AU2013229577A1 - Security document provided with a tactile mark and a textured area and method for producing same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates, in particular, to a security document, such as a bank note, which is formed from a sheet (1) which comprises, on at least one of the opposing faces (10, 11) thereof, at least one protruding tactile mark or "mark for the blind" (2) suitable for enabling the blind and partially sighted to identify a specific feature such as the face value of said document, by touching said mark (2), and to participate in the determination of the authenticity thereof, characterised in that said mark (2) is at least partially surrounded by at least one first textured area (3), i.e. a surface whereof the feel is different and differs from that of the rest of said sheet (1), the second face (11, 10) also having a second textured area (4).

Description

1 SECURITY DOCUMENT PROVIDED WITH A TACTILE MARK AND A TEXTURED AREA AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME The present invention relates to a security 5 document provided with a tactile mark and a textured area. It also relates to a method for making such a document. In the field of fiduciary printing, the security of the printed document is primordial. 10 For this, the fiduciary printer applies on the document a certain number of securities which are recognizable and authenticable by viewing them but also by touching them. The latter recognition technique is particularly 15 relevant, especially for persons affected with vision deficiency. These are therefore visually-impaired persons, but also partially sighted persons. In a first phase, the partially sighted or visually-impaired person proceeds with studying the 20 shape and the size of the document, which allows him/her to apply first recognition of the latter. The sound emitted by the creasing of the paper of the document is also a distinctive sign, especially when the document is new. But this remarkable sound changes 25 over time with aging. Finally, the partially sighted or visually impaired user thus cannot undoubtedly appreciate the authenticity of the document. Recognition by touch should be able to be a means 30 for indentifying and authenticating the latter. In the field of recognition by touch, the Braille language was developed and proved to be particularly efficient. However, all the partially sighted and visually-impaired persons are not all self-sufficient 35 in detecting and reading the Braille language. I-fRRO' 1 -7I-I~t c 13 Al1_FllF I 2 On the other hand, the security printer uses thin paper, with a thickness of the order of 0.1 mm, which is not compatible with the size of the reliefs coded by the Braille language, which are of the order of 0.8 to 5 1 mm, in any case on French territory. However, the so-called < intaglio > printing technique generally used by one skilled in the art for applying a raised ink on a secured medium is limited by the ink heights which may be deposited, i.e. of the 10 order of at most 100 pm. In the field of banknotes, by the intaglio technique, "marks for the blind" printed in relief are known. Most often, these marks are located on a single face of the note, in this case the front face, are 15 isolated and may be difficult to detect for the partially sighted or visually-impaired person. It is interesting to note here that no standard governs the codification of these marks. Moreover, the repeated use of the note may degrade 20 the surface properties of the latter and reduce its tactility, which makes the identification of the mark even more difficult. The determination of a mark by a partially sighted or visually-impaired person generally follows the 25 following procedures: 1. a non-specialized exploration procedure: this procedure gives a global information on properties such as the shape, the size and the orientation; 30 2. a specific procedure: this procedure gives shape, wrapping, contour, texture information etc. During this specific procedure, the person identifies information relating to the surface, such as I7fRRO' 1 -7I-I~t c 13 Al1_FllF I 3 roughness, hardness, elasticity, etc. but also relating to the geometry of the relief elements. It is also noted that when a partially sighted or visually-impaired person examines a thin object, he/she 5 does not only use his/her forefinger but also his/her thumb. Indeed, he/she takes the object with both of these fingers in two opposite points and then moves them. The distance variations between the thumb and the 10 forefinger inform him/her on the convergence or divergence of the relief of the document. Starting with this observation, the object of the present invention is to solve the problems mentioned above by