Security article and method for producing a security article. The method includes microprinting on a patch an array of microimages, placing a first translucent layer over the substrate and first patch, and laminating the substrate, the patch, and the first translucent layer using a lamination tool. The resulting security product includes a microlens array is located in the first translucent layer in register with the patch such that microimages have a one-to-one correspondence with lenses of the array of microlenses, wherein when the microimage array is viewed by a viewer through the microlens array, a composite image is visible to a viewer of the security article.

Security article and method for producing a security article. The method includes microprinting on a patch an array of microimages, placing a first translucent layer over the substrate and first patch, and laminating the substrate, the patch, and the first translucent layer using a lamination tool. The resulting security product includes a microlens array is located in the first translucent layer in register with the patch such that microimages have a one-to-one correspondence with lenses of the array of microlenses, wherein when the microimage array is viewed by a viewer through the microlens array, a composite image is visible to a viewer of the security article.

A method when expressing gradation for a color image including binarizing tone values of first image data to produce second image data including pixels each having colors with respective binarized tone values, classifying pixels of the first image data into a plurality of first pixel groups and specifying a pixel where a color centroid is positioned for each color in each first pixel group, classifying pixels of the second image data into second pixel groups PXG2 corresponding to the first pixel groups and calculating the number of light pixels for each color in each second pixel group, producing third image data from the second image data, information related to the color centroid, and information related to the number of light pixels, and producing fourth image data by changing the position of a light pixel with the position of a dark pixel in the third image data.

A method for authenticating an article including engraving a circular feature into a verification substrate that includes a plurality of concentric rings within the circular feature arranged in a pattern according to a data encoding schema, wherein at least one of the plurality of rings includes a surface anomaly. The method can include capturing a first image of the circular feature and storing the first image in a memory device. The verification substrate can be attached to an article to traced and/or authenticated. A second image of the circular feature can be captured and compared with the first image to determine if the surface anomaly is present in the second image, thereby authenticating the article.

A method for authenticating an article including engraving a circular feature into a verification substrate that includes a plurality of concentric rings within the circular feature arranged in a pattern according to a data encoding schema, wherein at least one of the plurality of rings includes a surface anomaly. The method can include capturing a first image of the circular feature and storing the first image in a memory device. The verification substrate can be attached to an article to traced and/or authenticated. A second image of the circular feature can be captured and compared with the first image to determine if the surface anomaly is present in the second image, thereby authenticating the article.

A process for transferring microstructures to a flexible or rigid final substrate that offers advantages in both speed and precision is provided. The inventive process involves subjecting a transfer film in a continuous roll-to-roll process to the following operations: either forming microstructures on, or transferring microstructures to a surface of the transfer film; and then transferring the microstructures from the transfer film onto a surface of the final substrate. The microstructures are single or multi-layer structures that are made up of: voids in a substantially planar surface, the voids optionally filled or coated with another material; raised areas in a substantially planar surface; or combinations thereof.

A process for transferring microstructures to a flexible or rigid final substrate that offers advantages in both speed and precision is provided. The inventive process involves subjecting a transfer film in a continuous roll-to-roll process to the following operations: either forming microstructures on, or transferring microstructures to a surface of the transfer film; and then transferring the microstructures from the transfer film onto a surface of the final substrate. The microstructures are single or multi-layer structures that are made up of: voids in a substantially planar surface, the voids optionally filled or coated with another material; raised areas in a substantially planar surface; or combinations thereof.

An anti-counterfeiting apparatus is capable of preventing delamination between layers laminated in an anti-counterfeiting device through a structural color expressed by a load and images formed by the structural color. The anti-counterfeiting apparatus may include a first layer formed of a flexible material and including a high-corrugation region and a low-corrugation region, a second layer formed on an upper portion of the high-corrugation region in a pattern, to be adhered to the first layer, and formed of a material having a Young's modulus greater than that of the first layer, and a third layer adhered to the first layer to cover the low-corrugation region and the second layer, and formed of a material having a Young's modulus greater than that of the first layer and a Young's modulus smaller than that of the second layer.

An anti-counterfeiting apparatus is capable of preventing delamination between layers laminated in an anti-counterfeiting device through a structural color expressed by a load and images formed by the structural color. The anti-counterfeiting apparatus may include a first layer formed of a flexible material and including a high-corrugation region and a low-corrugation region, a second layer formed on an upper portion of the high-corrugation region in a pattern, to be adhered to the first layer, and formed of a material having a Young's modulus greater than that of the first layer, and a third layer adhered to the first layer to cover the low-corrugation region and the second layer, and formed of a material having a Young's modulus greater than that of the first layer and a Young's modulus smaller than that of the second layer.

A method of manufacturing a security document, including: providing a polymer substrate having first and second surfaces; and: applying an array of focussing elements to the first surface of the polymer substrate across a first region; forming an image array by: providing a die form having a surface including an arrangement of raised areas and recessed areas defining the pattern; applying a first curable material to the surface of the die form so it substantially fills the recessed areas; bringing a pattern support layer in contact with the surface of the die form so it covers the recessed areas; separating the pattern support layer from the surface of the die form so the first curable material in the recessed areas is removed from the recessed areas and retained on the pattern support layer; and at least partly curing the first curable material in one or more curing steps.