CN115674932A

CN115674932A - Security element, product and method for producing a security element

Info

Publication number: CN115674932A
Application number: CN202110859283.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 孙凯; 杨栋
Original assignee: Zhongchao Special Security Technology Co Ltd; China Banknote Printing and Minting Group Co Ltd
Current assignee: Zhongchao Special Security Technology Co Ltd; China Banknote Printing and Minting Group Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-07-28
Filing date: 2021-07-28
Publication date: 2023-02-03
Also published as: WO2023005997A1

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of anti-counterfeiting, and discloses an anti-counterfeiting element, an anti-counterfeiting product and a method for manufacturing the anti-counterfeiting element. The security element comprises: an image layer on a surface of or within the substrate, the image layer comprising transparent regions for visible light and opaque regions, the opaque regions having reflective properties the same as or similar to the reflective properties of the substrate, the image layer being invisible when viewed in reflection and visible when viewed in transmission. Because the image layer comprises the transparent area with higher light transmittance and the opaque area with lower light transmittance, the anti-counterfeiting element can present an image with high contrast when being observed in a transmission way; in addition, since the reflective properties of the opaque region are the same as or similar to the reflective properties of the substrate, the image layer can be well hidden when viewed in reflection; the identification degree and the reliability of the anti-counterfeiting element are better.

Description

Security element, product and method for producing a security element

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of anti-counterfeiting, in particular to an anti-counterfeiting element, an anti-counterfeiting product and a method for manufacturing the anti-counterfeiting element.

Background

The anti-counterfeiting technology is a technology which is adopted for achieving the anti-counterfeiting purpose and is convenient for a user to distinguish true from false, can accurately distinguish true from false within a certain range, is not easy to copy and copy, and is simply a technology for preventing counterfeiting and counterfeiting. In order to prevent counterfeiting by means of scanning and copying, data carriers such as banknotes, financial instruments and the like (e.g. value documents or authentication documents) and other valuable articles (e.g. famous brand articles) are often provided with security or anti-counterfeiting elements to verify the authenticity of the data carrier and at the same time to prevent unauthorized copying thereof. At present, the identification degree and the reliability of the anti-counterfeiting element on the bank note or the certificate are poor.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to overcome the defects in the prior art, the embodiments of the present invention provide a security element, a product and a method for manufacturing the security element.

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a security element comprising:

a translucent substrate;

an image layer on a surface of or within the substrate, the image layer comprising transparent regions and opaque regions to visible light, the opaque regions having reflective properties the same as or similar to the reflective properties of the substrate, the image layer being invisible in reflective viewing and visible in transmissive viewing.

In the present embodiment, the translucent substrate has a light transmittance ranging from 25% to 75%.

In the present example, the light transmittance of the transparent region is higher than 75%,

in embodiments of the present invention, the light transmittance of the opaque region is less than 10%.

In an embodiment of the invention, the substrate comprises plastic.

In an embodiment of the invention, the substrate comprises paper.

In the examples of the present invention, the paper contained cotton fibers.

In the examples of the present invention, the light transmittance of the paper was in the range of 30% to 60%.

In embodiments of the invention, the thickness of the paper is in the range of 75-150 microns.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the paper has a watermark formed due to a difference in thickness of the paper.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the image layer includes:

a structural layer; and

a reflective layer on a surface of the structural layer, the reflective layer covering a portion of the structural layer to form the opaque region.

In the embodiment of the invention, the surface of the non-transparent area in the structural layer is provided with the relief microstructure, and the reflecting layer is formed on the relief microstructure in a same shape.

In an embodiment of the invention, the relief microstructure comprises a diffraction grating structure.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the relief microstructure includes surfaces with different tilt angles, so that the reflective layer forms reflective mirror surfaces with different tilt angles.

In embodiments of the invention, the reflective layer includes a color layer to make the opaque regions conform to the color of the substrate when viewed in reflection.

In an embodiment of the invention, the reflective layer comprises a metallic aluminum plating.

In an embodiment of the invention, the structural layer comprises thermoplastic polyester PET plastic.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the image layer is represented as a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code.

