Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in methods of making security features, in particular electrotype security features. The electrotype for forming an image during a paper making process comprises a mesh to which is attached at least one image forming element.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for magnetically imprinting indicia into a layer on an article, the layer comprising a composition in which magnetic or magnetisable particles are suspended. The apparatus comprises: a soft magnetisable sheet, having an outer surface arranged to face the article in use, and an opposing interior surface; and a permanent magnet, shaped such that its magnetic field contains perturbations giving rise to indicia. The permanent magnet is disposed adjacent the interior surface of the soft magnetisable sheet. The soft magnetisable sheet enhances the perturbations of the magnetic field of the permanent magnet such that when the layer to be imprinted is located adjacent the outer surface of the soft magnetisable sheet, the magnetic or magnetisable particles are oriented by the magnetic field to display the indicia.

Abstract: The security substrate includes an at least partially light transmitting carrier supporting a security feature and includes at least first and second layers, at least one of which covers an area which is less than a full surface area of the carrier and which at least partially overlaps the other layer. The layers have substantially the same color and texture, and the reflective contrast ratio of the overlapping areas and the non-over lapping areas is less than 20% and the transmissive contrast ratio of the overlapping areas and the non-overlapping areas is greater than 3%.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for magnetically imprinting indicia into a layer on an article, the layer comprising a composition in which magnetic or magnetisable particles are suspended. The apparatus comprises: a soft magnetisable sheet, having an outer surface arranged to face the article in use, and an opposing interior surface; and a permanent magnet, shaped such that its magnetic field contains perturbations giving rise to indicia. The permanent magnet is disposed adjacent the interior surface of the soft magnetisable sheet. The soft magnetisable sheet enhances the perturbations of the magnetic field of the permanent magnet such that when the layer to be imprinted is located adjacent the outer surface of the soft magnetisable sheet, the magnetic or magnetisable particles are oriented by the magnetic field to display the indicia.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for magnetically imprinting indicia into a layer on an article, the layer comprising a composition in which magnetic or magnetizable particles are suspended. The apparatus comprises: a soft magnetizable sheet, having an outer surface arranged to face the article in use, and an opposing interior surface; and a permanent magnet, shaped such that its magnetic field contains perturbations giving rise to indicia. The permanent magnet is disposed adjacent the interior surface of the soft magnetizable sheet. The soft magnetizable sheet enhances the perturbations of the magnetic field of the permanent magnet such that when the layer to be imprinted is located adjacent the outer surface of the soft magnetizable sheet, the magnetic or magnetizable particles are oriented by the magnetic field to display the indicia.

Abstract: Provided is a durable substrate for security documents such as banknotes, cheques, identification documents, etc. and a method of manufacturing such a substrate. A soil resistant paper substrate is made from a stock having a suspension of paper fibres. The paper substrate is treated with microfibrillated cellulose. The microfibrillated cellulose bridges pore spaces formed by and in between the paper fibres at least at a surface of the substrate to provide soil resistance. The microfibrillated cellulose may be added to the stock, and/or applied prior to printing and/or after printing.

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in methods of making security features, in particular electrotype security features. The electrotype for forming an image during a paper making process comprises a mesh to which is attached at least one image forming element.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with providing security substrates, and documents made therefrom, such as banknotes, with features for visual inspection by members of the public. More specifically the invention relates to a novel security substrate containing at least two elongate security elements for the purposes of public and non-public verification. The security substrate comprises a substrate and at least two elongate security elements each having a width of less than or equal to 6 mm. The security elements are at least partially embedded within the substrate and running substantially parallel to each other with a gap therebetween of no greater than 10 mm. The total cross-directional width of a zone occupied by the two security elements and the gap is less than or equal to 18 mm.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for magnetically imprinting indicia into a layer on an article, the layer comprising a composition in which magnetic or magnetisable particles are suspended. The apparatus comprises: a soft magnetisable sheet, having an outer surface arranged to face the article in use, and an opposing interior surface; and a permanent magnet, shaped such that its magnetic field contains perturbations giving rise to indicia. The permanent magnet is disposed adjacent the interior surface of the soft magnetisable sheet. The soft magnetisable sheet enhances the perturbations of the magnetic field of the permanent magnet such that when the layer to be imprinted is located adjacent the outer surface of the soft magnetisable sheet, the magnetic or magnetisable particles are oriented by the magnetic field to display the indicia.

