Abstract: A method for increasing the authentication effect of a verification hologram to be affixed to a protected document includes laser etching individualized indicia into the reflective layer of each hologram produced en masse on a moving, continuous web. The laser is finely focused and guided by a computer which records the data used to form the selected indicia, such data being referenced for comparison to provide verification of authenticity upon presentation by a bearer. In one embodiment, the data used to create the indicia is generated by a computer program which may include a random number generator.