Optically variable element with non-holographic data and its production method

The invention relates to an optically variable device with diffraction structures for application to data carriers by the transfer method.

Optically variable elements have been known for several decades in various embodiments. Together these elements is that they exhibit, depending on the viewing and illumination angle different optical effects. A particular class of optically variable elements based on diffraction effects. This includes linear or structured diffraction grating, holographic recordings, cinegrams and the like.

Optically variable elements are used in various fields using, for. Example in the advertising industry, the decoration industry, but also for authenticity labeling of data carriers. By just lately significantly increased optical quality holograms cinegrams, diffraction grating find etc. in the security sector, for example, for credit cards, identity cards, bank notes, etc. Sicherheitsdokumentë, becoming increasingly popular. The rising popularity has essentially two reasons. First, such elements meet the traditional usual safety requirements for human testable authenticity features, which is a high expenditure for production and imitation, low availability of technology and an unambiguous testability without additional aids. Second, the elements correspond to the latest state of the art, thereby imparting the associated product a modern, highly technical character.

In the patent literature and in practical use in the security field, such elements have been known in various versions.

Very early after the publication of the first holograms was proposed to protect ID cards, credit cards and the like against counterfeiting and falsification by the fact that the personal data of the card user is stored in addition to the usual photographic and / or written form again holographically in the hologram on the map will. A comparison between the conventional map data and the data stored in the hologram data should prove their accuracy. From the variety of items available for this purpose are the<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="DE2501604A"><text>DE-OS 25 01 604</text></patcit>, the <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="DE2512550A"><text>DE-OS 25 12 550</text></patcit> and the <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="DE2545799A"><text>DE-OS 25 45 799</text></patcit> representative called.

Although under the traditional security philosophy of the expenditure for the production of authenticity Mark Paint should desirably be high, but this is primarily for the acquisition value and the low availability of the necessary production facilities. The production of large quantities of 'producing authenticity features themselves should be on this relatively expensive production but in economic form possible.

In various types of hologram creation of the respective first hologram is relatively complicated and costly. The production of duplicates is possible at a fraction of this "first cost" against.

A disadvantage it thus proves to be in the above embodiments, that the production of holograms to be made not only very costly installations, but also for each card its own holograms are to be made with individual information (personalization data), so that the technical effort for creation of these individual holograms (unique) is always relatively high. A reduction in costs by shifting the burden to the production equipment is only possible in a very limited extent. Due to these adverse conditions, the use of holograms with holographically stored card-specific data is not justifiable from an economic viewpoint.

Depending on the type of disc or the holographic standard element to use different techniques. While not complete, are:<ul><li>direct embossing of holographic structure on the recording medium, the surface texture allows this, z. B. on plastic materials</li><li>heat sealing or sticking realized on an intermediate carrier holograms on the actual recording medium, which may have a paper or plastic surface, z. B. banknotes, securities, identity card etc.,</li><li>the Einkaschieren or mounting in of of provided on subcarriers holograms into the interior of a layer structure of multi-layer recording medium,</li><li>warehousing of security threads or planchettes with holographic diffraction structures in paper during the paper-manufacturing process.</li></ul>

The process today's most widely used for the preparation and application of standard holograms to data carriers is the transfer of embossed holograms to identity cards. For this reason, the manufacturing process and the individualizing measures are presented by way of example on the basis of this technique. The key steps are in this case the making of a master hologram, the production of hologram copies and the application to the subsequent product.

The Production of the Master is usually in manual production with a very expensive equipment. Accordingly, the master hologram is burdened with high costs. The preparation of copies and the application to the cover films of cards are machined at a high speed and thus relatively inexpensive to carry out. Due to this cost structure one endeavors to make low fixed costs per hologram by preparing a maximum possible number of identical copies. The need for mass production thus leads in the security area, particularly in the card sector, in limitations of the holographic anti-counterfeiting measures.

were to reduce the expenditure for hologram production costs in this sense now embodiments, which, although using holograms as an authenticity feature, in which the data stored in the hologram data are not benutzerindividualisiert but only linked to our card issuer individuality have (standard holograms). In this sense, although the holograms of different card systems differ from each other, but the holograms of the individual cards of a system are identical.