In embodiments of the invention, the substrate comprises a light-variable security element comprising at least one of a color-changing feature, an animated feature, a stereoscopic feature, and a point-under-light identifiable feature.

In embodiments of the present invention, the substrate includes a gravure pattern formed by a difference in ink build-up thickness.

In an embodiment of the invention, the security element further comprises: and the transparent adhesive layer is used for combining the substrate and the image layer.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the substrate includes a transparent structural layer and a translucent coating layer stacked.

In embodiments of the invention, the making of the image layer comprises a digital printing process or a printing process.

In an embodiment of the invention, the making of the image layer comprises a laser ablation process.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a security product comprising the security element.

In embodiments of the invention, the security product comprises a banknote or document.

In embodiments of the invention, the document comprises at least one of a bank card, a cash card, an authorization card, an identification card and a passport.

A third aspect of the invention provides a method for manufacturing a security element comprising:

providing a first substrate;

providing a microstructure embossing plate, wherein the microstructure embossing plate is provided with a relief microstructure;

embossing a relief microstructure on a surface of a first substrate using a microstructured embossing plate, whereby the surface comprises a first region having the relief microstructure and a second region having no relief microstructure;

forming a reflective layer on the surface;

removing the reflective layer on the second area;

forming a structural layer on the reflective layer;

providing a second substrate, and combining the second substrate with the structural layer.

In the technical scheme, the image layer comprises the transparent area with higher light transmittance and the opaque area with lower light transmittance, and the image layer is visible in transmission observation, so that the anti-counterfeiting element can present an image with high contrast in transmission observation; in addition, the image layer can be well hidden when viewed in reflection due to the reflective properties of the opaque regions being the same as or similar to the reflective properties of the substrate; thus, the authentication degree and the reliability of the anti-counterfeiting element are better.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the embodiments of the invention without limiting the embodiments of the invention. In the drawings:

fig. 1 schematically shows a structural representation of a security element according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 schematically shows a structural view of another security element according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 schematically shows a structural representation of another security element according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 schematically shows a flow diagram of a method for manufacturing a security element according to an embodiment of the invention;

fig. 5 schematically shows a flow diagram of another method for producing a security element according to an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

The following detailed description of embodiments of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration and explanation only, not limitation.

It should be noted that, if directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, and back) \8230;) are referred to in the embodiments of the present application, the directional indications are only used for explaining the relative positional relationship between the components, the motion situation, and the like in a specific posture (as shown in the attached drawings), and if the specific posture is changed, the directional indications are correspondingly changed.

In addition, if there is a description relating to "first", "second", etc. in the embodiments of the present application, the description of "first", "second", etc. is for descriptive purposes only and is not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In addition, technical solutions between the respective embodiments may be combined with each other, but it is necessary that the technical solutions are capable of being implemented by a person having ordinary skill in the art, and when the technical solutions are contradictory to each other or cannot be implemented, such a combination should not be considered to exist, and is not within the protection scope claimed in the present application.

Fig. 1 schematically shows a structural diagram of a security element according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 1, in an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a security element, including:

a translucent substrate 100;

an image layer 200 on a surface of the substrate 100 or within the substrate 100, the image layer 200 comprising transparent regions 201 and opaque regions 202 to visible light, the opaque regions 202 having reflective properties that are the same as or similar to the reflective properties of the substrate 100, the image layer 200 being invisible when viewed in reflection and visible when viewed in transmission.

The reflective properties of the opaque region 202 are the same or similar to the reflective properties of the substrate 100 in the visible light band. The image layer 200 is not visible when viewed in reflection and is visible when viewed in transmission, for example, when the image layer 200 is viewed on a common table surface when the image layer 200 is viewed in reflection, in which case the image layer 200 is not visible, the image layer 200 can be well hidden in the substrate 100 when viewed in reflection. When image layer 200 is lifted and image layer 200 is placed between the eye and a light source, which is transmitted through image layer 200, image layer 200 is viewed in transmission, in which case image layer 200 is visible. The image layer 200 is also not reproducible by digital means such as photography or scanning, which improves the authentication and reliability of the security element.

