There is provided rare earth metal complexes of formula (I): ##STR00001##
wherein M is a cation, RE is a rare earth metal; X is a counter anion; and R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 are each independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl of 1-8 carbon atoms, aryl, halo, and alkoxy. Also provided is a composition of europium bis(2,2′-bipyridine-N,N′)-trinitrate with a diketonate dopant. The disclosure also provides processes for preparing the rare earth metal complexes. A mark comprising the rare earth metal complexes, and a method of applying the mark, are disclosed. The rare earth metal complexes may be used in printing systems, and for security applications.

A decorative material is designed with excellent visual effect and a bright pattern layer on a base material, wherein the layer has at least a first and second bright ink layer, the first and second bright ink layer satisfy the following relationship (A) or (B), each bright ink layer is provided on at least part of the base material when the decorative material is viewed in a plan view, and the first layer has a region overlapping and a region that not overlapping the second layer, and the second layer has a region overlapping and a region not overlapping the first layer. (A) The first bright ink layer contains a first bright pigment, and the second bright ink layer contains a different second bright pigment. (B) The first and second bright ink layer contain bright pigments, and the first layer pigment content is different from the second layer pigment content.

A decorative material is designed with excellent visual effect and a bright pattern layer on a base material, wherein the layer has at least a first and second bright ink layer, the first and second bright ink layer satisfy the following relationship (A) or (B), each bright ink layer is provided on at least part of the base material when the decorative material is viewed in a plan view, and the first layer has a region overlapping and a region that not overlapping the second layer, and the second layer has a region overlapping and a region not overlapping the first layer. (A) The first bright ink layer contains a first bright pigment, and the second bright ink layer contains a different second bright pigment. (B) The first and second bright ink layer contain bright pigments, and the first layer pigment content is different from the second layer pigment content.

Embodiments of the invention relate to edible ink formulations comprising a fluorophore (e.g. riboflavin phosphate), articles of manufacture (e.g. an ink-jet cartridge containing any edible ink formulation(s) disclosed herein), methods for printing on a edible substrates (e.g. food or beverage) using any edible ink formulation(s) disclosed herein. Methods for manufacturing the edible ink formulation are also provided.

Described is a chiral liquid crystal polymer (CLCP) layer or pattern which comprises randomly distributed craters of controlled mean diameter and/or density. The density and/or mean diameter of the craters can be controlled, for example, by adjusting the wetting of a substrate by a CLCP precursor composition, the development time of the precursor composition, and the thickness of the applied precursor composition.

Described is a chiral liquid crystal polymer (CLCP) layer or pattern which comprises randomly distributed craters of controlled mean diameter and/or density. The density and/or mean diameter of the craters can be controlled, for example, by adjusting the wetting of a substrate by a CLCP precursor composition, the development time of the precursor composition, and the thickness of the applied precursor composition.

Provided is an ink jet recording method having excellent ejecting stability and capable of recording a fluorescent-colored image with an excellent color developability and abrasion resistance. The ink jet recording method includes a recording step of ejecting an aqueous ink from a recording head of an ink jet system and applying the aqueous ink to a recording medium and a heating step of heating the recording medium applied with the aqueous ink at a temperature T.sub.H (° C.). The aqueous ink contains a first resin particle and a second resin particle, the first resin particle is dyed with at least one fluorescent dye selected from the group consisting of a basic dye, a disperse dye and an oil-soluble dye, and contains a cyano group-containing unit, and the second resin particle does not include any coloring material therein.

A smoking article is disclosed herein. The smoking article includes a shell defining an interior space, a consumable substance within the interior space, a heat source effective to increase the temperature of at least a portion of the shell, and a label attached to at least a portion of the shell. The label includes a base film, a cover film, and a temperature dependent material disposed between the base film and the cover film. The temperature dependent material is configured to transition between a first appearance and a second appearance responsive to the increase of the temperature of at least a portion of the shell.

A smoking article is disclosed herein. The smoking article includes a shell defining an interior space, a consumable substance within the interior space, a heat source effective to increase the temperature of at least a portion of the shell, and a label attached to at least a portion of the shell. The label includes a base film, a cover film, and a temperature dependent material disposed between the base film and the cover film. The temperature dependent material is configured to transition between a first appearance and a second appearance responsive to the increase of the temperature of at least a portion of the shell.

A paint composition producing paint films which change from an achromatic color to a chromatic color when the angle of incidence of the light with respect to the normal to the paint film plane is changed. The paint composition comprises (A) glitter material which has an angle-dependent interference effect and (B) metal oxide coated mica and/or metal oxide coated alumina flakes in proportions where the content ratio ((A)/(B)) of the (A) component with respect to the (B) component, as the solid fraction mass ratio, is from 2.5/1 to 1/6 and in which the interference color of the (A) component and the interference color of the (B) component at a face angle of the paint film have a complementary color relationship.