By using standard holograms (ie duplicates of a master hologram) on a card system it was now possible to distribute the relatively high fixed costs for the holographic recording technique on a large number of cards. Depending on the scope of the card series, the costs thus distributed may produce such large quantities that hit only the Duplizierungskosten to book for the price of the individual hologram substantially. Due to this fact holograms were used economically as a mass product in the security field for the first time.

Besides the well-known applications in Euro check system as well as the VISA and MasterCard credit cards are representative of these applications means that patents <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="DE3308831A"><text>DE-OS 33 08 831</text></patcit> and <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="EP0064067A"><text>EP Patent 0064067</text></patcit> to call.

It is known that the holograms used in the current US credit card systems are so-called embossed holograms, in which a reproduction means of die-plates is possible. Although a large part of the cost for the holographic recording technique is obtained that for duplication of the holograms in series production to estimated costs are yet still so high that economic production is only possible if the for the recording technology and the production of the hologram Masters necessary costs are reversible in series with millions of pieces. The production of small series, that is a few tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of cards is prohibitive for financial or economic reasons therefore mostly still.

When using the same holograms within a card series is indeed achieved that maps a system are better distinguished from cards of another; the counterfeiting of cards but that's not entirely ruled out since manipulations are possible still by stamping such holograms and transferring to other cards. While there are measures such. make it difficult to manipulation, in which the will map users concerned high embossing data partially or fully transferred to the hologram area. It is known that the high embossing data but rückprägbar whereby such manipulation in practice can be identified, although those skilled, but not for amateurs. The provision of card-specific relief embossing data within the range of the standard hologram thus provides no real protection against transfer to other cards.

To avoid such problems and is in the <patcit id="pcit0006" dnum="AT334117"><text>AT-PS 334 117</text></patcit> the use of standard holograms to user-related individualization of cards described. According to this proposal the card individualization is made possible by the combination of several standard holograms, which contain certain information individually, z. B. letters or numbers, and by an appropriate combination of the individual cards of a system different data such. B . words, multi-digit numbers, etc., represent. By imposing such holograms using a standard set of dies, the simple and inexpensive production of individual holographic card data is possible.

Because with this variant mainly alphanumeric data are applied, but particularly pictorial data are only conditionally reproduce, the overall impression of such holograms is visually little effective, which is why enforcement of these individualization in the market was not previously possible.

Another variant of the individualization of documents, incorporating holograms's <patcit id="pcit0007" dnum="DE2555214A"><text>DE-OS 25 55 214</text></patcit> described: In this embodiment, it is proposed to apply diffraction structures in the form of numeric or alphanumeric characters on a document. Here, a thermoplastic ink in the form of numbers is printed on a paper substrate, followed by a large-area stamp imprinted the diffraction structure.

This variant, however, is not suitable for multi-layer types of holograms, which are particularly preferred because of the internal and thus protected diffraction structure for producing data carriers.

In the <patcit id="pcit0008" dnum="DE2601693"><text>DE 26 01 693</text></patcit> describes a document comprising an information carrier having a plurality of holographic fields that can be individually erased or altered. In this manner, a coded binary information that is machine-readable.

From the <patcit id="pcit0009" dnum="DE3151407C1"><text>DE 31 51 407 C1</text></patcit> is a multi-layer identity card is known, can be written in the information in the form of patterns by means of a laser beam recorder. The energy of the laser beam card layers are partially destroyed.

The prior art shows that the existing safety technology needs and the feasibility of economically feasible solutions have not yet found a common denominator.