In the technical scheme, the image layer 200 comprises the transparent area 201 with higher light transmittance and the opaque area 202 with lower light transmittance, and the image layer 200 is visible in transmission observation, so that the anti-counterfeiting element can present an image with high contrast in transmission observation; in addition, since the opaque regions 202 have reflective properties that are the same as or similar to the reflective properties of the substrate 100, the image layer 200 is not visible when viewed in reflection and can be well hidden in the substrate 100; thus, the authentication degree and the reliability of the anti-counterfeiting element are better.

In one embodiment, the translucent substrate 100 has a light transmittance in a range of 25% to 75%.

In one embodiment, the light transmittance of transparent region 201 is greater than 75% and the light transmittance of opaque region 202 is less than 10%.

In one embodiment, the substrate 100 comprises a cotton fiber sheet having a light transmittance in the range of 30% to 60% and a thickness in the range of 75 to 150 μm.

In one embodiment, the cotton fiber paper has a watermark formed by the difference of the thickness of the paper.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the image layer includes:

a structural layer; and

a reflective layer on the surface of the structural layer, the reflective layer covering a portion of the structural layer to form the opaque region 202.

The structural layer of the image layer 200 may be a layer of transparent PET (thermoplastic polyester) plastic or a layer of transparent polymer coating. The reflective layer is on the surface of the structural layer, covers a portion of the structural layer to form an opaque region 202, and the uncovered transparent structural layer forms a transparent region 201.

In one embodiment, the surface of the structural layer in the opaque region 202 is provided with a relief microstructure, and the reflective layer is conformally formed on the relief microstructure.

The reflective layer is conformally formed on the relief microstructure, it being understood that the reflective layer is the same or similar in structure to the relief microstructure, and the reflective layer is formed on the surface of the relief microstructure.

In an embodiment, the relief microstructure comprises a diffraction grating structure.

In one embodiment, the relief microstructure includes surfaces of different tilt angles, such that the reflective layer forms mirror surfaces of different tilt angles.

In one embodiment, the reflective layer includes a color coating such that the opaque regions correspond to the color of the substrate 100 when viewed in reflection.

In one embodiment, the reflective layer comprises a metallic aluminum plating.

In one embodiment, the structural layer comprises thermoplastic polyester PET plastic.

In one embodiment, the image layer 200 appears as a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code.

The image layer 200 is presented as an information code, which may be a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code. The Code system of the one-dimensional Code may be EAN Code (European Article Number), 39 Code, cross Two-Five Code (Interleaved Two of Five), UPC Code (Universal Product Code), 128 Code (EAN-128 Code), 93 Code, ISBN Code, codabar, or the like. The Code system of the two-dimensional Code may be PDF417 (Portable Data File), QR Code (Quick Response Code), code49, code16K, code One, data Matrix, maxi Code, or the like. Preferably, the image layer 200 is presented as a QR Code. QR Code in two-dimensional coding can be widely used. The codes can be identified by using a handheld code reading device, an industrial assembly line code reading device or a mobile terminal such as a smart phone, and the identified code data can be transmitted to a database to complete recording and comparison.

In one embodiment, the substrate 100 includes an optically variable security element including at least one of a color changing feature, a motion feature, a stereo feature, and a point-light recognizable feature, and a gravure pattern formed by a difference in ink build-up thickness.

In one embodiment, the security element further comprises a clear adhesive layer bonding the substrate 100 to the image layer 200.

In one embodiment, the substrate 100 includes a transparent structural layer and a translucent coating layer stacked together.

The substrate 100 may be paper, for example, the substrate 100 is white cotton fiber paper. The opaque region 202 may be a diffuse reflective structure with a metallic aluminum coating on the surface. By selecting the period and depth of the diffuse reflective structure, opaque areas 202 can be made to produce a white diffuse reflective effect similar to paper. By embedding the image layer 200 in the middle of a white sheet of paper, the image layer 202 is well hidden and not visible when viewed in reflection, since the opaque region 202 has similar reflective properties to the paper. The substrate 100 may also be plastic.

