Abstract: A scanning laser having a wavelength compatible with a coating binder so as to cure it as the laser scans and irradiates the coating on a moving web. A system and method for curing flakes by providing a scanning laser which scans across a moving coated substrate in a magnetic field allows images to be formed as magnetically aligned flakes are cured into a fixed position. The images have regions of cured aligned flakes. The scanning laser cures the magnetically aligned flakes within it region it irradiates. Alternatively an array of lasers can be used wherein individual lasers can be switched on and off to fix irradiated coating as a moving web is moved at a high speed.

Abstract: An optical article printed on a substrate may include an organic binder; and a plurality of reflective magnetic platelets provided in the organic binder, wherein the plurality of reflective magnetic platelets are substantially aligned in accordance with at least part of a surface of revolution, and wherein the plurality of reflective magnetic platelets are aligned to cause a first reflective effect of the optical article when the substrate is rotated around a first axis and to cause a second reflective effect of the optical article when the substrate is rotated around a second axis, wherein the first reflective effect is different from the second reflective effect.

Abstract: A printing machine including a printing plate on a surface of a rotating cylinder, in which the printing plate has a fixed pattern for receiving a toner; a vessel containing the toner, which includes a pigment and a thermoplastic binder, in which the fixed pattern is a permanent pattern in a form of selected portions of an image is disclosed. A plate for use in the printing machine is also disclosed. A printing system is also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical device comprising a structured substrate; a reflective layer on the structured substrate; and a coating with magnetic flakes on the reflective layer is disclosed. A method of making and using an optical device is also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical article printed on a substrate may include an organic binder; and a plurality of reflective magnetic platelets provided in the organic binder, wherein the plurality of reflective magnetic platelets are substantially aligned in accordance with at least part of a surface of revolution, and wherein the plurality of reflective magnetic platelets are aligned to cause a first reflective effect of the optical article when the substrate is rotated around a first axis and to cause a second reflective effect of the optical article when the substrate is rotated around a second axis, wherein the first reflective effect is different from the second reflective effect.

Abstract: An assembly including a first magnet; a substrate positioned above the first magnet, and having a surface for receiving a composition including a plurality of magnetizable platelets; and a second magnet, positioned above the substrate is disclosed. The assembly can be used in a method of making an optical security element. The optical security element and the method of making the optical security element are also disclosed.

Abstract: An assembly including a first magnet; a substrate positioned above the first magnet, and having a surface for receiving a composition including a plurality of magnetizable platelets; and a second magnet, positioned above the substrate is disclosed. The assembly can be used in a method of making an optical security element. The optical security element and the method of making the optical security element are also disclosed.

Abstract: A security article may include a substrate. The security article may include a layer of security ink. The layer of security ink may include a set of color-shifting interference particles. The security article may include a layer of magnetic color-shifting ink. The layer of magnetic color-shifting ink may include a set of magnetically aligned magnetic particles. A color-shifting property of the layer of security ink and a color-shifting property of the layer of magnetic color-shifting ink may have a threshold level of similarity to create a color matching effect.

Abstract: A security article may include a substrate. The security article may include a layer of security ink. The layer of security ink may include a set of color-shifting interference particles. The security article may include a layer of magnetic color-shifting ink. The layer of magnetic color-shifting ink may include a set of magnetically aligned magnetic particles. A color-shifting property of the layer of security ink and a color-shifting property of the layer of magnetic color-shifting ink may have a threshold level of similarity to create a color matching effect.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic multilayer pigment flake and a magnetic coating composition that are relatively safe for human health and the environment. The pigment flake includes one or more magnetic layers of a magnetic alloy and one or more dielectric layers of a dielectric material. The magnetic alloy is an iron-chromium alloy or an iron-chromium-aluminum alloy, having a substantially nickel-free composition. The coating composition includes a plurality of the pigment flakes disposed in a binder medium.

Abstract: A method of printing a toner, including: rotating a cylinder having a printing plate with a fixed pattern; transferring a toner from a vessel onto the fixed pattern of the printing plate, in which the toner includes a pigment with a metallic reflective layer; and transferring the toner onto a substrate; in which the fixed pattern defines select portions of an image; and in which the toner correlates to the selected portions of the image is disclosed.

