Abstract: An optically variable security thread or stripe (T) is provided which could be incorporated into or onto security documents. The security thread or stripe comprises: a) an optically variable layer (1), b) a color constant layer (2) having a color matching the color impression of the optically variable layer at a viewing angle, c) a holographic metallic layer (3) and d) a substrate (4), wherein the optically variable layer, the color constant layer and the holographic metallic layer are at least partially jointly visible from the side of the security thread or stripe comprising the optically variable layer and/or the color constant layer.

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 invention relates to the field of the protection of security documents such as for example banknotes and identity documents against counterfeit and illegal re-production. In particular, the invention relates to magnetic-field-generating devices which produce positively curved magnetic field lines in a concave fashion. The invention also relates to the use of these magnetic-field-generating devices for producing optical effect layers OEL which exhibit the optical impression of a positive rolling bar effect and to processes using these magnetic-field-generating devices, e.g. in the field of document security.

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 processes for producing security threads or stripes to be incorporated into or onto security documents and security documents comprising said security threads or stripes.

Abstract: Security thread or stripe, magnetic orienting cylinder and methods making magnetic orienting cylinder and of using magnetic orienting cylinder. Security thread or strip includes a plastic foil having a hardened coating comprising magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles oriented to represent graphic information. Graphic information includes a seamless and continuous repetitive pattern having a repetition length.

Abstract: For improving the intaglio printing of inks comprising large particles such as optically variable pigment particles and/or optically variable magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles, the invention proposes a process for intaglio printing a feature or pattern comprising the steps of (i) inking one or more chablon cylinders with one or more low viscosity inks, and comprising particles having a size (d50) up to about 90 microns with one or more screen cylinders comprising urging means, the one or more screen cylinders being connected by means of a connecting duct to an intaglio ink reservoir, (ii) transferring the one or more inks from the one or more chablon cylinders to a plate cylinder carrying one or more an intaglio engraved plates, (iii) transferring one or more inks ink from the plate cylinder carrying one or more an intaglio engraved plates to a substrate, and (iv) hardening or curing the one or more inks.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for the authentication of an optically variable entity exhibiting a color shift with changing viewing-angle, the device comprising a plate of light-refractive material, said plate having two surfaces and an array of light-refracting protrusions or recesses on at least one of said surfaces, and being disposed in said device such as to provide, aside each other, a direct view and a view through said plate onto at least parts of said optically variable entity, said view through said plate being an angularly deflected view, resulting from light refraction at said protrusions or recesses. Further disclosed is a method for authenticating an optically variable entity, as well as the use of a plate having two parallel surfaces and an array of positive or negative light-refracting protrusions or recesses on at least one of said surfaces for authenticating an optically variable entity.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a security thread or stripe for the incorporation into or onto a value-document or currency substrate, as well as a method and means of making such thread or stripe. The thread or stripe comprises a plastic foil which carries a hardened coating comprising oriented magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles, the orientation of said pigment particles representing graphic information. Preferred are optically variable magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles. Said hardened coating may also be comprised between a first and a second plastic foil. Said graphic information is a repetitive seamless pattern of suitable repetition length, which is produced using a magnetic orienting cylinder having a corresponding repetitive seamless magnetic field pattern. A magnetic orienting cylinder and a process for process for producing such magnetic orienting cylinder are also disclosed.

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 optical effect layers (OEL) showing a viewing-angle dependent optical effect, devices and processes for producing said OEL and items carrying said OEL, as well as uses of said optical effect layers as an anti-counterfeit means on documents.

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 optical effect layers (OEL) showing a viewing-angle dependent optical effect, devices and processes for producing said OEL and items carrying said OEL, as well as uses of said optical effect layers as an anti-counterfeit means on documents.

Abstract: Device for the counterfeit protection of a banknote, a document of value or an article. The device includes a substrate (S), and on the substrate (S) a plurality of jointly visible zones of first (1) and of second (2) hardened coatings including oriented pigment particles (P1, P2) in a transparent binder (M1, M2), the first (1) hardened coating having a pigment orientation imitating a first curved surface and the second (2) hardened coating having a pigment orientation imitating a second curved surface different from the first curved surface. The device is characterized in that, along a linear section through the device, at least one zone of the second (2) hardened coating is contiguously located between two zones of the first (1) hardened coating. Method for producing the device, the use of the device, as well as security documents carrying said device.