When the substrate 100 is paper, the image layer 200 can be attached to the surface of the paper by means of pasting. The image layer 200 can also be hot stamped on the surface of the paper by a hot stamping method, and then the PET plastic of the image layer 200 can be peeled off and removed. The image layer 200 may also be embedded in the middle of the paper during the paper making process. When the substrate 100 is paper, the paper may also be provided with watermark regions formed by the difference in thickness of the paper fibers. The paper may also carry a gravure pattern or optically variable security element. The gravure pattern can be located on the surface of the transparent areas 201 and/or the opaque areas 202 of the image layer 200. The optically variable security element may be located on the surface of the transparent 201 and/or opaque 202 regions of the image layer 200.

The fabrication of the image layer 200 may include the following: a transparent plastic is first provided, 10-14 microns thick, preferably 12 microns thick. The diffuse reflection microstructure is replicated on the transparent plastic by means of UV imprinting and the like, then an aluminum layer is deposited on the surface of the diffuse reflection microstructure, the thickness of the aluminum layer ranges from 1.5 OD to 2.5OD, and then the aluminum layer in a partial area (namely the transparent area 201) can be removed by means of laser ablation. The aluminum layer can be removed by printing a protective glue layer on the surface of the aluminum layer by means of alkali solution corrosion, and the aluminum layer in the protected area (i.e. the opaque area 202) is remained while the area without the protective layer (i.e. the transparent area 201) is removed. The printing of the protective glue layer can adopt the printing process of a fixed plate and also can adopt a digital printing process. In the process of removing the aluminum layer, a structure with a high aspect ratio can be manufactured in advance in the transparent area 201, and the aluminum layer manufactured on the structure is thinner than other areas and is preferentially corroded and removed in alkali liquor.

The security element provided by the invention is explained in detail below in a first embodiment.

Referring to fig. 1, the image layer 200 is disposed inside the substrate 100, and the substrate 100 is a cotton paper. The thickness of the substrate 100 is in the range of 45-55 microns, and preferably, may be 50 microns. The substrate 100 has a light transmittance of 60% to 70%, preferably, 65% in the visible light band. The image layer 200 includes a transparent structural layer and a reflective layer on the surface of the structural layer, the reflective layer covering a portion of the structural layer to form an opaque region 202, and the uncovered transparent structural layer forming a transparent region 201. As shown in fig. 1, opaque region 202 is located in region a of the security element and transparent region 201 is located in region B of the security element. Optionally, the structural layer is PET plastic with a thickness of 10-20 microns. The light transmittance of the structural layer ranges from 85% to 95%, and preferably, may be 90%.

The image layer 200 also includes microstructures, with a reflective layer on the surface of the microstructures, both the reflective layer and the microstructures being in region a of the security element. The microstructure can scatter incident light to a plurality of angles, and the cosine distribution law of the intensity of Lambert (Lambert) reflected light of the rough reflector can be referred to, namely, the intensity of the reflected light is proportional to the cosine of an included angle, wherein the included angle refers to the included angle of the reflected light and the incident light. The microstructure can adopt a plurality of tiny reflecting mirror surfaces with different inclination angles, and the angle distribution of the reflecting mirror surfaces can be obtained according to the cosine distribution law of the intensity of the Lambert reflected light. The microstructure can also adopt a diffraction grating structure, the period of the grating determines the angle of diffracted light, and the period distribution can be obtained according to the cosine distribution law of the intensity of the Lambert reflected light.

A reflective layer is deposited on the surface of the microstructure to generate enough reflected light, and the coating layer comprises a metallic aluminum (Al) layer. The thickness of the aluminum layer ranges from 1.8-2.2OD, and preferably, may be 2.0OD. The light transmittance of the metallic aluminum layer ranges from 0.5% to 3%, and preferably, may be 1%. The reflected light produced by the microstructures is substantially consistent with the visual effect of cotton paper. Thus, in the area a of the security element, the image layer 200 does not affect the reflective properties of the paper, the image layer 200 is invisible when viewed in reflection and can be well hidden in the substrate 100, and the area B appears as the color of the substrate 100 when viewed in reflection. The reflective layer is present in the a-region of the security element and not in the B-region of the security element. The aluminum in the B region can be removed by laser ablation or the like, and a transparent adhesive layer is coated to fill up the microstructure in the B region.