Abstract: A recorded and fixed color image, including: a plurality of pixels; in which a pixel, of the plurality of pixels, contains two or more additive process color areas; in which each additive process color area, of the two or more additive process color areas, has a centroid located within an area of the pixel; in which locations of the centroids, within the area of the pixel, are present in two or more configurations in the plurality of pixels is disclosed. A method of forming a color image is also disclosed.

Abstract: A printing machine including a printing plate on a surface of a rotating cylinder, in which the printing plate has a fixed pattern for receiving a toner; a vessel containing the toner, which includes a pigment and a thermoplastic binder, in which the fixed pattern is a permanent pattern in a form of selected portions of an image is disclosed. A plate for use in the printing machine is also disclosed. A printing system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A security device is disclosed that has an image formed upon a substrate. The image has a first printed region and a second different printed region both printed with a same ink formulation of field alignable flakes. At least one of the printed regions has optically variable effects. One of the first and second printed regions at least partially surrounds the other. The second printed region is formed of thin parallel lines and the first printed region has substantially wider lines than are printed in the second printed region. The area density of the ink in a line in the first group of wider lines is greater than the area density of a line in the second group of narrower lines. A surprising effect of this image is that particles or flakes in the ink are field aligned so as to produce a visible kinematic dynamic effect visible in the first region and not visible in the second region when the image is tilted or rotated.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an optical security feature that is based on a single axis alignment of mirrors or facets in a structured surface that forms a micro mirror array. In an aspect, a device is described that includes a reflecting structure on a first layer, where the reflecting structure has a top surface with multiple embossed facets arranged in a spatial orientation that produces a flat ring optical effect upon incidence of light. In another aspect, a method for making the device is described that provides a reflecting layer and produces the reflecting structure on the reflecting layer with multiple facets arranged in the spatial orientation to produce the flat ring optical effect. In yet another aspect, an apparatus for making the device is described that includes a pressing device and a stamping device to transfer a pattern of the reflecting structure to a reflecting material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic multilayer pigment flake and a magnetic coating composition that are relatively safe for human health and the environment. The pigment flake includes one or more magnetic layers of a magnetic alloy and one or more dielectric layers of a dielectric material. The magnetic alloy is an iron-chromium alloy or an iron-chromium-aluminum alloy, having a substantially nickel-free composition. The coating composition includes a plurality of the pigment flakes disposed in a binder medium.

Abstract: An assembly including a first magnet; a substrate positioned above the first magnet, and having a surface for receiving a composition including a plurality of magnetizable platelets; and a second magnet, positioned above the substrate is disclosed. The assembly can be used in a method of making an optical security element. The optical security element and the method of making the optical security element are also disclosed.

Abstract: A security device is disclosed that has an image formed upon a substrate. The image has a first printed region and a second different printed region both printed with a same ink formulation of field alignable flakes. At least one of the printed regions has optically variable effects. One of the first and second printed regions at least partially surrounds the other. The second printed region is formed of thin parallel lines and the first printed region has substantially wider lines than are printed in the second printed region. The area density of the ink in a line in the first group of wider lines is greater than the area density of a line in the second group of narrower lines. A surprising effect of this image is that particles or flakes in the ink are field aligned so as to produce a visible kinematic dynamic effect visible in the first region and not visible in the second region when the image is tilted or rotated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic multilayer pigment flake and a magnetic coating composition that are relatively safe for human health and the environment. The pigment flake includes one or more magnetic layers of a magnetic alloy and one or more dielectric layers of a dielectric material. The magnetic alloy is an iron-chromium alloy or an iron-chromium-aluminum alloy, having a substantially nickel-free composition. The coating composition includes a plurality of the pigment flakes disposed in a binder medium.

Abstract: In some implementations, a metamaterial absorber (MMA) is configured to absorb a particular range of electromagnetic radiation. The MMA includes a first metal or semiconductor material; a dielectric material disposed on the first metal or semiconductor material; and a second metal material disposed on the dielectric material. A length dimension associated with the MMA is less than or equal to 200 micrometers (?m), a width dimension associated with the MMA is less than or equal to 200 ?m, and a thickness dimension associated with the MMA is less than or equal to 8 ?m.