High-Gloss Silver Watermark

Abstract

A layer-structure includes at least a base layer with a top surface and a top layer, wherein the top layer is arranged above the base layer in a height direction, wherein a first color section is partially provided in and/or on the top surface of the base layer, the first color section and the top surface of the base layer having a luminance contrast, wherein the luminance contrast, defined as Weber contrast, has a value that is at least 0.20, and wherein the first color section and the top surface of the base layer are covered by the top layer, so that a watermark visual appearance is provided.

Claims

1. A layer-structure, comprising at least a base layer with a top surface and a top layer, wherein the top layer is arranged above the base layer in a height direction, wherein a first color section is partially provided in and/or on the top surface of the base layer, the first color section and the top surface of the base layer having a luminance contrast, wherein the luminance contrast, defined as Weber contrast, has a value that is at least 0.20, and wherein the first color section and the top surface of the base layer are covered by the top layer, so that a watermark visual appearance is provided.

2. The layer-structure according to claim 1, wherein: the value of the luminance contrast, defined as Weber contrast, is at least 0.25.

3. The layer-structure according to claim 1, wherein: the top layer consists of a metallic gloss ink composition comprising metallic particles.

4. The layer-structure according to claim 3, wherein: the metallic gloss ink composition is printed on the top surface of the base layer and the first color section.

5. The layer-structure according to claim 1, wherein: the first color section is provided as line textures and/or solid design elements.

6. The layer-structure according to claim 1, wherein: the first color section consists of an ink composition, said ink composition being printed on the top surface of the base layer.

7. The layer-structure according to claim 1, wherein: the first color section has a color with a tone value range between 50% and 100%.

8. The layer-structure according to claim 1, wherein: a bottom surface of the top layer is in contact with the first color section and the top surface of the base layer.

9. The layer-structure according to claim 1, wherein: a primer layer is arranged between the base layer and the top layer in the height direction of the layer-structure.

10. The layer-structure according to claim 9, wherein: the primer layer is in contact with the top surface of the base layer, the first color section and a bottom surface of the top layer, covering the top surface of the base layer and the first color section.

11. The layer-structure according to claim 1, wherein: the top layer is continuous and/or has a uniform thickness throughout.

12. The layer-structure according to claim 1, wherein: at least a second color section is provided in and/or on the top surface of the base layer.

13. The layer-structure according to claim 12, wherein: the first color section consists of an ink composition, said ink composition being printed on the top surface of the base layer, and the at least second color section consists of the same ink composition as the first color section.

14. A method of producing a layer-structure, comprising the steps: a) providing a base layer with a top surface; b) providing a first color section in and/or on parts of the top surface of the base layer; c) providing a top layer above the base layer in a height direction of the layer-structure, covering the first color section and the top surface of the base layer; wherein the first color section and the top surface of the base layer have a luminance contrast, wherein the luminance contrast, defined as Weber contrast, has a value that is at least 0.20.

15. The method according to claim 14, comprising the additional step: d) providing a primer layer between the base layer and the top layer; wherein the step d) is conducted after the step b).

16. A packaging material comprising the layer-structure according to claim 1.

17. A packaging comprising a folded blank of the packaging material according to claim 16.

18. The layer-structure according to claim 12, wherein: the first color section consists of an ink composition, said ink composition being printed on the top surface of the base layer, and the at least second color section consists of a different ink composition than the first color section, having a different color and/or different components.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] Further advantages, objectives and features of the present invention will be described, by way of example only, in the following description with reference to the appended figures and examples. In the figures, like components in different embodiments can exhibit the same reference symbols.

[0043] The figures show:

[0044] FIG. 1a a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the layer-structure according to the present invention;

[0045] FIG. 1b a sectional view of another preferred embodiment of the layer-structure according to the present invention;

[0046] FIG. 2a a test base layer with a first color section according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0047] FIG. 2b the test base layer with the first color section according to FIG. 2a covered by a top layer;

[0048] FIG. 3a a test base layer with a first color section (left) and the test base layer covered by a top layer (right) according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0049] FIG. 3b a test base layer with a first color section covered by a top layer according to a

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] In FIG. 1a, a layer-structure 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The layer-structure 10 comprises a base layer 20, a top layer 30 and a first color section 40. The base layer 20 has a top surface 21. Moreover, the base layer 20 extends substantially in a width direction WD and in a length direction LD.

[0051] The first color section 40 is arranged on the top surface 21 of the base layer 20. In this embodiment of the present invention, the first color section 40 is provided as two separate parts, but it is also conceivable that the first color section 40 is continuous. Moreover, the first color section 40 could be provided in the form of more separate/individual parts. It is also possible that the first color section 40 is provided in and/or on the top surface 21 of the base layer 20.

[0052] The top layer 30 has a top surface 31 and a bottom surface 32 and is arranged on the base layer 20 with regard to a height direction HD. The bottom surface 32 of the top layer 30 is in contact with the top surface 21 of the base layer 20 and the first color section 40. Thereby, the top layer 30 covers the top surface 21 of the base layer 20 and the first color section 40. The base layer 20 and the top layer 30 extend in parallel. The top surface 31 and the bottom surface 32 of the top layer 30 extend in parallel. A thickness D of the top layer 30 is continuous and constant across the layer-structure 10. It is possible that the thickness D of the top layer 30 can have different values, depending on the application.