When the anti-counterfeiting element is observed in a transmission mode, the area A is opaque and appears black, the area B has the light transmittance of the substrate 100, and the contrast formed by the area A and the area B of the anti-counterfeiting element appears as a pattern. The substrate 100 of cotton paper is usually white in color, and in practical applications, there is a deviation of the color of the paper from white, and according to this deviation, a color coating may be added to the reflective layer so that the opaque region 202 coincides with the color of the substrate 100 when viewed in reflection. Since the transparent region 201 is transparent, the B region appears as the color of the substrate 100 when viewed in reflection against the security element.

The security element provided by the invention is explained in detail below in a second embodiment.

Fig. 2 schematically shows a structural diagram of another security element according to an embodiment of the present invention, please refer to fig. 2, in which an image layer 200 is disposed on a surface of a substrate 100, a transparent adhesive layer 300 is disposed between the substrate 100 and the image layer 200, and the thickness of the transparent adhesive layer 300 is in a range of 1-5 μm for bonding the substrate 100 and the image layer 200.

In fig. 2, the substrate 100 is a cotton paper. The thickness of the substrate 100 ranges from 90 to 100 microns, and preferably, may be 90 microns. The structural layer in the image layer 200 is a transparent polymer coating with a thickness of 3-7 microns. The transparent polymer coating has a light transmittance in the range of 85% to 95%, and preferably, may be 90%. Both the reflective layer and the microstructures are located at 203 in fig. 2, and both the reflective layer and the microstructures in the image layer 200 are located in the a-region of the security element.

The security element provided by the invention is explained in detail below in a third embodiment.

Fig. 3 schematically shows a structural diagram of another anti-counterfeiting element according to an embodiment of the present invention, please refer to fig. 3, in which a substrate 100 includes a transparent structural layer 101 and a translucent coating 102, and the transparent structural layer 101 may be a transparent BOPP (Biaxially oriented polypropylene) plastic. The thickness of the transparent structural layer 101 is in the range of 90-110 microns, and preferably, may be 100 microns. The translucent coating 102 may be a white coating. The translucent coating 102 has a light transmittance in the visible light band ranging from 45% to 55%, and preferably, may be 50%. The image layer 200 is positioned on the surface of the substrate 100, and a transparent adhesive layer 300 is arranged between the substrate 100 and the image layer 200, wherein the thickness of the transparent adhesive layer 300 is 1-5 micrometers, and is used for combining the substrate 100 and the image layer 200. The structural layers in the image layer 200 are clear polymer coatings with a thickness of 3-7 microns. The transparent polymer coating has a light transmittance in the range of 85% to 95%, and preferably, may be 90%.

When the anti-counterfeiting element is observed in a transmission mode, the area A is opaque and appears black, the area B has the light transmittance of the semitransparent coating 102 (namely a white coating), and the contrast formed by the area A and the area B of the anti-counterfeiting element appears as a pattern. The translucent coating 102 (i.e., white coating) typically appears white, and in practical applications, there is some deviation of the color of the translucent coating 102 from white, from which a color coating can be added to the reflective layer to make the opaque region 202 coincide with the color of the substrate 100 when viewed in reflection. Since the transparent region 201, the transparent structural layer 101 and the transparent adhesive layer 300 are transparent, the region B appears in the color of the translucent coating 102 (i.e., white coating) when viewed in reflection on the security element.

The embodiment of the invention provides an anti-counterfeiting product which comprises the anti-counterfeiting element.

In one embodiment, the security product comprises a banknote or document.

In an embodiment, the document comprises at least one of a bank card, a cash card, an authorization card, an identification card, and a passport.

The banknote may be a paper banknote or a polymer banknote. The bank card may comprise a credit card. The security element can also be used for other high value-added items.