proposing a security document for which 15 localization of the protruding tactile mark, which is commonly designated as < mark for the blind >, is facilitated, this protruding mark allowing identification of a specific characteristic of the document such as its facial value when it is a 20 banknote, and to participate in its authentication. Thus, according to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a security document, such as a banknote, which is formed with a sheet which comprises at least on one of its opposite faces, at least one 25 tactile protruding mark or < mark for the blind > able to allow a visually-impaired or partially sighted person, by touching said mark, to identify a specific characteristic of said document, such as its facial value, and to participate in the determination of its 30 authenticity, characterized by the fact that said mark is at least partly surrounded by at least one first textured area, i.e. a surface for which the touch sensation is different and is distinguished from that of the remainder of said sheet, said second face also 35 having a second textured area. I-fRROR 1 -7I-I~t c 13 Al1_FllF I 4 It is understood that, because of the presence of a textured area in proximity to the tactile protruding mark, the partly sighted or visually-impaired person will more easily identify the location where the 5 tactile mark is present, because of the textured area, for which the touch sensation is different and is distinguished from that of the remainder of the sheet, informs him/her, such as a < distinctive sensorial indicator element >, in close proximity to said mark. 10 Furthermore, the specificity and the originality of these textures inform him/her on the authenticity of the document which he/she examines. According to the advantageous and non-limiting features of this document: 15 - said textured areas are plumb with each other; - said textured area includes relief elements which protrude on either side of the general plane of the sheet; - said textured area consists of at least one pair 20 of regions positioned on either side of said protruding mark; - said textured area completely surrounds said mark; - said texture area partly surrounds said mark; - said texture area is contiguous to the tactile 25 mark; - said texture area is distant from the tactile mark; - the document includes a tactile mark on each of said faces; 30 - the tactile marks are not plumb with each other and the < positively > textured area region on the front face associated with the first tactile element extends plumb with a < negatively > textured area region with a complementary shape on 35 the back face, while the < positively > textured I7fRRO' 1 -7I-I~t c 13 Al1_FllF I 5 area region on the front face associated with the second tactile element, extends plumb with a < negatively > textured area region with a complementary shape on the front face, so that 5 said regions located on the same face are complementary and the < positively > textured areas are similar on said front and back faces. The present invention also relates to a method for making a document complying with one of the above 10 characteristics. According to this method, it is proceeded with simultaneous formation of said textured areas. Moreover, according to other non-limiting features of this method: 15 - it is proceeded with said simultaneous formation by intaglio printing; - it is proceeded with intaglio printing without any ink, a so-called embossing stamp; - it is proceeded with intaglio printing with an 20 ink, preferably a colorless or white ink. - it is proceeded with intaglio printing with a color ink. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the 25 detailed description which follows of certain preferential embodiments. This description will be made with reference to the appended drawings wherein: - Fig. 1 is an extremely simplified top view of a banknote which is provided with a tactile protruding 30 mark as well as with a textured area according to invention; - Fig. 2 is an enlarge top view of a tactile mark and of a textured area which surrounds it; - Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the plane III 35 III of the view of Fig. 2; I7fRRO' 1 -7I-I~t c 13 Al1_FllF I 6 - Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3 also showing the shape of an intaglio plate with which the relief elements exhibited by the document may be obtained; - Figs. 5A to 5G are intaglio plate profile shapes 5 which may be used within the scope of the present invention; - Fig. 6 is a similar view to fig 4 showing another embodiment, in which the back face and the front face of the document each have a tactile mark; 10 - Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 illustrate other embodiments of textured areas associated with tactile marks. In Fig. 1, a banknote formed with one sheet of fiduciary paper is illustrated, very schematically. 