Abstract: A particle including a core particle; and a vapor deposited colorant including an organic colored material that encapsulates the core particle. The particle can be a special effect pigment or a thin film interference pigment. Methods of making the particle are also disclosed.

Abstract: A particle including a core particle; and a vapor deposited colorant including an organic colored material that encapsulates the core particle. The particle can be a special effect pigment or a thin film interference pigment. Methods of making the particle are also disclosed.

Abstract: A thin film structure including a reflector layer; and a hybrid layer including an organic colored material and at least one of an organic filler and an inorganic filler; wherein a concentration of the at least one of an organic filler or an inorganic filler is in a range of from about 3 wt. % to about 30 wt. %. A method of making a thin film structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: According to examples, a substrate may be moved through a magnetic field, in which the substrate includes a fluid carrier containing magnetically-orientable flakes. The magnetic field may influence the magnetically-orientable flakes to be respectively oriented in one of multiple orientations. In addition, during movement of the substrate through the magnetic field, radiation may be applied onto a plurality of selected portions of the fluid carrier through at least one opening in a mask to cure the fluid carrier at the plurality of selected portions and fix the magnetically-orientable flakes in the plurality of selected portions at the respective angular orientations as influenced by the magnetic field.

Abstract: According to examples, an article may include a base layer that extends along a first dimension and a second dimension, in which the second dimension is orthogonal to the first dimension. The article may also include reflective ribbons provided on an upper surface of the base layer, in which the reflective ribbons positioned along a common plane extending in the second dimension have dihedral angles that change as a function of distance across the common plane.

Abstract: A thin film structure including a reflector layer; and a hybrid layer including an organic colored material and at least one of an organic filler and an inorganic filler; wherein a concentration of the at least one of an organic filler or an inorganic filler is in a range of from about 3 wt. % to about 30 wt. %. A method of making a thin film structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A thin film structure including a reflector layer; and a hybrid layer including an organic colored material and at least one of an organic filler and an inorganic filler; wherein a concentration of the at least one of an organic filler or an inorganic filler is in a range of from about 3 wt. % to about 30 wt. %. A method of making a thin film structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: According to examples, an article may include a base layer that extends along a first dimension and a second dimension, in which the second dimension is orthogonal to the first dimension. The article may also include reflective ribbons provided on an upper surface of the base layer, in which the reflective ribbons positioned along a common plane extending in the second dimension have dihedral angles that change as a function of distance across the common plane.

Abstract: According to examples, a substrate may be moved through a magnetic field, in which the substrate includes a fluid carrier containing magnetically-orientable flakes. The magnetic field may influence the magnetically-orientable flakes to be respectively oriented in one of multiple orientations. In addition, during movement of the substrate through the magnetic field, radiation may be applied onto a plurality of selected portions of the fluid carrier through at least one opening in a mask to cure the fluid carrier at the plurality of selected portions and fix the magnetically-orientable flakes in the plurality of selected portions at the respective angular orientations as influenced by the magnetic field.

Abstract: A particle including a core particle; and a vapor deposited colorant including an organic colored material that encapsulates the core particle. The particle can be a special effect pigment or a thin film interference pigment. Methods of making the particle are also disclosed.

Abstract: A thin film structure including a reflector layer; and a hybrid layer including an organic colored material and at least one of an organic filler and an inorganic filler; wherein a concentration of the at least one of an organic filler or an inorganic filler is in a range of from about 3 wt. % to about 30 wt. %. A method of making a thin film structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A security image is disclosed which is formed from flakes having a first color with flakes having a second different color mixed within a carrier uniformly. The flakes having the second color are magnetically orientable and the flakes having the first color are non-magnetic and do not align or orient in a magnetic field. By exposing at least a single coated region to a magnetic field that is substantially orthogonal to the substrate upon which the coating of flakes is coated, a visible region having the first color is provided as the magnetic flakes are upstanding and the non-magnetic flakes are lying flat upon the substrate. In another region where there is no field applied a visible region having third perceived color different from, however formed from the first color or the second color is seen.