Starting from this general view and the related prior art, the invention is therefore the object of proposing diffraction structure elements and in particular hologram variants and manufacturing method thereof that allow a different security aspects adapted degree of individualisation of the holograms and therefore the widest possible protection of data and documents and while offering the cost benefits of mass production of standard holograms.

This object is achieved by the features stated in the characterizing part of the main claim. Further developments are given in the subordinate claims.

The essence of the invention lies in the fact that the always composed of several individual steps production of holograms or hologram cards and the like is stopped at a suitable stage, in which they are modified or personalized by selective individualizing measures without significant restriction or hindrance of series production. Depending on the wherein the preparation step, the modification is provided, despite using the same hologram master on the final product (the hologram card) very different hologram embodiments are achievable. The spectrum of individualization extends from a small series of interesting, different in appearance from the standard hologram subset same holograms to a complete personalization, in which the standard holograms are transformed into real-offs.

For the production of holograms using various technologies is necessary as holographic recording, reproduction on a series semis, connection or contribution to the media etc .. If you add the individualizing measures in each of the process steps a, in which the hologram production from one technology to another through switches , these measures are relatively easy to integrate into the process of hologram manufacturing and make this the most .. without major intervention in the actual production and their production facilities

The Grundpinzip invention is illustrated in the following example, based on embossed holograms, which are prefabricated as semifinished products to so-called transfer tapes and transferred by the transfer process to the actual disk. This method is particularly well suited for the realization of the invention, since mind the different technological areas, which for the production of master holograms, the standard holograms (duplicates), the protected media and the hologram transfer are particularly clearly separated on the disk. The use of the principles of the invention in the use of volume holograms, etc. kinegrams is accordingly equally possible when. Also not always possible with embossed transfer holograms variation

Especially advantageous turns out that all the economic advantages of mass production of holograms can be used both individually customized holograms and for small series the same holograms in the same manner with the method proposed by the invention; also can be due to the integration of the individualizing measures in the manufacturing process individualization irreversibly gestalten- Depending on the nature of the intervention in the process sequence, and by combining various individualizing measures can be, starting from the same master, create different element variations. The cited method finally makes a preliminary production of standard prepared semifinished create that is individualized depending on the application any later in the subsequent process steps and / or completed.

Further advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the figure and the following examples.

Show it<dl id="dl0001"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>the essential process steps in the production and transfer of embossed holograms to disk,</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>the breakdown of the phases of the procedure shown in FIG. 1,</dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>the layer structure of a transfer belt,</dd><dt>Fig. 4</dt><dd>the layer structure of the finished hologram on a substrate;</dd><dt>Fig. 5</dt><dd>a transfer tape that is perforated. </dd><dt>Fig. 4</dt><dd>Procedure for preparation of the volume film holograms</dd></dl>

A process for the manufacture of transfer embossing holograms

FIG. 1 shows the main stages of production of embossed holograms and their application to data carriers by the transfer method, such as are customary according to the current state of technology. The method thus divided into<ul><li>Making an embossing master (Pos. 1, Fig. 1),</li><li>Moulding of identical die-plates (pos. 2, Fig. 1),</li><li>Embossing the holograms on transfer bands (Pos. 3, Fig. 1) and</li><li>Transferring the holograms to the product (Pos. 4, Fig. 1).</li></ul>

The individual process steps are known to differ technologically so greatly from one another, that they take place in completely different production areas. Because of the complexity of these steps, these are very often realized even in completely separate industries. The transition from one production area to another takes place at the technological interfaces where there is the intermediate product as defined semis.

