Abstract: An optical effect device (300) comprising: a substrate (302) having a first surface (304) and a second surface (306); a plurality of structures (308) arranged on the first surface (304), each structure (308) having a first facet (310) and a second facet (314), the first facet (310) of each structure (308) being substantially parallel to the first surface (304) of the substrate (302), the second facet (314) of each structure (308) defining a slope with respect to the first surface (304), and the first facets (310) of the plurality of structures (308) forming a first facet set.

Abstract: A micro-optic device, including: a substrate; a plurality of image elements; and a plurality of focusing elements, each focusing element focuses light towards, or causes light to be diverged from or constructively interfere at a real or imaginary focal point, the focusing elements causing the image elements to be sampled so as to project imagery which is observable to a user from at least a first viewing angle, wherein a first focusing structure including at least a first group of the focusing elements and a first imagery structure including at least a first group of the image elements are integrated into a first unitary structure on a first side of the substrate.

Abstract: A security document, including: a polymer substrate; at least one print layer disposed on one or both sides of the polymer substrate; and a security feature including an image area embodied within the polymer substrate and at least partially covered by the at least one print layer, wherein the security feature is an optical security feature formed in the image area.

Abstract: A security element formed on a substrate having a printing side and a viewing side is provided, the security element including: a first image portion provided on the printing side of the substrate, the first image portion including one or more micro-image elements; a second image portion provided on the printing side and/or the viewing side of the substrate; and a plurality of focussing elements disposed on or in the viewing side of the substrate for observing the one or more micro-image elements; wherein the first image portion and the second image portion are integrated into at least one distinguishable security element when observed from the viewing side of the substrate.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to producing micro-image elements on a substrate for a security document, the method comprising: producing a plurality of microstructure units comprising three-dimensionally structured formations in a clear or pale relief layer on the substrate; and applying a coloured ink fluid to the relief layer, wherein the coloured ink fluid accumulates preferentially in regions of high surface curvature on each microstructure unit to provide contrasting areas of different ink density.

Abstract: A security document, including: a polymer substrate; at least one print layer disposed on one or both sides of the polymer substrate; and a security feature including an image area embodied within the polymer substrate and at least partially covered by the at least one print layer, wherein the security feature is an optical security feature formed in the image area.

Abstract: A micro-optic device, including: a substrate; a plurality of image elements in an image plane; and a plurality of focusing elements, each focusing element focusing light to a focal point on the image plane and magnifying any portion of an image element falling within the focal point to thereby produce an image pixel projected to a user at one or more viewing angles, the focal point having an extent smaller than the image element, wherein each image element includes an image sub-element having a different discernible level of brightness to elsewhere in the image element, the brightness of each projected image pixel being dependent on the proportion of the focal point filled with the image sub-element, and wherein each image sub-element has one or more attributes in the image plane, such that, from a given viewing angle, the brightness of each projected image pixel is dependent on each attribute of each image sub-element.

Abstract: A micro-optic device, including: a transparent substrate; first lens elements on a first side of the substrate that reveal first image elements on a second side of the substrate; and second lens elements on the second side of the substrate that reveal second image elements on the first side of the substrate.

Abstract: A micro-optic device, including: a substrate; a plurality of image elements; and a plurality of focusing elements, each focusing element focuses light towards, or causes light to be diverged from or constructively interfere at a real or imaginary focal point, the focusing elements causing the image elements to be sampled so as to project imagery which is observable to a user from at least a first viewing angle, wherein a first focusing structure including at least a first group of the focusing elements and a first imagery structure including at least a first group of the image elements are integrated into a first unitary structure on a first side of the substrate.

Abstract: A security element formed on a substrate having a printing side and a viewing side is provided, the security element including: a first image portion provided on the printing side of the substrate, the first image portion including one or more micro-image elements; a second image portion provided on the printing side and/or the viewing side of the substrate; and a plurality of focussing elements disposed on or in the viewing side of the substrate for observing the one or more micro-image elements; wherein the first image portion and the second image portion are integrated into at least one distinguishable security element when observed from the viewing side of the substrate.