15 By the term of < sheet > is also meant both a monolayer and a multilayer sheet. When it is a monolayer, the sheet notably contains 100% of natural cotton fibers. But it is possible to find therein other fibers in lesser proportions stemming from flax or 20 abaca or even synthetic fibers. The support may entirely stem from petroleum chemistry and exclusively consist of bi-oriented polypropylene for example. Finally, in a case of a multilayer sheet, paper, cotton and plastic (e.g.: polyester, nylon) are neighbors, and 25 are laminated or extruded together. The opposite front and back faces of this note are referenced as 10 and 11, respectively. In a known way, the front face 10 of the note includes a tactile protruding mark 2 which is able to 30 allow partially sighted or visually-impaired persons, by touching this mark 2, to identify the facial value of said note and to contribute to determining its authenticity. This mark is made according to any method known to 35 one skilled in the art, which will allow him/her to I7fRRO' 1 -7I-I~t c 13 Al1_FllF I 7 give some relief relatively to the general plane of the sheet, and thus give it some tactility perfectly and clearly detectable by the partially sighted or visually-impaired person. 5 Preferably, and for facilitating localization, this tactile mark is positioned not very far from an edge of the sheet. However this is not mandatorily the case. According to the main feature of the invention, 10 the mark 2 is at least partly surrounded by at least one first textured area 3, i.e. an area for which the touch sensation is different from that of the remainder of the sheet 1 and in any case particularly distinctive and for which the extent or surface area is at least 15 equal but preferably greater than the one occupied by said mark, its second face, in this case the back face 11, also having a second textured area 4 with similar extent. As indicated above, the textured area is defined 20 as having a different, distinctive touch sensation which distinguishes it from that of the remainder of the sheet. The person who attempts to identify the document will therefore be informed, by this change in sensation of a tactile order that an < identifier > 25 mark is close. Said textured area may be of any nature provided that it has a distinctive, remarkable, touch sensation, different from that of the remainder of the sheet. Thus, it may be configured so as to provide the 30 following sensation(s) as an example and without this being limiting: embossed, soft, downy, felt-like, sticky, granular, bristle, smooth, tender, knotty, prickly, rugged, rough, harsh, coarse, veined, grooved, satin-like, silky, varnished, with relief elements I7fRROR 1 -7I-I~t c 13 Al1_FllF I 8 positioned according to a particular or variable geometry i.e. extending randomly, etc. Thus, when the partially sighted or visually impaired person proceeds with touching a document with 5 two fingers, he/she, when he/she arrives at the textured areas 3 and 4 acting as sensorial indicating element, will reach detection, for which the touch sensation is distinguished from that of the remainder of the sheet. 10 This information informs him/her on the close proximity of the tactile protruding mark, so as to facilitate his/her search for this tactile mark. Moreover it is interesting to note that these textured areas, because of the distinct nature from the 15 remainder of the document, may themselves be considered as real additional tactile marks contributing at the same time to the determination of the authenticity of the note. According to the present invention, the fact that, 20 in another area of the sheet, the note also has at least one other textured area but not associated with a tactile mark is not however excluded, this other area being for example present as an element making unauthorized reproduction of the document even more 25 difficult. Among the techniques which may be used by one skilled in the art for making these textured areas, are most particularly borne in mind those which apply the deformation of the sheet in the whole of its thickness. 