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.