Abstract: A micro-optic device, including: a transparent substrate; first lens elements on a first side of the substrate that reveal first image elements on a second side of the substrate; and second lens elements on the second side of the substrate that reveal second image elements on the first side of the substrate.

Abstract: A micro-optic device, including: a substrate; a plurality of image elements; and a plurality of focusing elements, each focusing element focuses light towards, or causes light to be diverged from or constructively interfere at a real or imaginary focal point, the focusing elements causing the image elements to be sampled so as to project imagery which is observable to a user from at least a first viewing angle, wherein a first focusing structure including at least a first group of the focusing elements and a first imagery structure including at least a first group of the image elements are integrated into a first unitary structure on a first side of the substrate.

Abstract: A micro-optic device, including: a transparent substrate; first lens elements on a first side of the substrate that reveal first image elements on a second side of the substrate; and second lens elements on the second side of the substrate that reveal second image elements on the first side of the substrate.

Abstract: A security document, including: a polymer substrate; at least one print layer disposed on one or both sides of the polymer substrate; and a security feature including an image area embodied within the polymer substrate and at least partially covered by the at least one print layer, wherein the security feature is an optical security feature formed in the image area.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to producing micro-image elements on a substrate for a security document, the method comprising: producing a plurality of microstructure units comprising three-dimensionally structured formations in a clear or pale relief layer on the substrate; and applying a coloured ink fluid to the relief layer, wherein the coloured ink fluid accumulates preferentially in regions of high surface curvature on each microstructure unit to provide contrasting areas of different ink density.

Abstract: A micro-optic device, including: a substrate; a plurality of image elements in an image plane; and a plurality of focusing elements, each focusing element focusing light to a focal point on the image plane and magnifying any portion of an image element falling within the focal point to thereby produce an image pixel projected to a user at one or more viewing angles, the focal point having an extent smaller than the image element, wherein each image element includes an image sub-element having a different discernible level of brightness to elsewhere in the image element, the brightness of each projected image pixel being dependent on the proportion of the focal point filled with the image sub-element, and wherein each image sub-element has one or more attributes in the image plane, such that, from a given viewing angle, the brightness of each projected image pixel is dependent on each attribute of each image sub-element.

Abstract: A method of printing a discontinuous image on a device using a gravure printing process which is susceptible to feathering, the device including: a substrate, and an image layer superposed with at least a portion of the substrate, the image layer including the discontinuous image, the discontinuous image having at least one leading edge during printing, the method including: printing a plurality of anti-feathering elements in an extended edge region of the image layer adjacent the leading edge, the anti-feathering elements being printed before the leading edge of the discontinuous image, the anti-feathering elements and discontinuous image being printed in the same rotary action, wherein the plurality of anti-feathering elements are indiscernible to the naked eye.

Abstract: An embossing tool for use with a rotating embossing roller, including: a tool body having a tool surface; and an array of recesses set into the tool surface to form a desired embossing surface profile, wherein at least two of the recesses are interconnected by a passage to enable fluid communication therebetween during embossing.

Abstract: A micro-optic device, including: a transparent substrate; first lens elements on a first side of the substrate that reveal first image elements on a second side of the substrate; and second lens elements on the second side of the substrate that reveal second image elements on the first side of the substrate.

Abstract: A micro-optic device, including: a substrate; a plurality of image elements; and a plurality of focusing elements, each focusing element focuses light towards, or causes light to be diverged from or constructively interfere at a real or imaginary focal point, the focusing elements causing the image elements to be sampled so as to project imagery which is observable to a user from at least a first viewing angle, wherein a first focusing structure including at least a first group of the focusing elements and a first imagery structure including at least a first group of the image elements are integrated into a first unitary structure on a first side of the substrate.