Abstract: In a method for making an article, in particular a card of plastic or paper, presenting a secret code hidden by a layer of opaque, removable material, a first application device applies the secret code on the article, a second application device places the layer of opaque removable material over the secret code and a marking device impresses on the article an anti-counterfeit mark; the latter is made by at least one laser beam and at least partly on the layer of opaque removable material in such a way as to selectively remove a part of the opaque removable material to produce a defined anti-counterfeit code.

Abstract: In a method and a machine (1) for making an article (2), in particular a card of plastic or paper, presenting a secret code (3) hidden by a layer (4) of opaque, removable material, a first application device (8) applies the secret code (3) on the article (2), a second application device (11) places the layer (4) of opaque removable material over the secret code (3) and a marking device (16) impresses on the article (2) an anti-counterfeit mark (17). The latter is made by at least one laser beam and at least partly on the layer (4) of opaque removable material in such a way as to selectively remove a part of the opaque removable material to produce a defined anti-counterfeit code (20).