Abstract: It is disclosed a security element comprising a substantially flat substrate including first and second areas, wherein the first area displays a first motif and generates a first color movement effect to be seen in the first motif while the substrate gets tilted over a first angular tilting range, the second area displays a second motif and generates a second color effect to be seen in the second motif and within a second angular tilting range, the first and second angular tilting ranges are different, and the first area comprises either a micro-mirror structure or a print of magnetically oriented pigments and the second area comprises the other one of the micro-mirror structure and the print of magnetically oriented pigments.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thin optical security element comprising a reflective or refractive light-redirecting surface having a relief pattern operable to redirect incident light from a light source and form a projected image on a projection surface, the projected image comprising a caustic pattern reproducing a reference pattern that is easily visually recognizable by a person. The invention also relates to a method for designing a relief pattern of a light-redirecting surface of a thin optical security element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thin optical security element comprising a reflective or refractive light-redirecting surface having a relief pattern operable to redirect incident light from a light source and form a projected image on a projection surface, the optical parameters of this optical security element fulfilling a specific projection criterion such that the projected image comprises a caustic pattern reproducing a reference pattern that is easily visually recognizable by a person. The invention also relates to a method for designing a relief pattern of an optical security element.

Abstract: An optical security element made of a refractive transparent or partially transparent optical material and comprising an optical assembly of a caustic layer having a light-redirecting surface with a relief pattern of given depth and a focal length fC and an adjacent lens element of focal length fL configured to redirect incident light received from a point-like light source through it and to form a projected image containing a caustic pattern directly on a retina of an observer. A marked object, as well as a method of visually authenticating an object, and use of optical security elements for authenticating or securing against counterfeiting are also disclosed.

Abstract: The apparatus and methods of the present disclosure relate to devices comprising spinning magnets driven by electric motors for use with printing or coating equipment. These devices and methods are for orienting magnetic or magnetisable pigment particles in an unhardened coating composition on a substrate. Specifically, these devices and methods are for producing optical effect layers. The apparatus comprises a holder, onto which is mounted a motor and a permanent magnet assembly. The motor is configured to spin the permanent magnet assembly. The holder is configured to be removably fixed to a base of a rotating magnetic cylinder (RMC) or a flatbed printing unit.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the field of the protection of security documents, such as for example banknotes and identity documents against counterfeit and illegal reproduction. In particular, the present disclosure provides processes for producing optical effect layers (OELs) on a substrate and OELs obtained thereof, said process including two magnetic orientation steps: a step of exposing a coating composition having platelet-shaped magnetic or magnetisable pigment particles to a dynamic magnetic field of a first magnetic-field-generating device so as to bi-axially orient at least a part of the platelet-shaped magnetic or magnetisable pigment particles, and a step of exposing the coating composition to a static magnetic field of a second magnetic-field-generating device, thereby mono-axially re-orienting at least a part of the platelet-shaped magnetic or magnetisable pigment particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thin optical security element comprising a reflective or refractive light-redirecting surface having a relief pattern operable to redirect incident light from a light source and form a projected image on a projection surface, the projected image comprising a caustic pattern reproducing a reference pattern that is easily visually recognizable by a person. The invention also relates to a method for designing a relief pattern of a light-redirecting surface of a thin optical security element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thin optical security element comprising a reflective or refractive light-redirecting surface having a relief pattern operable to redirect incident light from a light source and form a projected image on a projection surface, the optical parameters of this optical security element fulfilling a specific projection criterion such that the projected image comprises a caustic pattern reproducing a reference pattern that is easily visually recognizable by a person. The invention also relates to a method for designing a relief pattern of an optical security element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of the intaglio printing process. In particular, the present invention relates to a method that combines intaglio inks curable by oxidation with UV-VIS-curable intaglio inks on one intaglio plate or cylinder. The disclosed method results in an intaglio printed security element using advantageously the unalike properties of the different inks while enabling the printing on a standard printing press in one printing step.