Each of these indicated in FIG. 1, four process steps has technological priorities. So in stage 1 of the embossing master making the actual photo art or holography is dominant. In this area, which is comparable in structure with a film studio, the holographically be reproduced objects in the model (usually in scale 1: 1) was prepared, exposed the footage holographically copied the holograms (films) on different film, developed, etc., and the first embossing master created. On the embossing master the hologram exists in a fine surface relief structure which can be duplicated by mechanical Abprägen in sufficiently smooth and deformable materials. Since the Abprägen the relief structure, the relief to high mechanical loads and thus also high wear is exposed, one not used for duplication of the holograms usually the embossing master itself, but die-plates derived therefrom. Also, since the molding of die-plates from an original (embossing master) can be repeated is limited, they are created in multi-stage process via so-called submaster or sub-submasters etc..

The molding of the die-plates from the embossing master, the submaster or the like is usually carried out on galvanoplastic manner. The necessary steps are well known and will not be described further here. Worth mentioning in this context seems le diglich the fact that in this second production step (Pos. 2, Fig. 1) necessary production conditions which equate the chemical industry. The production equipment used in this process step consist primarily of galvanic baths, where in appropriate electrolyte solutions of metal salts and chemical additives under the influence of electric DC metallic layers are produced that reflect the master relief.

Following receipt of the die-plates this in the third step (Pos. 3, Fig. 1) are used in stamping machines to transmit the reliefs on plastic surfaces etc.. In a preferred embodiment of the inventive method the relief structures are embossed into standardized, so-called transfer tapes, which in turn stored as a semi-finished product and the later "products" in different ways can be used.

In principle, the application of holographic relief to the product in one or two step process is possible. In one-step process, the relief structure of the hologram is imprinted directly onto the surface of the to be equipped with the hologram product. Depending on the nature of the product, this approach prohibits but in many cases, since the embossing only on smooth deformable surfaces under the action of high surface pressure is possible. For this reason, but also because of the higher flexibility, so the two-step method is chosen in practice usually in the form of glued wherein the relief first on an intermediate medium such. As a transfer belt, produced and on the product, sealed, or the like is fixed. Although the inventive principle would be used for both versions, the two-step variant is preferred because in this embodiment, a greater range of variation is given. This is especially true when the intermediate medium is a transfer belt is used.

The preparation of the transfer belts is done depending on the required configuration and depending on the desired hologram quality and safety standards also in several individual steps. In this process multilayer neutral foil strips are prepared in which the holograms are imprinted strung together. Subsequently, an additional coating of the embossed tapes, to protect the fine relief structure from mechanical damage, but also against any manipulations. In this third step (Pos. 3, Fig. 1) found for the required quality and the fineness of the structures to be produced elaborate and complex mechanical production machines application. The technical equipment used in this process step substantially corresponds to the usual in precision engineering and the printing and plastics technology.

In the fourth stage (Pos. 4, Fig. 1) the transfer of the finished hologram from the transfer belt is performed with the final product. In the present case preferably be mentioned as product identification cards, securities, banknotes etc.. The use of video tapes, records, labels the clothing industry, etc. is just as useful and feasible. The transfer of the hologram is performed similarly to the third step in highly automated production facilities. In contrast to step three (Pos. 3, Fig. 1) are here but also die.produktspezifischen aspects, eg. As the, involve the securities or card technology. To avoid damage to the quality of hologram and / or product through the transfer, each interrelated parameters of both elements, such. As material properties, processing temperatures, mechanical strength etc. are to be considered accordingly and coordinated. Different products can thus make to that effect, in some cases very different measures in the application of holograms required. The transfer of the holograms will normally take place either at the product manufacturer itself or by suppliers that manufacture packaging, labels or the like for the product.

The method blocks shown in Fig. 1 will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2.

Production of stamping Masters

From the later displayed object a spatial model is usually created that for the currently used holography in scale 1: must be present. 1 The space required step is marked in Fig. 2 with Pos. 5,. After presentation of the model laserrekonstruierbares a hologram is fabricated on a layer of silver film in an intermediate step 6th This is also referred to as primary hologram hologram is then to consider the holographic image with white light (without laser) can, in the so-called rainbow art copied onto a second hologram film. As the photosensitive material is preferably photoresist layers are used in this copying. By this measure, the present structure as gray value in the primary hologram hologram is converted into a surface relief. The hologram produced in this way is usually referred to as secondary hologram. In the last intermediate step 7 of the process step 1 is created by secondary hologram on electrogalvanic way of so-called embossing master, wherein the holographic information is also present in the form of a surface relief.