[0053] In FIG. 1b, a layer-structure 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. Statements according to FIG. 1a shall apply mutatis mutandis to FIG. 1b. Corresponding features are labelled with the same reference signs.

[0054] The layer-structure 10 comprises a base layer 20, a top layer 30, a first color section 40, a second color section 45 and a primer layer 50.

[0055] In this embodiment, a first color section 40 and a second color section 45 are provided on the top surface 21 of the base layer 20. Preferably, the first color section 40 and the second color section 45 have a different luminance contrast with respect to the base layer 20.

[0056] The primer layer 50 has a top surface 51 and a bottom surface 52. The primer layer 50 extends in parallel with the base layer 20 and the top layer 30 substantially in the width direction WD and in the length direction LD. The bottom surface 52 of the primer layer 50 is in contact with the top surface 21 of the base layer 20, wherein the top surface 51 of the primer layer 50 is in contact with the bottom surface 32 of the top layer 30. The first 40 and the second color section 45 are completely covered by the primer layer 50.

[0057] FIG. 2a shows a base layer 20 with a first color section 40. It is conceivable that the white part corresponds to the base layer 20 and the black part corresponds to the first color section 40 or that the white part corresponds to the top layer 30 and the black part corresponds to the base layer 30.

[0058] In FIG. 2b, the base layer 20 with the provided first color section 40 of FIG. 2a is shown from two different angles to enhance visibility of the claimed effect, covered by a top layer 30 in the form of a high-gloss silver ink composition. The luminance contrast of the top surface 21 of the base layer 20 and the first color section 40 is visible and a watermark visual appearance and/or embossing/debossing visual appearance is provided thereby as can be seen in FIG. 2b.

[0059] FIG. 3a shows a base layer 20 with a first color section 40 on the left. It is conceivable that the white part can correspond to the base layer 20 and the black part can correspond to the first color section 40 or that the white part can correspond to the top layer 30 and the black part can correspond to the base layer 30.

[0060] In FIG. 3a a base layer 20 with a first color section 40 is shown on the left, wherein said base layer 20 with the first color section 40 is covered by a top layer 30 in the form of a high-gloss silver ink composition on the righthand side, wherein the high-gloss silver ink composition has been applied by a printing method. The luminance contrast of the top surface 21 of the base layer 20 and the first color section 40 is visible and a watermark visual appearance and/or embossing/debossing visual appearance is observable.

[0061] FIG. 3b shows a base layer 20 with a first color section 40 covered by a top layer in the in the form of a high-gloss silver ink composition on the righthand side, wherein the high-gloss silver ink composition has been applied by a printing method. The luminance contrast of the top surface 21 of the base layer 20 and the first color section 40 is discernible providing a water-mark visual appearance and/or embossing/debossing visual appearance in the form of letters.

[0062] The size ratios of the different elements of the layer-structure as shown in FIGS. 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a. 3b are only schematically depicted and do not have to correspond to real ratios.

[0063] In table 1, exemplary embodiments of a base layer provided with different first color sections as well as the corresponding luminance contrasts are shown. The base layer in all the examples shown is the same, having a white color with a measured luminance L.sub.max of 95.78 (reference L.sub.max). For the first color section, different PMS colors (for Pantone® Matching System colors), as given in table 1, are used and the luminance L of each of the colors has been measured (corresponding to L.sub.min).

[0064] Furthermore, the calculated values for the Weber contrast C.sub.W and the contrast C.sub.simple are given in table 1. The Weber contrast C.sub.W and the contrast C.sub.simple have been calculated according to the equations cited above, using the measured luminances L.sub.max and L.sub.min. The measuring parameters for the luminance values have been CIE-Lab (DIN EN ISO 11664-4), standard illuminant D50, density-standard DIN, no Pol-Filter and an angle of observation of 2°.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Weber Samples luminance L contrast C.sub.W Contrast C.sub.simple No. Base layer 95.78 Reference L.sub.max Reference L.sub.max 1 440c 22.11 3.33 4.33 2 2767c 18.41 4.20 5.20 3 Black C 10.75 7.91 8.91 4 206c 43.55 1.20 2.20 5 542c 69.96 0.37 1.37 6 376c 69.33 0.38 1.38 7 Yellow C 89.21 0.07 1.07

[0065] It was recognized that the described watermark visual appearance and/or embossing/debossing visual appearance was visible in samples 1 to 6. For sample 7, no watermark visual appearance and/or embossing/debossing visual appearance was discernible, since the value for the luminance contrast of the base layer (white) and the first color section (yellow) is too low.

[0066] The applicant reserves his right to claim all features disclosed in the application document as being an essential feature of the invention, as long as they are new, individually or in combination, in view of the prior art. Furthermore, it is noted that in the figures, features are described, which can be advantageous individually. Someone skilled in the art will directly recognize that a specific feature being disclosed in a figure can be advantageous, also without the adoption of further features from this figure. Furthermore, someone skilled in the art will recognize that advantages can evolve from a combination of diverse features being disclosed in one or various figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0067] 10 layer-structure [0068] 20 base layer [0069] 21 top surface of the base layer [0070] 30 top layer [0071] 31 top surface of the top layer [0072] 32 bottom surface of the top layer [0073] 40 first color section [0074] 45 second color section [0075] 50 primer layer [0076] 51 top surface of the primer layer [0077] 52 bottom surface of the primer layer [0078] D thickness of the top layer [0079] HD height direcion [0080] LD length direction [0081] WD width direction