Abstract: Magnetic field-generating device including a plurality of elements selected from magnets and pole pieces and including at least one magnet. Plurality of elements are (i) located below supporting surface or space configured to receive a substrate acting as supporting surface or (ii) forming a supporting surface, and are configured to provide a magnetic field with magnetic field lines running substantially parallel to supporting surface or space in two or more areas above supporting surface or space. Two or more areas form nested loop-shaped areas surrounding a central area; and/or the plurality of elements include a plurality of magnets, which are rotatable around an axis of rotation such that areas with field lines running substantially parallel to supporting surface or space combine upon rotation around axis of rotation, thereby forming, upon rotation around axis of rotation, a plurality of nested loop-shaped areas surrounding one central area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of the intaglio printing process. In particular, the present invention relates to a method that combines intaglio inks curable by oxidation with UV-VIS-curable intaglio inks on one intaglio plate or cylinder. The disclosed method results in an intaglio printed security element using advantageously the unalike properties of the different inks while enabling the printing on a standard printing press in one printing step.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of the intaglio printing process. In particular, the present invention relates to a method that combines intaglio inks curable by oxidation with UV-VIS-curable intaglio inks on one intaglio plate or cylinder. The disclosed method results in an intaglio printed security element using advantageously the unalike properties of the different inks while enabling the printing on a standard printing press in one printing step.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of the protection of value documents and value commercial goods. In particular, the invention relates to printing devices and processes for producing optical effect layers (OEL) comprising magnetically oriented magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles. In particular, the present invention provides processes for producing said OELs as anti-counterfeit means on security documents or security articles or for decorative purposes. The printing devices comprise a) an orienting device comprising an orientation means, said orientation means being either a magnetic field generating belt or a non-magnetic belt comprising magnetic field generating elements, said belt being driven by at least two rollers, and b) a hardening unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of the protection of value documents and value commercial goods. In particular, the invention relates to methods of making an optical effect layer (OEL) associated with a substrate, the method comprising i) providing a substrate associated with a coating composition comprising magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles; ii) providing a permanent magnet assembly producing a first magnetic field; iii) providing an electromagnet assembly including a winding assembly and drive producing an oscillating or rotating second magnetic field that interacts with the first magnetic field to spin the permanent magnet assembly to rotate the first magnetic field; and iv) applying the first magnetic field whilst the first magnetic field rotates by spinning of the permanent magnet assembly to aggregately orient the magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles to create the optical effect layer. The invention also relates to apparatuses for creating an OEL.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of the protection of value documents and value commercial goods. In particular, the invention relates to methods of making an optical effect layer (OEL) associated with a substrate, the method comprising i) providing a substrate associated with a coating composition comprising magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles; ii) providing a permanent magnet assembly producing a first magnetic field; iii) providing an electromagnet assembly including a winding assembly and drive producing an oscillating or rotating second magnetic field that interacts with the first magnetic field to spin the permanent magnet assembly to rotate the first magnetic field; and iv) applying the first magnetic field while the first magnetic field rotates by spinning of the permanent magnet assembly to aggregately orient the magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles to create the optical effect layer. The invention also relates to apparatuses for creating an OEL.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the field of the protection of security documents, especially banknotes, against illegal actions such as robbery or theft. In particular, the present disclosure relates to the field of ink-stained documents that are resistant to chemicals. The disclosed security documents are covered on at least one side by from about 70% to about 90% of a protective varnish and have from about 10% to about 30% of one or more varnish-free areas with one or more varnish-free indentations, the percentages being based on the total surface of the one side of the security document.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of the protection of security documents such as for example banknotes and identity documents against counterfeit and illegal reproduction. In particular, the invention relates to processes for producing optical effect layers (OELs) comprising a motif made of at least two areas made of a single hardened layer on a substrate comprising a photomask.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of non-spherical magnetic or magnetisable pigment particles and coating compositions comprising those pigment particles for producing optical effect layers (OEL) wherein the magnetic or magnetisable pigment particles are magnetically oriented. In particular, the present invention provides uses of said optical effect layers (OEL) layers as anti-counterfeit means on security documents or security articles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of the protection of value documents and value commercial goods against counterfeit and illegal reproduction. In particular, the present invention relates to security threads or stripes to be incorporated into or onto security documents. The security threads or stripes comprise i) an optically variable layer; ii) a magnetic code; and iii) a non-metallized substrate, wherein the magnetic code has a color matching the color impression of the optically variable layer at one viewing angle and wherein the optically variable layer and the magnetic code are jointly visible from one side of the security thread or stripe.

Abstract: Optically variable security threads or stripes to be incorporated into or onto security documents, relate to the field of the protection of value documents and value commercial goods against counterfeit and illegal reproduction. The security threads or stripes comprise a) an optically variable layer; b) a color constant layer having a color matching the color impression of the optically variable layer at a viewing angle; c) a holographic metallic layer; and d) and a transparent substrate, wherein the optically variable layer, the color constant layer and the holographic metallic layer are at least partially jointly visible from at least one side of the security thread or stripe.