Molding of dies

The embossing master produced in intermediate step 7 is an expensive unique and is not used because of the injury and wear danger generally for embossing holograms. Rather, in a two- or multi-step process from the master called on electrogalvanic way submasters again (intermediate step 8) and of the actual die-plates molded (intermediate step 9). Starting from the Master are the submaster before as negative reliefs. From submaster are created as a positive relief the actual die-plates, which then for embossing the surface relief are used in a plastic material. The life of a stamping die is rarely more than 10, 000 coins, which is why in large quantities issued a substantial number of manufacture of such die-plates.

Making the transfer belt

The transfer belt is a multilayer structure and comprises at least a support layer and a re-formed multilayered embossing layer. The preparation of the transfer belt is done in several steps, which are divided in FIG. 2 in a preparation stage 10, hologram embossing stage 11 and the post-processing phase 12.

In the preparation stage 10, the carrier tape is coated with an embossable material in such a way that during the subsequent transfer process separation under heat and pressure is possible. In the simplest case, this is achieved by providing a layer of wax between the support belt and the embossable plastic layer. In cases where the hologram is to be seen in reflection, a further metal layer is provided with high reflectivity on or under the embossed layer.

In the production phase, the relief structure 11 is pressed into the embossable plastic coating by means of embossing matrices produced in the intermediate step. 9 Subsequently, the surface relief thus formed is covered with at least a protective layer which protects the relief against mechanical damage. This protective layer is coordinated with the material of the embossable layer such that the optical properties of the hologram be affected as little as possible. For various reasons here not be explained further necessary for the protection of the hologram layers are applied over the first protective layer. As a final layer finally eine.Heißklebeschicht is provided, which ensures trouble-free transfer and adhesion of the hologram to the subsequent product.

Transfer to the product

The transmission of the holograms on the product, for. Example, cards, securities, or the like, occurs, as already mentioned, in the process stage 4. Similarly as in the preparation of the transfer belt, a neutral half-finished product is also prepared here in an intermediate step thirteenth In the case of the identity card it is, the finished card blank, in which the printed card inlay already coated with cover films and, if necessary, is equipped with a magnetic strip, signature strip and the like. The present in this form blank cards but usually have no personal information nor the cardholder later.

The transfer of the hologram from the transfer belt occurs in the intermediate step 14 in which it is positioned, the hologram on the card to be placed in the area of ​​a so-called hot stamping machine and pressed by means of a hot embossing punch on the card. Removing the carrier belt rips the hologram enthaltende'Mehrschichtaufbau precisely at the outline of the stamping die and will dissolve from the transfer belt. The thus equipped with a hologram card is fitted in the intermediate step 15 with the user-related data, for example by means of a laser personalization process.

At the end of this production process is finished, the map 16 which, as shown schematically in FIG. 2, now placed with a hologram 17 and the user-related and consisting of neutral data record 18 are equipped.

In Fig. 3, the transfer belt 19 is shown in section. It consists of a carrier tape 20 on which a release layer 21 is applied from wax. Furthermore there is a protective layer 22 and a layer of thermoplastic material 23, which is somewhat less sensitive to heat than the separating layer 21st The thermoplastic material 23 is covered with a thin, non-load-bearing metal layer 24, preferably made of aluminum and has at least aurgedampften less than 5000 angstroms thickness. For the production of transparent holograms is to dispense with the metal layer 24th The layers 20-24 represent (green tape) to a semifinished product, in which the relief structure is embossed.

