Abstract: A method for making documents, in particular identifying documents, such as passports and identifying cards, comprises the steps of providing a set of signals, particularly digital signals, defining an image to be printed on the document; providing a temporary substrate; depositing on the temporary substrate coloring matters, whereby to produce thereon the image, by the conventional laser printing method; provisionally setting the image; juxtaposing the temporary substrate with its face carrying the image in contact with the rear face of a transparent substrate; transferring the image from the temporary substrate to the transparent substrate, whereby the image is applied to the transparent substrate rear face and is visible through the transparent substrate from the front face thereof; removing the temporary substrate; and binding the transparent substrate, by lamination, to other components of the document to be produced.

Abstract: Graphic matter, such as words and images, is printed on a document in bound form, such as passport, by forming the graphic matter by laser printing steps on a temporary substrate and provisionally setting the graphic matter thus formed on the temporary substrate. Thereafter, the temporary substrate is juxtaposed with its face carrying the image in contact with the rear face of a transparent substrate, and the image is transferred to the rear face of this latter. Then the transparent substrate is juxtaposed to the final substrate that is intended to carry the image, with its rear face in contact with the front face of the final substrate, and the two substrates are laminated together, so that the image remains enclosed in the laminate and is visible from the front face of the transparent substrate as if it were printed on the final substrate.