An article is described herein which comprises a substrate, a character sequence disposed on the substrate, a scratch-off coating disposed at least in part over at least one portion of the character sequence, and at least one conductive trace disposed at least in part over the at least one portion of the character sequence.

A redundantly printed security-enhanced document, printing method and system ensure the meaning of the information imparted by variable indicia printed by redundant printing on the document with removable scratch-off coatings. By printing the variable indicia with multiple colors, redundancy and integrity of the intended indicia is achieved. Additionally, inverted color indicia countermeasures to pinprick attacks are also disclosed. The redundantly printed document, methods and systems enhance the overall appearance of the redundantly printed document, and reduce possible consequences resulting from misprinted variable indicia. The resultant printed process color indicia maintains a grayscale equivalent level of a process color greater than or equal to the measured grayscale equivalent level of the substrate surface plus an additional contrast delta of 15%.

The invention is generally directed to a package for a value item including a removable layer. In some embodiments, the invention includes a greeting card including a value item including a removable layer. In some embodiments, the invention includes a value item packaging system, including a package made from a substrate with colors or patterns printed thereon, and a removable layer disposed on top of, and at least partially obscuring, the colors or patterns, the package at least partially enclosing the item, and a stylus s configured to scrape or scratch away at least a portion of the removable layer thereby showing the colors or patterns printed beneath. Some embodiments may be a packaging system using a box and a lid made from a substrate at least partially covered by a liner, the liner having colors or patterns at least partially obscured by a removable layer; and a stylus.

A visual-information security system that includes an information security label positioned to conceal visual information on a substrate. The information security label may include a spiral-shaped cut (or other complex shape) within the body of the label and a pull-tab, such that when a user pulls on the tab, the label peels off of the substrate in a spiral pattern, revealing the information concealed beneath the label. The complex-shaped cut makes reapplication of the label difficult and evident, thus providing security to consumers. The label may include multiple layers of material, for example, a peel-off layer and an adhesive layer.

A security-enhanced document includes a substrate and variable indicia comprising ink having a signal. The variable indicia is of a specific type and is applied to the substrate using a specific application technique. At least one other printed portion, which is a back of the document, has background ink noise, and the type of ink of the back of the document is of the same type of ink applied to the substrate using the same application technique as the ink of the variable indicia. The document also includes a scratch-off-coating applied over the variable indicia. The document has a signal-to-noise ratio of the ink of the variable indicia relative to the background ink noise of the back of the document that is not appreciable, thereby making the variable indicia unreadable with reference to the back of the document when the scratch-off-coating remains intact.

A packaged redeemable code system is disclosed. The packaged redeemable code system includes a paper insert having a front surface with a removable item, and a rear surface with redeemable code. The packaged redeemable code system further includes a paper sleeve having an interior that encloses the paper insert and conceals the redeemable code. The paper sleeve also having a ripcord configured to open an edge of the paper sleeve to provide an access point for removal of the paper insert. The paper sleeve further having a front surface with a cutout extending therethrough. The cutout aligns with and provides visual access to the removable item. The removable item is a different color than or provides contrast with the front surface of the paper sleeve. The paper sleeve further having a rear surface with an activation code that is associated with the redeemable code.

A security-enhanced document includes a substrate and variable indicia comprising ink having a signal. The variable indicia is of a specific type and is applied to the substrate using a specific application technique. At least one other printed portion, which is a back of the document, has background ink noise, and the type of ink of the back of the document is of the same type of ink applied to the substrate using the same application technique as the ink of the variable indicia. The document also includes a scratch-off-coating applied over the variable indicia. The document has a signal-to-noise ratio of the ink of the variable indicia relative to the background ink noise of the back of the document that is not appreciable, thereby making the variable indicia unreadable with reference to the back of the document when the scratch-off-coating remains intact.

A concealment device, system, and method for concealing printed matter are described. The concealment device features a translucent colored material having a color that corresponds to a first color of printed matter that is configured inside or behind the concealment device so as to be positioned adjacent to and beneath the colored material. The printed matter is concealed when viewed through the colored material from outside the concealment device. The concealment device can be an envelope, a magazine, or a booklet. The concealment system includes the concealment device and a printed item that is coverable by the concealment device. The printed item includes printed matter having a first color that corresponds to a color of the colored material. The printed matter is not visible when viewed through the colored material from outside the concealment device.

A security-enhanced document including a substrate, at least one lower portion of graphic imaging with or without first variable indicia directly or indirectly digitally imaged on the substrate, at least one release coat applied over the lower portion, at least one scratch-off layer over the release coat to maintain the lower portion imaging unreadable until removal of the scratch-off layer, and at least one second surface material portion.

A security-enhanced document including a substrate, at least one lower portion of graphic imaging with or without first variable indicia directly or indirectly digitally imaged on the substrate, at least one release coat applied over the lower portion, at least one scratch-off layer over the release coat to maintain the lower portion imaging unreadable until removal of the scratch-off layer, and at least one second surface material portion.