In order to impress the surface relief pattern, a heated embossing die is pressed onto the metal layer 24th Under pressure and heat are according to the thermoplastic material 23, whereby the relief pattern impresses the aluminum layer in the 24th a second protective layer 25 and a heat-seal layer 26 are then applied to the metal layer 24th In specific variants, the layers 25 and 26 are combined to form one layer. The material thus produced is an intermediate product, which can easily be stored also in semi-manufactured and transported.

For applying the hologram on the product is the transfer belt 19, as shown in Fig. 4, with the hot melt adhesive layer 26 on a substrate 30, such as a card, placed and pressed. The pressing is carried out with a heated transfer stamp 34 or alternatively with a transfer roller. Under the pressure and heat combines the heat-seal layer 26 to the substrate 30 simultaneously to melt the release layer 21 and allows the removal of the support material 20. The connection to the substrate 30 and separating the carrier 20 takes place only in the surface regions in which the separation layer 21 is heated, ie only exactly below transfer die 34. In the other surface regions of the layer structure and the substrate material remains firmly joined together. Since the layer structure 22 to 26 along the contour edges of the transfer die 34 from the substrate breaks during removal of the carrier film, corresponds to the contour of the thus transferred hologram always the contour of the embossing die, whereby more complicated Umrißstrukturen be realized in this manner. The process of heat sealing, however, is known and is for example in the<patcit id="pcit0010" dnum="DE3308831A"><text>DE-OS 33 08 831</text></patcit> described.

Individualization measure D (on the finished transfer band)

After final completion of the transfer band 19 shown for example in Fig. 3, various other personalization options are given. The individualization at this stage is particularly favorable since the transfer belt is present on the one hand as a finished intermediate in this embodiment, and the other hand is relatively well protected against damage by the existing at this stage protective layers.

The individualization measures are primarily based on the writing of individual data on one or more layers of the transfer belt or by an irreversible transformation or removal of the coating material.

For writing data, among other laser marking according to the invention offers. Here, through caused by a laser marker through the support film 20 or by the protective lacquer layer 26, irreversible changes or destruction in the layer structure, such. As blackening, a destruction of the diffraction structure, a removal of the metal layer, etc .. Depending on their position in the layer structure are the registered pattern on the finished hologram card hidden directly visible or the metal layer 24th

The laser marking based on the absorption of the laser radiation in the medium to be inscribed. Usual reflection holograms are as could be determined, in general, very good for such labels. In cases where laser writability is not sufficient, which may be the case with transmission holograms in particular, an improvement in the marking quality is possible by absorbing inks or additives are added in one or more layers of the transfer band. In this way, specific layers of the transfer belt can be sensitized in a special way, so that the right sizing of the laser energy also these layers are to influence targeted.

At high laser power occurs due to the small thickness of the individual layers in the rule to the complete material evaporation or plasma formation over the entire layer structure. In this way, labels of the transfer belt can be achieved that, regardless of which side they are introduced, on the finished product are no longer always clearly identified and subsequently changed. This aspect is especially of particular interest when the introduced data should be available in tamper-proof form.

Alternatively, for laser marking according to the invention is also the possibility of a mechanical perforation of the transfer belt (Fig. 5). For this, the film in the area of ​​the hologram is provided with structured perforations using a kind of matrix printer or with a stamped image that is created by a fixed predetermined punch. For particularly complex, possibly also from hologram to hologram varying perforations, the use of engraving machine is possible to produce the material removal by means of a xy-controlled graver.

The usable for laser inscription or the mechanical material removal devices are known in the art and need not be explained in detail.

Individualizing volume film holograms

As mentioned in the introduction, individualization measures of the invention are particularly applicable for transfer embossed holograms and well integrated in the production process. The application of the invention is not limited to this type of hologram. Now, the use of the concept of the invention in connection with volume film holograms is described.

