Abstract: A method for manufacturing the security element transfer material, a method for the register-accurate transfer of security elements from the security element transfer material to a value document substrate, and a value document which was equipped with a security element while employing the security element transfer material, wherein the security element transfer material has a temporary carrier material and a plurality of security elements and a plurality of register mark elements which are arranged on a main area of the temporary carrier material and have a layered composite structure. Each register mark element represents a register mark or contains a register mark, and each register mark is assigned to at least one security element. Apart from the security elements and the register mark elements, the temporary carrier material is free from layered composite material.

Abstract: A method includes using a lenticular image having a lens grid composed of a plurality of microlenses and a metallic motif layer arranged spaced apart from the lens grid; the refractive effect of the microlenses defines a focal plane and the metallic motif layer being arranged substantially in the focal plane; a line width is chosen for the demetalized sub-regions to be produced in the metallic motif layer; a marking laser source having a laser wavelength ? is selected such that the resolving power D(?) of the microlenses of the lenticular image at the selected laser wavelength ? substantially corresponds to the line width of the demetalized sub-regions to be produced; and the metallic motif layer is impinged on through the microlenses with laser radiation of the marking laser source to produce demetalized sub-regions in the metallic motif layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying security elements, comprises at least one value document substrate transport device for transporting a value document substrate web, at least one security elements transport device for transporting a security elements carrier band having a plurality of security elements, wherein the security elements carrier band has a first and a second main surface which oppose each other, each security element has a first and a second main surface which oppose each other, each security element is arranged with its first main surface on the first main surface of the security elements carrier band, and each security element has adhesive properties at its second main surface, wherein the apparatus has an application region in order to apply the security elements with their second main surface onto the value document substrate web. A security elements carrier band and a value document involve the apparatus.

Abstract: A method includes using a lenticular image having a lens grid composed of a plurality of microlenses and a metallic motif layer arranged spaced apart from the lens grid; the refractive effect of the microlenses defines a focal plane and the metallic motif layer being arranged substantially in the focal plane; a line width is chosen for the demetalized sub-regions to be produced in the metallic motif layer; a marking laser source having a laser wavelength ? is selected such that the resolving power D(?) of the microlenses of the lenticular image at the selected laser wavelength ? substantially corresponds to the line width of the demetalized sub-regions to be produced; and the metallic motif layer is impinged on through the microlenses with laser radiation of the marking laser source to produce demetalized sub-regions in the metallic motif layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a partially demetallized layer element comprises the steps of: supplying a layer element having a carrier substrate with a face that has at least one first and one second region, wherein the first region has a first structure which is different from a second structure of the second region, and at least one metal layer is arranged on the face of the carrier substrate; and removing the metal layer by exciting surface plasmon polaritons by means of electromagnetic radiation in the first region having the first structure. A layer element and an apparatus for carrying out the method are provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying security elements, comprises at least one value document substrate transport device for transporting a value document substrate web, at least one security elements transport device for transporting a security elements carrier band having a plurality of security elements, wherein the security elements carrier band has a first and a second main surface which oppose each other, each security element has a first and a second main surface which oppose each other, each security element is arranged with its first main surface on the first main surface of the security elements carrier band, and each security element has adhesive properties at its second main surface, wherein the apparatus has an application region in order to apply the security elements with their second main surface onto the value document substrate web. A security elements carrier band and a value document involve the apparatus.

Abstract: An optically variable security element, for security papers, value documents and other data carriers, includes a single or multilayer central body having opposing first and second main surfaces, an arrangement of microlenses on the first main surface of the central body, the microlenses having a refractive effect defining a focal plane, a laser-sensitive recording layer arranged on the second main surface of the central body, a mask layer arranged between the arrangement of microlenses and the laser-sensitive recording layer and outside of the focal plane of the microlenses, and a plurality of micromarks produced in the laser-sensitive recording layer by the action of laser radiation, each micromark being associated with a microlens and being visible when the security element is viewed through the associated microlens. The mask layer comprises a macroscopic gap region that is in register with the plurality of micromarks.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a partially demetallized layer element comprises the steps of: supplying a layer element having a carrier substrate with a face that has at least one first and one second region, wherein the first region has a first structure which is different from a second structure of the second region, and at least one metal layer is arranged on the face of the carrier substrate; and removing the metal layer by exciting surface plasmon polaritons by means of electromagnetic radiation in the first region having the first structure. A layer element and an apparatus for carrying out the method are provided.

Abstract: An optically variable security element, for security papers, value documents and other data carriers, includes a single or multilayer central body having opposing first and second main surfaces, an arrangement of microlenses on the first main surface of the central body, the microlenses having a refractive effect defining a focal plane, a laser-sensitive recording layer arranged on the second main surface of the central body, a mask layer arranged between the arrangement of microlenses and the laser-sensitive recording layer and outside of the focal plane of the microlenses, and a plurality of micromarks produced in the laser-sensitive recording layer by the action of laser radiation, each micromark being associated with a microlens and being visible when the security element is viewed through the associated microlens. The mask layer comprises a macroscopic gap region that is in register with the plurality of micromarks.

Abstract: A method for producing a microstructure on a carrier by: (a) manufacturing a donor foil by forming an embossed structure with elevations and depressions in a first foil material and applying a transfer layer to the embossed structure, (b) manufacturing an acceptor foil by applying an adhesive layer to a second foil material, (c) laminating the donor foil and the acceptor foil by means of the adhesive layer, the transfer layer on the elevations of the embossed structure bonding to the adhesive layer, and (d) transferring the bonded regions of the transfer layer to the acceptor foil by separating the donor foil and the acceptor foil from each other, thereby forming in the acceptor foil a first microstructure from the transferred regions of the transfer layer, and/or forming in the donor foil a second microstructure complementary to the first microstructure.

Abstract: A method for producing a microstructure on a carrier by: (a) manufacturing a donor foil by forming an embossed structure with elevations and depressions in a first foil material and applying a transfer layer to the embossed structure, (b) manufacturing an acceptor foil by applying an adhesive layer to a second foil material, (c) laminating the donor foil and the acceptor foil by means of the adhesive layer, the transfer layer on the elevations of the embossed structure bonding to the adhesive layer, and (d) transferring the bonded regions of the transfer layer to the acceptor foil by separating the donor foil and the acceptor foil from each other, thereby forming in the acceptor foil a first microstructure from the transferred regions of the transfer layer, and/or forming in the donor foil a second microstructure complementary to the first microstructure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a security element for an article to be protected, having an upper face and a lower face, one or more imaging optical arrangements, which all image a respective associated object to a magnified scale only in front of the upper face, wherein the one optical arrangement or at least one of the optical arrangements comprises a plurality of reflective micro-imaging elements arranged two-dimensionally in a first pattern, and the associated object is in the form of a microstructure object having a plurality of microstructures, which are arranged in a microstructure pattern so matched to the first pattern that the microstructure object is imaged to a magnified scale in front of the upper face by means of the reflective micro-imaging elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a security element for security papers, value documents or the like, with a carrier having an upper side and a lower side and comprising several reflective first micro-imaging elements flatly arranged in a first pattern, and second micro-imaging elements flatly arranged in a second pattern, a first microstructure object which contains several first microstructures which are arranged in a first microstructure pattern so adapted to the first pattern that the first microstructure object is imaged in magnified form in front of the upper side by means of the first micro-imaging elements, and a second microstructure object which contains several second microstructures which are arranged in a second microstructure pattern so adapted to the second pattern that the second microstructure object is imaged in magnified form in front of the underside by means of the second micro-imaging elements.