Abstract: Security threads or stripes include a substrate and i) a first optically variable layer imparting a first different color impression at different viewing angles, ii) a second optically variable layer imparting a second different color impression at different viewing angles, iii) a first color constant layer having a color matching the color impression of the first or second optically variable layer at a first viewing angle, iv) a second color constant layer having a color matching the color impression of the first or second optically variable layer at a second viewing angle, and v) one or more material-free regions, wherein the first optically variable layer, the second optically variable layer, the first color constant layer, the second color constant layer and the one or more material-free regions are jointly visible from one side of the security thread or stripe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of the protection against counterfeiting or illegal reproduction of embossed metal coins. In particular, the present invention provides embossed metal coins comprising a coating layer made of an optically variable composition comprising a plurality of optically variable pigment particles.

Abstract: In the field of protection of value documents and value commercial goods, the present disclosure relates to the field of security threads or stripes to be incorporated into or onto security documents, and security documents having security threads or stripes. The security threads or stripes include i) first optically variable layer imparting a first different color impression at different viewing angles, ii) second optically variable layer imparting a second different color impression at different viewing angles, iii) first color constant layer having a color matching color impression of the first or second optically variable layer at a first viewing angle, iv) second color constant layer having a color matching color impression of the first or second optically variable layer at a second viewing angle, and v) a substrate. The layers are jointly visible from one side of the security thread or stripe.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a process for manufacturing a security feature comprising a tactile pattern, said method comprising the steps of applying on a substrate a radiation-curable basecoat composition by a process selected from the group consisting of inkjet, offset, screen printing, flexo printing and rotogravure; at least partially or fully radiation-curing said radiation-curable basecoat composition so as to obtain a radiation-cured basecoat; applying on the radiation-cured basecoat obtained under step ii) a radiation-curable topcoat composition in a form of indicia by a process selected from the group consisting of screen printing, flexo printing and rotogravure; radiation-curing said radiation-curable topcoat composition so as to form a radiation-cured topcoat, wherein the radiation-curable basecoat composition and/or the radiation-curable topcoat composition comprises one or more machine readable feature substances independently selected from the group consisting of cholesteric liquid cryst

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the field of graphical elements and is directed to an optical effect layer (OEL), a device and a method for producing same. The disclosure provides an optical effect that is easy to detect as such and exhibits a viewing-angle dependent apparent motion of image features over an extended length if the viewing angle with respect to the OEL changes. An OEL includes a binder material being at least partially transparent and a plurality of particles dispersed within the layer. Each particle has a non-isotropic reflectivity and may be magnetic or magnetizable. The orientation of the particles forms an orientation pattern extending over a length within an extended surface of the OEL, such that the local average of an angle between (i) a straight line along an observed longest dimension within the corresponding cross-section shape, and (ii) said first direction x varies according to a function (?) of a position (P) along said first direction.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of authentication of coating compositions such as varnishes, inks and paints, and it is particularly useful in the field of authentication of such coating compositions when applied to substrates like banknotes or other valuable documents. It is particularly directed to a marked coating composition. e.g. an ink, that is marked with a marker (taggant) such as to allow for its authentication, and a method for authenticating such a marked coating composition. The marking is achieved by covalently binding a taggant to a coating composition component. e.g. such used for security documents. The taggant, which is not extractable through usual chemical treatments like washing methods or the use of solvents, can be detected and identified upon thermally induced chemical fragmentation with a PY-GC-MS apparatus. The marked ink or the marked substrate is thus authenticated as belonging to a particularly marked ink, varnish or batch.

Abstract: Paired optically variable security element which includes first and second optically variable thin-film multilayer interference devices in the form of optically variable foils or of printings made with inks having optically variable interference pigments. The first and second interference devices exhibit spectral matching at a determined angle of incidence. Sets of optically variable devices and of coating compositions include optically variable pigments for the production of the paired optically variable security element. Moreover, the security element can be used for the protection of documents and goods, and security documents and goods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of the protection of security documents, especially banknotes, against illegal actions such as robbery or theft. In particular, the present invention 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 comprising from about 10% to about 30% of one or more varnish-free areas comprising one or more varnish-free indentations (I), the percents being based on the total surface of the one side of the security document.

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.