The main project stages of the series production of Volumenholorammen<ul><li>the preparation of a primary hologram,</li><li>duplication of the holograms by copying,</li><li>applying the hologram to a substrate.</li></ul>

With reference to FIG. 6, the process steps will be explained below in more detail, wherein based on the details mentioned in FIG. 2 is largely only describes the deviations of both methods.

In process step 101, a hologram on a photosensitive material is recorded by a model. This is done in the conventional art by providing a reference beam is superimposed on an object beam on a photo disk. After developing and fixing, this photographic plate represents the primary hologram.

From primary hologram corresponding to the embossing master, any copies could now be taken without the necessary in embossed hologram intermediate step submaster would be necessary, since the copying of the secondary holograms is a purely optical process that mechanically stressed the primary hologram.

In particular, when are to be compiled from the primary hologram at different times larger amounts of copies, but it is recommended to prevent damage of any kind, in particular by scratching etc., to create the primary hologram as working copies secondary holograms, which then for the subsequent exposure process of the final hologram film be used in Verfahrensscshritt 111th

The creation of the secondary holograms is carried out according to common technique in intermediate step 102 and is similar to the preparation of the submaster or the die-plates, only that it can find a photo resist material, but customary hologram films using roughly.

In intermediate step 110 needed for the volume hologram films are created. Holographiefilme consist, as is common practice in the photographic art, from at least two layers, namely a carrier material, eg. As a polyester film, and a photosensitive emulsion.

Such a ready-made film is exposed, just as in step 102 in step 111 to generate the to be used on the product hologram. This is done in a known manner in which the original holographic structure, which was used in the exposure of the primary hologram, the application is only that the object will be replaced by the hologram film. A conjugate (reverse in time and direction) reference beam is directed onto the secondary hologram. This creates a real image is generated at the original position of the object. With the help of a second reference beam, the virtual image on the hologram film is recorded. By machine Repeat the copy process thus, any number of holograms create in serial production.

After exposure, the film is developed and fixed in intermediate 112th In addition, additional layers, such as. For example, can have a protective layer, adhesive layer, etc., can be applied.

The intermediate stage 117 is provided for any action on the finished film. She is completely analogous to the embossed hologram transfer band processing.

The preparation of the substrate is carried out in step 113. These measures are also seen in analogy to embossed hologram.

In method step 114, the hologram is applied to the substrate. Depending on the substrate and intended use are given for fixing the hologram on the substrate different mounting options. Current techniques in this context would be the sticking on the substrate or the Einkaschieren in the layer structure of multi-layer substrates, such as. For example, identity cards. In either case, for this purpose, the hologram is punched out from the film and placed on the substrate.

The processing of the final product is carried out in step 115. The arising there must be seen in analogy to for embossed holograms necessary steps.

Individualization measures volume film holograms

The usable for individualizing volume holograms individualizing measures are described also very similar in connection with embossed holograms.

range of applications

Individualized holograms have a wide range of applications, which is distinguished in the following according to how the holograms on the later end product present. Common practice is to apply holograms on the surface of disks. The media here can have a paper surface, such as banknotes, identity documents, securities and the like, as well as a plastic surface, such as identity cards, plastic banknotes, video cassettes, etc .. In particular embodiments may be limited to parts of the product, the hologram, in others, but also cover the entire surface of the product. Especially in the field of identity cards and credit cards these different variants are now common practice. Holographic elements can, however, store in the products. Thus it is known, einzukaschieren hologram in multi-layered plastic cards. The hologram can be in a variety of embodiments, for example as a security thread, in the form of a logo, an integrated master image or the like. The introduction can also be effected in a manner mounting technique in which an opening for bonding of the hologram is provided in a film layer of a multilayer card.

Moreover, it is also possible to embed holographic elements directly in paper, wherein the holographic material is prepared preferably cut in the form of bands, strips or planchettes. These elements are preferably inflict in the production of the paper, the security technology is particularly effective when it is present, for example in the form of a "window security thread" in the paper.