When the security element is used in banknotes, the printed banknotes have a variety of public security features available, including a watermark effect created by differences in paper fibre thickness, and a gravure effect created by differences in ink build-up thickness. The banknote may also include optically variable security features such as color changing features, motion sensing features, aesthetic features, and recognizable features under a point light source. The identification degree and the reliability of the anti-counterfeiting element are better.

The watermark is an effective means for protecting paper, is hardly visible in reflection observation and cannot be copied by digital equipment, but presents a pattern through light and shade contrast in transmission observation, and can be well used for public to observe and identify. The vapor deposition coating on the optical anti-counterfeiting product is selectively removed through a hollow-out process, and a part of light-transmitting area and image-text characteristics are formed. It is also possible to position the printed patterns on the front and back sides of the paper so that the patterns on both sides of the paper combine to form a pattern when viewed in light transmission.

When the anti-counterfeiting element is used for anti-counterfeiting products, the anti-counterfeiting element has the characteristics of high-contrast watermarks, information codes and the like, so that the anti-counterfeiting effect of the anti-counterfeiting products is good, the public can easily distinguish the anti-counterfeiting elements, but the anti-counterfeiting elements are not easy to counterfeit, and the identification degree and the reliability of the anti-counterfeiting products are good.

Fig. 4 schematically shows a flow chart of a method for producing a security element according to an embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 4, there is provided a method for manufacturing a security element, comprising the steps of:

step 401, providing a first substrate;

step 402, providing a microstructure embossing plate, wherein the microstructure embossing plate is provided with a relief microstructure;

step 403, embossing a relief microstructure on the surface of the first substrate by using a microstructure embossing plate, wherein the surface comprises a first region with the relief microstructure and a second region without the relief microstructure;

step 404 forming a reflective layer on the surface;

step 405, removing the reflective layer on the second area;

step 406, forming a structural layer on the reflective layer;

step 407, provide a second substrate and combine the second substrate with the structural layer.

In this embodiment, the image layer 200 includes a structural layer and a reflective layer, the substrate 100 includes a first substrate and a second substrate, and the image layer 200 is positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate, i.e., the image layer 200 is positioned within the substrate.

Another method for producing a security element is described in detail below with reference to a specific example. Fig. 5 schematically shows a flow chart of another method for producing a security element according to an embodiment of the invention. In another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 5, there is provided another method for manufacturing a security element, comprising the steps of:

step 501, providing a plastic structure layer. A plastic, which may be a clear PET plastic, is provided as a structural layer of the image layer 200, 12-30 microns thick.

Step 502, providing a microstructured stamp. The microstructure embossing plate can be manufactured in various modes such as electron beam or laser direct writing, the period of the surface relief microstructure on the microstructure embossing plate is 1-20 micrometers, and the depth range is 0.1-2 micrometers. The cylindrical platen may be formed by a metallization process such as electroforming.

Step 503, embossing the microstructure on the plastic structure layer. The microstructure is replicated on the plastic by a process such as winding UV embossing.

Step 504, evaporating a reflective layer. The reflecting layer is provided with a metal reflecting layer, the metal layer can be manufactured in a thermal evaporation mode, the thickness range is 15-50 nanometers, the transmittance of the metal layer to visible light is less than 10%, and a colored coating used for matching the color of the substrate 100 can be added in the reflecting layer.

In step 505, the metal reflective layer in a partial region (i.e., the transparent region 201) is removed. The method can adopt a CO2 or ultraviolet laser ablation mode, utilize a laser coding machine to form a coding pattern, and also can adopt a mode of printing protection and alkali washing hollow. Wherein the printing may be by a conventional printer or a digital printer.

At step 506, the substrate 100 is provided. The substrate 100 may be paper having a thickness in the range of 50-150 microns, or a plastic substrate including a colored coating, which may be white, with the substrate 100 having a light transmittance in the range of 25-75%.

