A secure instrument and associated systems and methods of authentication, the secure instrument including a polymer substrate having a first surface and a second surface; an inner layer disposed on or over the first surface of the polymer substrate, the inner layer being a conductive, absorbing, or upconverting layer and including one or more gaps therein; and an opacity layer disposed on or over the inner layer disposed on or over the first surface of the polymer substrate.

Methods of applying a pattern and security devices are disclosed. In one arrangement, a receiving member (10) having a layered structure (12) is provided. The layered structure (12) comprises a layer of phase change material (PCM, 2). The phase change material (PCM, 2)is thermally switchable between a plurality of stable states having different refractive indices relative to each other. An embossing member (5) is stamped into the receiving member (10). The embossing member (5) heats a selected portion of the layer of phase change material (PCM, 2) via contact with the receiving member (10) during the stamping. The heating thermally switches phase change material (PCM, 2) in the selected portion and thereby applies a pattern of different refractive indices to the layer of phase change material (PCM, 2).

Methods of applying a pattern and security devices are disclosed. In one arrangement, a receiving member (10) having a layered structure (12) is provided. The layered structure (12) comprises a layer of phase change material (PCM, 2). The phase change material (PCM, 2)is thermally switchable between a plurality of stable states having different refractive indices relative to each other. An embossing member (5) is stamped into the receiving member (10). The embossing member (5) heats a selected portion of the layer of phase change material (PCM, 2) via contact with the receiving member (10) during the stamping. The heating thermally switches phase change material (PCM, 2) in the selected portion and thereby applies a pattern of different refractive indices to the layer of phase change material (PCM, 2).

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 hole 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 hole 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).

The invention relates to a method for producing a support body in a card format, with a graphic customization, that has a surface finishing effect that is more or less smooth, rough, mirrored or matte on the support body. The method includes supplying a support body having a layer of material configured to allow a marking by punching or lamination. The layer is exposed on the main external face and the surface finishing effect is equivalent to that obtained by a step of marking or lamination while not including a step of depositing varnish.

The invention relates to a method for producing a support body in a card format, with a graphic customization, that has a surface finishing effect that is more or less smooth, rough, mirrored or matte on the support body. The method includes supplying a support body having a layer of material configured to allow a marking by punching or lamination. The layer is exposed on the main external face and the surface finishing effect is equivalent to that obtained by a step of marking or lamination while not including a step of depositing varnish.

Provided is a method for securing a security document comprising at least personal data pages and a cover sheet placed outside the personal data pages, the method comprising, during security document manufacturing, a step of stitching the personal data pages and the cover sheet together by means of an upper thread and a lower thread interlaced together and a step of treating at least a part of the stitching with ultrasonic welding so as to structurally modify the thread.

A security document (200) includes a substrate (205) having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first surface having a cellulosic material. The security document further includes an optical security device (220) having optical indicia of authenticity of the security document and a third surface, the third surface having a thermoplastic polymer. The security document also includes an ultrasonic weld (225) forming a bond between a section of the first surface and a section of the third surface.

A security document (200) includes a substrate (205) having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first surface having a cellulosic material. The security document further includes an optical security device (220) having optical indicia of authenticity of the security document and a third surface, the third surface having a thermoplastic polymer. The security document also includes an ultrasonic weld (225) forming a bond between a section of the first surface and a section of the third surface.