A display including a relief structure forming layer having a major surface with a relief type diffractive structure that displays a three-dimensional object as a diffraction image; and a reflective layer at least partially covering a region of the major surface where the diffractive structure is provided. A portion of the diffractive structure in a first region includes first and second linear parts forming a first lattice, and first parts arranged in respective gaps of the first lattice. The first and second linear parts each having a solid line shape form a first pattern. A portion of the diffractive structure in a second region includes third and fourth linear parts alternately arranged in the width direction thereof. The third linear parts each having a dashed line shape and the fourth linear parts each having a dashed or dotted line shape form a second pattern.

A method and system for forming a holographic structure in a material. The holographic structure is configured to project a selected target image in the far field under illumination of the holographic structure by a laser. The method calculates a modified design for the holographic structure that encodes a unique identifier within the holographic structure for projecting the target image. The method modifies the material by mapping features corresponding to the modified design into the material so as to form the holographic structure. A basic check of the authenticity of the material is performed by checking whether a projected replica of the target image is as expected. A more detailed check of the authenticity of the material is performed by directly inspecting the features in the holographic structure.

An image display device includes image cells arranged two-dimensionally. Each image cell has a hologram layer. The hologram layer includes a diffraction grating in which a one-dimensional grating pattern extending in a first direction is repeated in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Among the plurality of image cells, two or more image cells that are in a row in the second direction and correlated to one color constitute one image cell group. The image cell group includes a section in which the spatial frequency of the diffraction grating is proportionately small as the distance in the second direction from one end of the image cell group increases such that, while a viewpoint is positioned at a predetermined angle relative to an image display device, the two or more image cells constituting the image cell group display the same color as each other.

Processes and systems are described that can produce images including both three dimensional holographic images and two dimensional variable data, which can provide personalized security features in a document. A photosensitive film can be pressed against a first reflective optical device. A laser beam can be directed through a selected first area of the photosensitive film onto the first reflective optical device to produce a three dimensional holographic image in the photosensitive film. A previously masked second area of the photosensitive film can be pressed against a second reflective optical device. The laser beam can project an image constructed by a spatial light modulator and can be directed through the second area of the photosensitive film onto the second reflective optical device to produce a two dimensional image in the second area. During the process, the web tension of the photosensitive film is controlled.

A description is given of a document with a hologram as a security feature, in particular an identity card (12), consisting of a polycarbonate card body (10), which has a volume hologram label (2, 9) embedded therein. A description is additionally given of a method for producing the document, in which volume hologram labels (2) arranged on a carrier sheet are brought into contact with adhesive regions (4) on a thermoplastic sheet (5.1), the adhesive surfaces are cured and the carrier sheet is then removed. A second plastics sheet (5.2) is then adhesively bonded onto the first plastics sheet (5.1), bearing the hologram labels, using a second adhesive (7) in the region of the hologram labels (2) to form a two-layered sheet composite (6) which, finally, is laminated, together with further thermoplastic sheets, in a card-lamination press, under the action of pressure and temperature, to give a card body (10), individual identity cards (12) being punched out.

We describe methods of mass-producing full color, 3D holograms, potentially incorporating a personalized image, which are particularly suitable for security purposes. Broadly speaking in embodiments a method generates, electronically, an interlaced image comprising a set of different views of a 3D object from different angles. This is projected onto a diffusing screen using coherent light and mapped from the screen into an angularly encoded object beam using a lenticular array. The different views in the angularly encoded object beam are then recorded simultaneously into holographic film using a reference beam.

When coating a document surface (3) having relief-like information (1) carrying personal data, for example, with a monomer-containing liquid UV adhesive (4) across the entire surface and then laminating thereon a volume hologram (2), the varying adhesive thicknesses between the volume hologram and the document surface resulting from the relief cause differentiated swelling and thereby a differentiated color shift of the hologram. After the desired color shift is achieved, the UV adhesive (4) is completely cured. In this way, individual holographic information is obtained, which is located exactly above the relief-like information of the document. With this method, holographic overlays comprising personal data and a passport picture can be produced, and it is possible to link defined optical document information to the hologram in an accurately positioned manner, so that information is visible both non-diffractively and, from a different viewing angle, holographically in a different color.

A display including a relief structure forming layer having a major surface with a relief type diffractive structure that displays a three-dimensional object as a diffraction image; and a reflective layer at least partially covering a region of the major surface where the diffractive structure is provided. A portion of the diffractive structure in a first region includes first and second linear parts forming a first lattice, and first parts arranged in respective gaps of the first lattice. The first and second linear parts each having a solid line shape form a first pattern. A portion of the diffractive structure in a second region includes third and fourth linear parts alternately arranged in the width direction thereof. The third linear parts each having a dashed line shape and the fourth linear parts each having a dashed or dotted line shape form a second pattern.

An image display according to an embodiment includes a first image-displaying portion that displays first information about a certain object as a first image of object color, and a second image-displaying portion that displays second information about the object as a second image of structural color provided by a relief structure, the relief structure including at least one structure selected from the group consisting of diffraction grating, hologram, and light-scattering structure having an anisotropic light-scattering property. According to an example, the object is a person, and the first image includes a facial image of the person. A labeled article according to another embodiment includes the image display, and a substrate supporting the image display.

An image display according to an embodiment includes a first image-displaying portion that displays first information about a certain object as a first image of object color, and a second image-displaying portion that displays second information about the object as a second image of structural color provided by a relief structure, the relief structure including at least one structure selected from the group consisting of diffraction grating, hologram, and light-scattering structure having an anisotropic light-scattering property. According to an example, the object is a person, and the first image includes a facial image of the person. A labeled article according to another embodiment includes the image display, and a substrate supporting the image display.