Abstract: There is disclosed an embossing foil, in particular, a hot embossing foil, preferably for the production of motor vehicle license plates wherein there is provided a decorative lacquer layer in at least a region-wise manner between a protective lacquer layer and at least one colored lacquer layer and wherein the decorative lacquer layer represents given graphic elements and comprises a lacquer containing pigments which luminesce upon being irradiated with light of a selected wavelength, preferably UV light and where the decorative lacquer layer or the transparent lacquer layer contain a material selected from the group consisting of a UV-absorber additive in an amount of from 0.5 to 2% by weight and a HALS-stabilizer in an amount of from 0.1 to 1.0% by weight.

Abstract: An embossing foil has three-dimensional patterning which does not extend uniformly over the entire surface of the foil but only over regions thereof. The region-wise three-dimensional patterning can be produced by the surface of the backing film, which is three-dimensionally patterned throughout, being covered in a region-wise manner with a lacquer forming a smooth surface, or by a thermoplastically deformable layer being provided in the interior of a decorative lacquer layer on the embossing foil, the surface of the thermoplastically deformable layer being three-dimensionally patterned only in a region-wise manner.

Abstract: An ink ribbon for a printer or the like has a leading and/or trailing, optically operative control strip. The control strip has only a first light-impervious or opaque control portion and a second transparent control portion. The control portion adjoining the ink ribbon is of a length of between 1 and 4 cm.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for decorating articles having at least a generally conical surface portion with a decoration on a stamping foil, the foil passes around a guide roller as it is fed towards the stamping roller for applying a decoration on the foil to the surface portion of the article. The guide roller is displaced by a drive means along an arcuate guide means into a position adapted to the respective rotary angular position of the article to be decorated. The drive means for driving the stamping roller is inoperable to drive same during the stamping operation so that the stamping roller is only driven by frictional engagement during the stamping operation.

Abstract: A heat-transferable film and a method for providing a tick pattern on a film-decorated substrate is provided. The heat-transferable film comprises (1) a transfer layer in facing engagement with a substrate having a first gloss level, at least one color, and a heat-activatable adhesive layer; (2) a plurality of individual spaced-apart markings, the markings having a color different from the color or colors within the transfer layer and a second gloss level different from the first gloss level, the markings adhered to the top of the transfer layer; and (3) a carrier sheet adhered to the top of the individual spaced-apart markings. Heat and pressure are applied to the top of the carrier sheet such that the heat-activatable adhesive affixes the heat-transferable film to the substrate.

Abstract: A value document and an embossing foil for the production thereof comprise a security feature in the form of a combination of a magnetic layer and a security layer which has an optical-diffraction effect. The security layer structure that has the optical-diffraction effect is provided with a reflective metal layer. To prevent damage to the reflective metal layer by particles of the magnetic layer, the metal layer is made of suitably resistant metal and/or a barrier layer is provided between the metal layer and the magnetic layer.

Abstract: In the decoration of an article having a conical surface by means of a decoration applied from an embossing foil, the embossing foil strip is unwound from a supply roll and passed around a deflection roller to feed it in the proper orientation to an embossing station in which a decoration is transferred from the embossing foil on to the surface of the article. The deflection roller and the embossing foil supply roll perform a linear movement parallel to the axis of the deflection roller and at the same time a pivotal movement about a pivot axis which is normal to that roller axis. The deflection roller is continuously linearly displaced by a distance corresponding to the deviation between the linear configuration of the embossing foil strip and the arcuate configuration defined by the development of the conical surface of the article to be decorated.

Abstract: An embossing foil such as a hot embossing foil is of a laminate structure comprising in succession a backing foil, a separating layer, a transparent cover lacquer, a decorative layer means and a foundation layer of an at least translucent material. The decorative layer means successively comprises a first decorative layer adjacent to the cover lacquer layer, an opaque intermediate layer and a second decorative layer adjacent to the foundation layer. The opaque intermediate layer can be covered at least on one side with a single-colored layer over a large area thereof.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a foil material having a metal layer on a region thereof comprises applying to a backing foil a layer of a soluble material such as a lacquer to which a hardening agent is then applied in selected regions thereof, the hardening agent reacting with the soluble material to cause it to harden. A coating of metal is then applied over the layer of soluble material and the portions of the layer of soluble material which have remained soluble are then removed, thereby also removing the portions of the layer of metal thereon and leaving the metal on the hardened portions of the layer of soluble material. The foil material made by the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A hot embossing foil includes, besides a magnetic layer, a layer which has a structure producing a diffraction effect such as a hologram. The foil may also be provided with a signing layer which in the operational condition of the foil is at the exposed surface thereof to which writing can thus be applied, while nonetheless permitting detection of the diffraction-effect structure.

Abstract: An embossing foil includes a layer which can be written upon, together with a magnetic layer for data storage purposes. Between the magnetic layer and the writing layer, the foil has a layer with a barrier effect to prevent the writing layer from being attacked by solvent contained in the magnetic layer. The foil may further comprise between the magnetic and writing layers, a structure producing an optical diffraction effect such as a hologram, with the writing surface and said structure being so arranged that nonetheless said structure can still be read, including by machine.

Abstract: An embossing foil includes a signing layer which can be written upon, in conjunction with a layer having a structure giving an optical diffraction effect such as a hologram. The signing layer may be clear in the region over the diffraction structure or alternatively the signing layer, over the diffraction structure, may be of a patterned or grid configuration defining openings through which the structure therebeneath can be viewed. The foil may also include a magnetic layer for the storage of variable data which can be readily accessed.