At step 507, the image layer 200 is bonded to the substrate 100. Substrate 100 includes two opposing surfaces, and image layer 200 may be adhered to either surface of substrate 100 or hot stamped onto either surface of substrate 100. The image layer 200 may also be embedded into the substrate 100 during the fabrication of the substrate 100.

In the technical scheme, the image layer 200 comprises the transparent area 201 with higher light transmittance and the opaque area 202 with lower light transmittance, and the image layer 200 is visible in transmission observation, so that the anti-counterfeiting element can present an image with high contrast in transmission observation; in addition, since the reflective properties of the opaque region 202 are the same as or similar to the reflective properties of the substrate 100, the image layer 200 can be well hidden from reflective viewing; thus, the authentication degree and the reliability of the anti-counterfeiting element are better.

It is to be noted that the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrases "comprising a," "8230," "8230," or "comprising" does not exclude the presence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus comprising the element.

The above are merely examples of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application. Various modifications and changes may occur to those skilled in the art. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement or the like made within the spirit and principle of the present application shall be included in the scope of the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A security element, comprising:

a translucent substrate;

an image layer on a surface of or within the substrate, the image layer comprising transparent regions for visible light and opaque regions having reflective properties that are the same as or similar to the reflective properties of the substrate, the image layer being invisible when viewed in reflection and visible when viewed in transmission.

2. The security element of claim 1 wherein the translucent substrate has a light transmission in the range of 25% to 75%.

3. A security element as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the light transmission of the transparent area is higher than 75%.

4. A security element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the opaque region has a light transmission of less than 10%.

5. A security element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises a plastic.

6. A security element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises paper.

7. Security element according to claim 6, characterized in that the paper contains cotton fibers.

8. Security element according to claim 7, characterized in that the light transmission of the paper is in the range of 30% to 60%.

9. A security element according to claim 7 wherein the paper has a thickness in the range 75 to 150 microns.

10. A security element as claimed in claim 7 in which the paper has a watermark formed by the difference in thickness of the paper.

11. A security element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the image layer comprises:

a structural layer; and

12. A security element as claimed in claim 11 wherein the surface of the structural layer in the opaque region is provided with a relief microstructure, the reflective layer being conformally formed over the relief microstructure.

13. A security element as claimed in claim 12 in which the relief microstructure comprises a diffraction grating structure.

14. A security element as claimed in claim 12 wherein the relief microstructure comprises surfaces of different tilt angles such that the reflective layer forms mirror surfaces of different tilt angles.

15. A security element as claimed in claim 11 wherein the reflective layer comprises a colour layer such that the opaque regions correspond to the colour of the substrate when viewed in reflection.

16. A security element as claimed in claim 11 in which the reflective layer comprises a metallised aluminium coating.

17. A security element as claimed in claim 11 in which the structural layer comprises thermoplastic polyester PET plastic.

18. A security element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the image layer is in the form of a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code.

19. A security element as recited in claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a light-variable security element comprising at least one of a color-changing feature, an animated feature, a stereoscopic feature, and a point-light-down identifiable feature.

20. A security element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises a gravure pattern due to the difference in ink build-up thickness.

21. A security element as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: and the transparent adhesive layer is used for combining the substrate and the image layer.

22. A security element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises a laminated layer of transparent structural and translucent coating.

23. A security element according to claim 18, wherein the production of the image layer comprises a digital printing process or a printing process.

24. A security element as claimed in claim 18 wherein the fabrication of the image layer comprises a laser ablation process.

25. A security product comprising a security element according to any one of claims 1 to 24.

26. A security product as claimed in claim 25 which comprises a banknote or document.

27. A security product as claimed in claim 26 wherein the document comprises at least one of a bank card, a cash card, an authorization card, an identification card and a passport.

28. A method for manufacturing a security element, comprising:

providing a first substrate;

embossing a relief microstructure in a surface of the first substrate using the microstructured embossing plate, whereby the surface comprises a first region having a relief microstructure and a second region having no relief microstructure;

forming a reflective layer on the surface;

removing the reflective layer on the second area;

forming a structural layer on the reflective layer;

providing a second substrate and bonding the second substrate to the structural layer.