30 Intaglio printing is an example thereof. It is also possible to proceed with deformation by embossment, i.e. between male and female shapes. In other embodiments, it is possible to add onto the sheet of the document, by hot or cold transfer, an 1-fRR-' 1 -7I-I~t c 13 Al1_FllF I 9 external element such as a plastic film having a particular texture, or further an ink coating. Typography and stamping techniques may also be used. 5 Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate a possible embodiment of textured areas according to the present invention. Both of these figures should be read in combination. In this particular exemplary embodiment, the 10 tactile mark 2 as well as the associated textured areas 3 and 4 are made by the so-called intaglio technique. As everybody knows, this intaglio technique consists of applying onto the paper a plate including a set of engravings (in this case, here, a succession of 15 grooves in the form of line segments) which, when it is applied with high pressure on the paper, causes a complementary deformation of the latter in the thickness of the sheet, thus showing ribs on the face facing the plate and similar grooves to those of the 20 plate on the opposite face. In the embodiment described here, the tactile protruding mark 2 has a rectangular shape when it is seen from above and is delimited, on the front face 10 of the sheet, by four ribs 21 and 20 which protrude 25 above the general plane of the sheet. Because of the intaglio technique used, the ribs 21 and 20 generate on the back face 11 grooves with practically complementary shapes while the recess delimited by the ribs 20 and 21 causes the presence of 30 a substantially complementary protruding pad on the back face. The designations of < practically or substantially complementary > are voluntarily used here since the grooves/ribs, recesses/pads do not strictly have the I7fRRO' 1 -7I-I~t c 13 Al1_FllF I 10 same dimensions. This is due to the deformation of the sheet and to the technique used. Indeed, the intaglio technique is a method which does not restore the whole of the engravings of the 5 plate. It is common to observe relief restoration rates on the paper comprised between 50 and 80% of the actually engraved depths in the plate. This restoration level is variable depending on the equipment and the papers, and especially depending on the pressure which 10 is exerted between the plate-holder cylinder and the printing cylinder. In the case illustrated here, the textured area 3 consists of a pair of regions 30 and 31 which are positioned on either side of the protruding mark 2. 15 However, in an embodiment, not shown, this textured area may completely surround the mark or surround it partially, the essential point being that the partially sighted or visually-impaired person easily accesses said textured area in order to reach 20 the region where the tactile mark is present. In the case illustrated here, both regions 30 and 31 of the textured area 3 are slightly distant from the tactile mark 2. However, in other embodiments also not shown, this 25 textured area may be immediately contiguous to the tactile mark. By convention in Fig. 2, the ribs which the front face 10 of the sheet exhibits, are illustrated as black lines of different thicknesses, while the grooves which 30 separate two neighboring ribs are illustrated in white. The term of < groove > considered on the front face actually corresponds to the equivalent non-ribbed areas at altitude 0 of the plane of the sheet, conversely to that of the intaglio plate. I-fRRO' 1 -7I-I~t c 13 Al1_FllF I 11 When the left portion of Fig. 2 is considered, the region 30 consists of a juxtaposition of grooves 301 and of ribs 300, the intaglio technique used for generating these reliefs being expressed on the back 5 face 11 by a complementary region 30' provided with ribs 301' and grooves 300' which are complementary to the grooves 301 and ribs 300. In the case illustrated here, the width 11 of the grooves is of the order of 200 pm, while the width 12 10 of the ribs is of the order of 800 pm. In parallel, on the other side of the tactile mark 2, one is dealing with a second textured region 31 which has ribs 310 with a width 15 of 200 pm, separated by grooves 311 with a width 16 of 800 Pm. 15 Complementarily, and as already indicated for the left portion of the figure, the back face includes a complementary region 31' consisting of grooves 310' and of ribs 311'. The pairs of regions 30 and 31 on the one hand and 20 30' and 31' on the other hand respectively form the first and second textured areas 3 and 4 according to the invention. It is important to note that the region 30' is similar to, or even quasi-identical with the region 31 and conversely that the region 31' is similar 25 to the region 30. As regards the tactile sensation, there where the ribs are spaced apart the most, the presence of ribs will be felt, while there where they are close to each other, the presence of the grooves will be felt, 30 conversely of the ribs on the opposite face. By means of the intaglio technique used, these elements are made in a single pass in the machine. In the embodiment illustrated in these Figs. 2 and 3, one is dealing with sets of ribs and grooves. 