

A security element, e g. for an ID card (7) or passport, banknote, ticket, etc, comprises a plurality of superposed layers (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) and a security image or object (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) comprising a plurality of discrete security components, each said discrete security component constituting or providing a portion of the complete security image or object, which portion is less than the whole of the security image or object, wherein each said discrete security component is provided or formed on or within a respective one of the said plurality of superposed layers of the element (7). The layers can be laminated together. The components can be: a security rainbow hologram/DOVID (1); a tactile security feature (2); a 3D holographic optical element (3); an IR visible printing (4); an UV visible printing (5); a colour switch printing (6).

A security element, e g. for an ID card (7) or passport, banknote, ticket, etc, comprises a plurality of superposed layers (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) and a security image or object (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) comprising a plurality of discrete security components, each said discrete security component constituting or providing a portion of the complete security image or object, which portion is less than the whole of the security image or object, wherein each said discrete security component is provided or formed on or within a respective one of the said plurality of superposed layers of the element (7). The layers can be laminated together. The components can be: a security rainbow hologram/DOVID (1); a tactile security feature (2); a 3D holographic optical element (3); an IR visible printing (4); an UV visible printing (5); a colour switch printing (6).

An optical security feature has pixels with faceted microstructures supporting nano-patterned optical filters. Each of the pixels includes a substrate and a nanostructure. The substrate is configured to emit light of at least a first wavelength and a second wavelength different than the first wavelength. The microstructure includes a first facet, a second facet non-parallel to the first facet, a first nano-patterned optical filter disposed on the first facet, and a second nano-patterned optical filter disposed on the second facet. The first nano-patterned optical filter includes a first stopband that includes the first wavelength and excludes the second wavelength. The second nano-patterned optical filter includes a second stopband that includes the second wavelength and excludes the first wavelength. For each pixel, the first nano-patterned optical filter inhibits emission of light at the first wavelength from the pixel via the first facet.

An optical security feature has pixels with faceted microstructures supporting nano-patterned optical filters. Each of the pixels includes a substrate and a nanostructure. The substrate is configured to emit light of at least a first wavelength and a second wavelength different than the first wavelength. The microstructure includes a first facet, a second facet non-parallel to the first facet, a first nano-patterned optical filter disposed on the first facet, and a second nano-patterned optical filter disposed on the second facet. The first nano-patterned optical filter includes a first stopband that includes the first wavelength and excludes the second wavelength. The second nano-patterned optical filter includes a second stopband that includes the second wavelength and excludes the first wavelength. For each pixel, the first nano-patterned optical filter inhibits emission of light at the first wavelength from the pixel via the first facet.

Provided is a data carrier (1) extending along an extension direction (E) comprises at least one first colour element (2), wherein the first colour element (2) exhibits an appearance under a first illumination and/or exhibits an appearance under a second illumination being different from the first illumination, at least one second colour element (3), wherein the second colour element (3) exhibits an appearance under the first illumination being different from the appearance of the first colour element (2) under the first illumination and/or exhibits an appearance under the second illumination that is different from the appearance of the first colour element (2) under the second illumination.

Provided is a data carrier (1) extending along an extension direction (E) comprises at least one first colour element (2), wherein the first colour element (2) exhibits an appearance under a first illumination and/or exhibits an appearance under a second illumination being different from the first illumination, at least one second colour element (3), wherein the second colour element (3) exhibits an appearance under the first illumination being different from the appearance of the first colour element (2) under the first illumination and/or exhibits an appearance under the second illumination that is different from the appearance of the first colour element (2) under the second illumination.