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in security features which comprise at least one printed image and, in particular, to such security features which provide an improvement in the resolution of printed images forming security features using inks, pigments or printing processes which do not lend themselves to the production of sharply defined or high resolution images. The security feature comprises an opaque first image and a second image at least partially overlying the first image, the second image being a printed image which has a lower visual resolution than the first image. The formation of the second image is such that, when the security feature is viewed in transmitted and/or reflected light, only the shape of the first image is readily discernable.

Abstract: The security substrate comprises an at least partially light transmitting carrier supporting a security feature and the security feature comprises at least first and second layers at least one of which covers an area which is less than a full surface area of the carrier and which at least partially overlaps the other layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in security features which comprise at least one printed image and, in particular, to such security features which provide an improvement in the resolution of printed images forming security features using inks, pigments or printing processes which do not lend themselves to the production of sharply defined or high resolution images. The security feature comprises an opaque first image and a second image at least partially overlying the first image, the second image being a printed image which has a lower visual resolution than the first image. The formation of the second image is such that, when the security feature is viewed in transmitted and/or reflected light, only the shape of the first image is readily discernable.

Abstract: A document of value is provided comprising a soil or wear level test feature for determining whether the document of value is soiled. The soil or wear level test feature comprises: a reference area comprising a first region of the document; and a measurement area comprising a second region of the document. The reflectance of the measurement area is affected differently by the presence of soil or wear to that of the reference area, such that the difference in reflectance between the reference area and the measurement area provides an indicator of the degree of soiling or of the degree of wear of the document of value. Also provided is a method for detecting the soil or wear level of a document of value.

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in security documents, and a method for making such security documents. The security document made from a fibrous security substrate comprising at least one watermark and a background wiremark pattern. At least one of the said watermark or watermarks comprises at least one machine detectable pattern and, the at least one machine detectable pattern comprises a series of regularly repeating elements in which the pitch of the elements of the pattern is selected to be different from that of the background wiremark pattern formed in the substrate and lies in the range of (5) to (100) elements per cm.

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in paper, and in particular to the use of watermarks and/or embossings for strengthening paper sheets and documents made therefrom. The invention therefore provides a sheet of paper having at least three corners and three sides joined at said corners, wherein corner reinforcing watermarks are provided at each of said corners. Alternatively, or in addition, corner reinforcing embossings are provided at each of said corners.

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in paper, and in particular to the use of watermarks and/or embossings for strengthening paper sheets and documents made therefrom. The invention therefore provides a sheet of paper having at least three corners and three sides joined at said corners, wherein corner reinforcing watermarks are provided at each of said corners. Alternatively, or in addition, corner reinforcing embossings are provided at each of said corners.

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in paper, and in particular to the use of watermarks and/or embossings for strengthening paper sheets and documents made therefrom. The invention therefore provides a sheet of paper having at least three corners and three sides joined at said corners, wherein corner reinforcing watermarks are provided at each of said corners. Alternatively, or in addition, corner reinforcing embossings are provided at each of said corners.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with providing security substrates, and documents made therefrom, such as banknotes, with features for visual inspection by members of the public. More specifically the invention relates to a novel security substrate containing at least two elongate security elements for the purposes of public and non-public verification. The security substrate comprises a substrate and at least two elongate security elements each having a width of less than or equal to 6 mm. The security elements are at least partially embedded within the substrate and running substantially parallel to each other with a gap therebetween of no greater than 10 mm. The total cross-directional width of a zone occupied by the two security elements and the gap is less than or equal to 18 mm.

Abstract: This invention is directed to improvements in manufacturing substrates, such as paper, incorporating an elongate element (13), to a method of and apparatus for making such paper and to documents made therefrom. The method comprises the steps of depositing fibres onto a moving support surface (10) to form a substrate (14) and introducing an elongate element (13) such that it is at least partially embedded in the substrate (14). Information pertaining to the location of a control feature of the elongate element (18) and the location of the substrate (17) are monitored and provided to a controller (16), which controls the tension of the elongate element (13) as it is introduced into the substrate (14). The location information is used to control the rate at which the elongate element is introduced so that the elongate element control feature is in registration with at least one control feature of the substrate (14).

Abstract: The invention relates to labels and in particular to a label which can be used for security applications, such as an authentication certificate, means of identification or the like, as proof of the authenticity or origin of an article to which it is adhered. The label (10) comprises a substrate, having first (12) and second opposing surfaces (13) and comprising first (15) and second sections (16), an adhesive applied to the second surface of the first section for adhering the label, in use, to an article. At least one security feature is incorporated in or on at least one of said first and second sections. The security feature is concealed when the second section is adhered in a non-viewing position, and is revealed when the second section is lifted into a viewing position.