35 However, other shapes of relief patterns are possible, I-fRROR 1 -7I-I~t c 13 Al1_FllF I 12 as this will be seen later on in the description and more particularly with reference to Figs. 7 to 9. In Fig. 4, is schematically illustrated substantially the same structure as that of Fig. 3, 5 except that the intaglio plate 6 used for deforming the paper sheet is also illustrated. It will be noted that this plate includes engraved elements 60 and 61 which are of a complementary shape to the ribs and grooves which are desirably obtained on the paper. 10 In the illustrated case with reference to these figures, one is dealing with textured areas consisting of an alternation of lines delimiting ribs and grooves. Cross-sectionally, the latter have an angular shape similar to crenellations. 15 The present Applicant engaged into a series of measurements allowing, depending on the shape of the reliefs, on their spacing and other criteria, determination of the optimum shape allowing best as possible detection and sensorial appreciation of the 20 texture. The harvested data are listed in the table below. I-fRRO' 1 -7I-I~t c 13 Al1_FllF I 13 Table Shape Thickness Frequency pin Frontside Backside Shape Schematic illustration (Pm) (pmn) lines (pm) taily tciiy 200 1000 800 ++ 400 1000 600 ++ - 90* 45* shoulder 600 1000 400 - + 20 800 1000 200 - ++ 200 1000 800 ++ 400 1000 600 ++ - 90* 45* shoulder 600 1000 400 - + 0 800 1000 200 - ++ 200 1000 800 ++ 400 1000 600 ++ - 45* 45* shoulder 600 1000 400 - + 20 800 1000 200 - ++ 200 1000 800 ++ 400 1000 | 600 ++ Lines 600 1000 | 00 - 45* 45* shoulder 0 600 1000 400 - + 800 1000 200 - ++ 200 1000 800 ++ 400 1000 600 ++ - 67* 67* shoulder 600 1000 400 - + 20 800 1000 200 - ++ 200 1000 800 ++ 40067* 67* shoulder 0 600 1000 400 - + 6~6~sole 800 1000 200 - ++ 200 1000 800 ++ 400 1000 600 ++ -90*90 600 1000 400 - + 800 1000 200 - ++ 200 500 300 + 300 500 200 + 200 1000 800 ++ 800 1000 200 -- + 200 1500 1300 ++ 1300 1500 200 - ++ 200 2000 1800 ++ 1800 2000 200 - ++ 200 2500 2300 ++ Lines 2300 2500 200 -- + 100 500 400 + 400 500 100 - + 300 1500 1200 ++ 1200 1500 300 - ++ 600 3000 2400 ++ 2400 3000 600 - ++ 800 4000 3200 ++ 3200 4000 800 - ++ 10000 50000 40000 ++ -r 40000 50000 10000 - ++09 100 500 400 + 400 500 100 - + 300 1500 1200 ++ 1200 1500 300 - ++ Square dots 600 3000 2400 ++ 2400 300 600 - ++ 800 4000 3200 ++ 3200 4000 800 - ++ 10000 50000 40000 ++ 40000 50000 10000 - ++ 100 500 400 + 400 500 100 - + 300 1500 1200 ++ 1200 1500 300 -- + Round dots 600 3000 2400 ++ 2400 3000 600 - ++ 800 4000 3200 ++ 3200 4000 800 -- ++ 10000 50000 40000 ++ 40000 50000 10000 - ++ 7f3RRO' 1 -Q-~tac 37-2 Al 1 I~klF I 14 ShapenThickness Frequency n Frontside Backside Shape Schematc illustration Shape Tikes Feuny between two tactility tactility SaeShmtcilsrto (pm) (pm) lines (pm) tactilitytactility 100 500 400 + ++ 400 500 100 - - 300 1500 1200 ++ + 1200 1500 300 -- - Stars 600 3000 2400 ++ ++ 90- 0 2400 300 600 -- - 800 4000 3200 ++ ++ 3200 4000 800 -- - 10000 50000 40000 ++ ++ 40000 50000 10000 -- - Caption: Thickness: width of the relief 5 Frequency or lineation: space repeatedly separating the relief edges of the same nature. Thus the frequency here corresponds to the addition of the thickness and of the space between two lines. 10 Front and back tactilities: depending on the sensitivity of the touch sensation provided by these relief elements, the scores -- , -, + and ++ were assigned so as to produce a hierarchy of the 15 sensitivity level, the best tactility benefiting from the score ++, while the worst tactility is noted as --. Shape: the latter is described in the form of the juxtaposition of two angles and optionally the presence 20 of a shoulder. Thus, the shape "900 and 450 shoulder 20" corresponds to the schematic illustration located just nearby in the table and which is also illustrated in Fig. 5B. The other shapes shown in the table are also found in Figs. 5A to 5G. In the whole of these 25 tests, the engraving depth of the intaglio plate was made at 100 pm and the use of this intaglio without any ink gave the possibility of creating a tactility effect. 