Abstract: A security article is a substrate having a diffractive grating thereon, coated with a windowed high index layer and a color shifting coating visible through the window. The color shifting coating is disposed on the high index layer or on the opposite side of the substrate. Alternatively, a thin film color shifting structure conforming the diffractive grating is disposed between the grating and the windowed high index layer, also conforming to the shape of the diffractive grating. Alternatively, an ink with low density of color shifting pigments is applied over the high index layer conforming to the shape of the diffractive grating. The resulting color shifting image provides a reference to a holographic image.

Abstract: A semitransparent OV device is formed using a partially transparent reflective layer having a thickness below the opaque point. For example, a partially transparent aluminum layer having a thickness of less than 20 nm, coated with a dielectric layer and an absorber layer, provides a color shifting optical stack that is partially transparent, so that an image or text printed on the substrate under the optical stack or on the opposite side of the substrate, is visible therethrough. In one embodiment, the substrate is light transmissive so that the OV foil is semitransparent so that information printed on paper and covered with such a foil may be read through this foil.

Abstract: A security thread for embedding in or on a sheet such as a document, currency or packaging is disclosed, wherein the thread has a thin film interference structure deposited thereon. The article has plural Fabry-Perot filters and light transmissive windows between the filters, so that another optical structure, such as a reflective layer or color shifting foil, is visible though the windows and provides a visual reference to the image formed by the Fabry-Perot filters. Preferably, the thread is first roll coated with oil using an oil-ablation technique to remove deposited material in situ in the coating process. A magnetic layer may be deposited within, behind or in front of the thin film interference structure.

Abstract: A security device for providing an image having a color shifting region and a visual reference, comprises a substrate having a first side and a second side, a patterned thin film layer on the first side of the substrate for providing the visual reference, and a coating of color shifting ink supported by the first or second side of the substrate for providing the color shifting region of the image, wherein the patterned thin film layer has windows therein, and the color shifting ink is visible through the windows.

Abstract: A security article provides a covert feature as well as an optically variable effect on one side thereof and a mirror-like reflective effect on another side. The article includes an interference filter consisting of a first reflective layer, a dielectric layer on the first reflective layer, and an absorber layer on the dielectric layer. Furthermore, the article includes a magnetic layer under the first reflective layer for providing the covert feature, and a second reflective layer under the magnetic layer for providing the mirror-like reflective effect. The magnetic layer may be patterned, and a third reflective layer, also patterned, may be formed on the absorber layer for providing a visual reference for the color shifting image.

Abstract: A method for forming an optically variable device upon a substrate comprises the steps of: patterning a reflective layer on the substrate using an oil-ablation technique; removing oil residue from the first side of the substrate using a first glow discharge; and depositing thin-film layers so as to be supported by the substrate to form the optically variable device. Optionally, oil residue is removed from the second side of the substrate using a second glow discharge.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a magnetic rotatable roller with a smooth even outer surface for aligning magnetic flakes in a carrier, such as an ink vehicle or a paint vehicle to create optically variable images in a high-speed, linear printing operation. Images can provide security features on high-value documents, such as bank notes. Magnetic flakes in the ink are aligned using magnetic portions of the roller, that can be formed by permanent magnets embedded in a non-magnetic roller body, or selectively magnetized portions of a flexible magnetic cover of the roller. In some embodiments, the roller is assembled for a plurality of interchangeable sections, which can include spinning magnets. Selected orientation of the magnetic pigment flakes can achieve a variety of illusive optical effects that are useful for decorative or security applications.

Abstract: Interference pigment flakes and foils are provided which have color shifting properties. The pigment flakes can have a symmetrical coating structure on opposing sides of a reflector layer, can have an asymmetrical coating structure with all of the layers on one side of the reflector layer, or can be formed with encapsulating coatings around a core reflector layer. The coating structure of the flakes and foils includes a reflector layer, a dielectric layer on the reflector layer, and a titanium-containing absorber layer on the dielectric layer. The pigment flakes and foils exhibit a discrete color shift so as to have a first color at a first angle of incident light or viewing and a second color different from the first color at a second angle of incident light or viewing. The pigment flakes can be interspersed into liquid media such as paints or inks to produce colorant compositions for subsequent application to objects or papers.