Abstract: There is described a printing press (100***; 100****) adapted to carry out printing on a sheet-like or web-like substrate (S), in particular for the production of security documents such as banknotes, comprising a printing unit (2*; 2**; 2***; 2****) designed to print a first side (I) and/or a second side (II) of the substrate (S). The printing press (100***; 100****) further comprises an in-line casting device (80; 80*; 80**; 80***) adapted to apply a layer of material acting as an optical medium on a portion of a first side (I, II) of the substrate (S) and to replicate and form a micro-optical structure (L) in the layer of material acting as optical medium.

Abstract: There is described a printing press (100***; 100****) adapted to carry out printing on a sheet-like or web-like substrate (S), in particular for the production of security documents such as banknotes, comprising a printing unit (2*; 2**; 2***; 2****) designed to print a first side (I) and/or a second side (II) of the substrate (S). The printing press (100***; 100****) further comprises an in-line casting device (80; 80*; 80**; 80***) adapted to apply a layer of material acting as an optical medium on a portion of a first side (I, II) of the substrate (S) and to replicate and form a micro-optical structure (L) in the layer of material acting as optical medium.

Abstract: A security device is disclosed having public recognition features for use with security substrates to make security documents. The security device has a partial opaque layer having light transmissive regions surrounded by one or more opaque regions. The transmissive regions define negative indicia which are visible when viewed in transmission but not in reflection. Security features are provided on opposing sides of the partial opaque layer forming sides of the security device. At least one of the security features has indicia which are visible when viewed in reflection from one of the sides and at least partially overlap with the negative indicia. The security device has a low optical density layer which is semitransparent in the visual spectral region and is provided within the transmissive regions. The low optical density layer has a substantially continuous layer of a semitransparent material or a screen of opaque screen elements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in security devices that can be used in varying shapes and sizes for various authenticating or security applications, particularly an optically variable security device utilizing liquid crystal materials. The security device includes a liquid crystal layer (11), an at least partially absorbing layer (12) adjacent at least a part of one side of the liquid crystal layer (11), and at least one customizing region (13) which is adjacent at least a part of an opposite side of the liquid crystal layer (11) to the absorbing layer (12) in selected regions. The at least one customizing region (13) modifies the color shifting properties of the liquid crystal layer (11) such that at least two contrasting optically variable regions are provided by the regions covered by the at least one customizing region and regions not covered by the at least one customizing region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in security devices that can be used in varying shapes and sizes for various authenticating or security applications, and in particular to an optically variable security device utilizing colorshift materials. The security device (10) comprises a first and a second layer (11a, lib) of a colorshifting material at least partially overlying each other and each having different colorshifting properties. At least partially applied over surface of one of the colorshifting layers is a light control layer (12) having a surface structure which modifies the angle of reflected light, such that light reflected by the security device is seen at a different viewing angle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in security devices that can be used in varying shapes and sizes for various authenticating or security applications, and in particular to an optically variable security device utilising colourshift materials. The security device (10) comprises a first and a second layer (11a, lib) of a colourshifting material at least partially overlying each other and each having different colourshifting properties. At least partially applied over surface of one of the colourshifting layers is a light control layer (12) having a surface structure which modifies the angle of reflected light, such that light reflected by the security device is seen at a different viewing angle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in security devices that can be used in varying shapes and sizes for various authenticating or security applications, particularly an optically variable security device utilising liquid crystal materials. The security device comprises a liquid crystal layer (11), an at least partially absorbing layer (12) adjacent at least a part of one side of the liquid crystal layer (11), and at least one customising region (13) which is adjacent at least a part of an opposite side of the liquid crystal layer (11) to the absorbing layer (12) in selected regions. The at least one customising region (13) modifies the colour shifting properties of the liquid crystal layer (11) such that at least two contrasting optically variable regions are provided by the regions covered by the at least one customising region and regions not covered by the at least one customising region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in methods of manufacture of substrates which can be used in varying shapes and sizes for various authenticating or security applications, which combine the advantages of indicia formed from metallisation or demetallisation of a security element and the colour shift effects of liquid crystal materials. The invention therefore provides a method of manufacturing a substrate comprising the steps of applying a darkly coloured resist to at least a part of a metallic layer on one side of a substantially transparent polymeric film, removing metal from areas not covered by the resist to form demetallised regions and applying a polymeric liquid crystal material over the resist and the demetallised regions.