1-fRR-1 1 -7I-I~t c 13 Al1_FllF I 15 However, the use of the intaglio with an ink gives the possibility of creating tactility on a face which is accompanied with a texture sensation given by the ink 5 itself. The inks used are for example those referenced as SICPA 9SPOO01S which is a covering white ink and SICPA 9SP00021 which is a transparent white ink. They may be used independently of each other or as a mixture in any 10 proportion. In the case when for aesthetical reasons, and/or technical reasons related to the configuration of the intaglio printing, or for combining the functionality of the mark for the blind and of the textured areas 15 with a security aspect, intaglio color inks may be used. In the case of a providing security, the intaglio inks may be fluorescent, visible under infrared radiation or not, provided with chemical traces etc. This also 20 applies for white and transparent inks. The table above shows that the profile of the engraving does not have a great influence on detecting the relief elements by a touch sensation. It appears 25 that the profile designated as "90' 90" which has the shape of a crenellation, may be the retained profile. By crenellation is meant the alternating succession of protruding elements and of recesses each having a cross-section which may be inscribed in a square or in 30 a rectangle. In the same way, a line, i.e. a rib, with a width of 200 pm spaced apart from the next by a spacing of 800 pm, allows optimum tactility on the front side. Also, a line (rib) with a width 800pm, spaced 35 apart by 200 pm allows optimum tactility on the back I-fRRO' 1 -7I-I~t c 13 Al1_FllF I 16 side and a smaller spacing does not allow good tactility to be obtained. Under these conditions, the regions 30' and 31 are the ones which provide better < tactility > i.e. best 5 sensitivity to the fingers of the < tester >. An application of these teachings is also illustrated in Fig. 6 in which two tactile marks 2 each positioned on one of the faces 10 and 11 have been illustrated on a same sheet 1. These tactile marks are 10 not positioned plumb with each other. The region 30 of < positively > textured area 3 on the front face 10 associated with the first tactile element 2 extends plumb with a region 30' of < negatively > textured area 4 with a complementary 15 shape on the back face 1, while the region 31' of < positively > textured area 4 on the back face 11 associated with the second tactile element, extends plumb with the region 31 of < negatively > textured area 3 with a complementary shape on the front face 10, 20 so that said regions 30, 31 and 30, 31' located on a same face 10, 11 are complementary to each other. By the intaglio printing technique, it is therefore possible to manage to apply textured areas on both faces of the note in a single step which is 25 particularly advantageous technically. The table below gives, depending on the technique used, the depth of the obtained reliefs, being aware that the intaglio plate has an engraving depth of 100 pm. The prints are made on a < testing > intaglio 30 machine. 1-fRR-' 1 -7I-I~t c 13 Al1_FllF I 17 Line(90' 90' profile) Front side Back side Embodiment Line9 90prile) relief relief Thickness/spacing(pm) Embossing 200/800 49.3 stamp 800/200 43.9 Transparent 200/800 38.9 white 800/200 51.1 Covering 200/800 58.2 white 800/200 57.7 Measurements conducted out on the Altisurf 500 (registered trademark). 5 The depth of the engravings on the plate should be of at least 50 pm, and ideally of the order of 100 pm. Let e be the thickness of an engraved line and E the space or the gap between two lines. F is the 10 frequency of the lineation, i.e. here the distance between two lines. By definition: e + E = F The present invention in order to meet tactile recognition directives, tested by a panel of partly 15 sighted/visually-impaired persons, should ideally fit the formulae below: e 100 pm, and preferentially 200 pm F 500 pm, and preferentially 1,000 pm They ensure that E = F - e 400 pm, and 20 preferentially 800 pm. Figs. 7 to 9 illustrate, in top views, on the front face of the document, close tactile marks 2 and their neighboring textured areas. By convention, the regions illustrated in black 25 overhang the general plane of the sheet, while the regions illustrated in white are recessed. 1-fRR-' 1 -7I-I~t c 13 Al1_FllF I 18 These figures show that in addition to an alternation of lines defining grooves and ribs, other relief forms may be used. Thus, in Fig. 7, one is dealing with square-shaped 5 regions illustrated in black and with different dimensions. As for Figs. 8 and 9, circle and four-sided star shapes are used. Finally in Fig. 10, this is a tactile mark 2 10 surrounded by a textured area 3, the portion 31 of which consists of small protruding squares laid out randomly, while the portion 30 has small square cavities also laid out randomly. The squares are identical in size and do not have any angle of rotation 15 relatively to each other (i.e. they are oriented according to a same direction). Fig. 11 is similar to Fig. 10, except on the shape of the protruding or recessed elements, which is of any shape. Moreover, these elements are positioned 20 relatively to each other in a random way. Of course, these examples are non-limiting. I-fRRO' 1 -7I-I~t c 13 Al1_FllF I

Claims (10)

1. A security document, such as a banknote, which is formed with a sheet (1) which comprises at 5 least on one of its opposite faces (10, 11) at least one tactile protruding mark or < mark for the blind > (2) able to allow partially sighted or visually impaired persons, by touching said mark (2), to identify a specific characteristic of said document, 10 such as its facial value and to participate in the determination of its authenticity, characterized by the fact that said mark (2) is at least partly surrounded by at least one first textured area (3), i.e. a surface for which the touch sensation is 15 different and is distinguished from that of the remainder of said sheet (1), its second face (11, 10) also having a second textured area (4).

2. The document according to claim 1, 20 characterized by the fact that said textured areas (3, 4) are plumb with each other.

3. The document according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that said textured area (3) 25 includes relief elements (300, 310, 301', 311') which protrude on either side of the general plane of the sheet.

4. The document according to one of the 30 preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said textured area (3) consists of at least one pair of regions (30, 31) positioned on either side of said protruding mark (2). 1-fRR-' 1 -7I-I~t c 13 Al1_FllF I 20

5. The document according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said textured area (3) completely surrounds said mark (2). 5 6. The document according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said textured area partly surrounds said mark (2).

7. The document according to one of the 10 preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said textured area (3) is contiguous to the tactile mark (2).

8. The document according to one of claims 1 to 15 5, characterized by the fact that said textured area (3) is distant from the tactile mark (2).

9. The document according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it 20 includes a tactile mark (2) on each of said faces (10, 11).

10. The document according to claims 3 and 9 taken as a combination, wherein the tactile marks (2) 25 are not plumb with each other, characterized by the fact that the < positively > textured area (3) region (30) on the front face (10) associated with the first tactile element (2) extends plumb with a < negatively > textured area (4) region (30') with a 30 complementary shape on the back face (11), while the < positively > textured area (4) region (31') on the back face (11) associated with the second tactile element, extends plumb with a < negatively > textured area (3) region (31) with a complementary shape on the 35 front face (10) so that said regions (30, 31; 30, 31')

17-RR-' 1 -7I-I~t c 13 Al1_FllF I 21 located on a same face (10, 11) are complementary, and that the < positively > textured areas are similar on said front (10) and back (11) faces. 5 11. A method for making a document, according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it is proceeded with simultaneous formation of said textured areas (3, 4). 10 12. The method according to claim 11, characterized by the fact that it is proceeded with said simultaneous formation by intaglio printing. 13. The method according to claim 12, 15 characterized by the fact that it is proceeded with and ink-less intaglio printing. 14. The method according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that it is proceeded with 20 intaglio printing with an ink preferably colorless or white. 15. The method according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that it is proceeded with 25 intaglio printing with a color ink. I-fRRO' 1 -7I-I~t c 13 Al1_FllF I