EP2164707B1 - Security feature and method for producing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a security feature for a security element, a security paper or a data carrier that exhibits a substrate into which at least one through opening and at least one marking in registration with the through opening are to be introduced. The method includes the steps of providing a substrate with a laser-modifiable marking substance at least in the region of the marking to be produced and, in the same operation, introducing at least one through opening into the substrate by the action of laser radiation at higher laser power and modifying the laser-modifiable marking substance in the marking region by the action of laser radiation at a lower laser power to produce at least one marking in registration with the through opening.

Description

The invention relates to a security feature for a security element, a security paper or a data carrier having a carrier, in which one or more through openings are to be introduced. In particular, the invention relates to a method for producing such a security feature and to a security element, a security paper and a data carrier having such a security feature.

Identity cards, such as credit cards or identity cards, are often laser engraved with an individual label. The production of continuous openings in value documents by laser cutting has also been known for some time. For example, in the document DE 43 34 848 C1 describes a security with a closed by a transparent cover film window-like opening, which can be generated by a laser cutting process.

From the WO 2005/108109 A1 For example, a security document, such as a banknote, passport or the like, comprising a security paper and a laser generated mark, wherein the security paper has at least a portion having a coating, and the mark extends beyond the boundary region between the coating and security paper.

The publication EP 0 956 975 A2 relates to a copy protection element comprising a metal layer and another layer. The physical / optical properties of the further layer are such that with the aid of a laser beam, markings introduced into the copy protection element can not be reproduced by electrophotography.

The publication EP 1 661 729 A2 relates to the laser marking of value documents, which is based on interaction of the laser radiation with the ink systems used.

The publication WO 02/03104 A2 describes a method for producing a security feature in which a substrate coated with a metal layer is provided with throughgoing or non-penetrating openings by means of laser radiation. The metal layer is vaporized by the action of the laser radiation and thus completely removed.

Based on this, the object of the present invention is to further improve security elements, security papers and data carriers of the type mentioned above with regard to their security against imitation.

This object is achieved by the method having the features of the main claim. A corresponding security element, a security paper and a data carrier with such a security feature are specified in the independent claims. Further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The inventive method relates to the production of a security feature that in a separate security element for application to or for insertion in a data carrier, in a security paper or a security film for the production of documents of value or the like, or in a data carrier, such as a banknote, identity card or the like, may be present. It is only essential that the security element, security paper or the data carrier provides a support for the security feature, in which the one or more continuous openings are introduced. Although in the following, for the sake of simplicity, openings are generally spoken of in the majority, it is always understood that according to the invention, only a single opening can be provided in the support.

As a result of the measures according to the invention, as explained in detail below, depending on the specific procedure, an accurate, highly accurate or even perfect registration of through openings and laser-modified close range can be achieved. As is clear from the explanations below, the marker can not only be modified in the adjoining directly to the opening edge region of the opening, the laser-modified region can due to the properties of the Interaction of laser radiation and marking substance also have a certain small distance from the opening. Therefore, the phrase "near area of the openings" also includes, besides the edge area of the opening immediately adjoining the opening, an area which is close to the opening with a certain small distance. The small distance can be a few tenths of a millimeter or a few millimeters, depending on the application.

In a first variant of the invention, the laser-modifiable marking substance is modified by the cutting laser beam itself when introducing the through openings into the carrier. As will be explained in more detail below, the fact that the laser energy in an outer region of the profile of the cutting laser beam is sufficient to simultaneously modify the marking material arranged in the edge region or in the vicinity of the opening to be cut at the same time as the laser cutting process. In this way, a perfect registration of openings and laser-modified edge area or near area is automatically ensured.

Alternatively, in a further variant of the invention in the same operation by a laser module on the one hand with higher laser power, the through openings are introduced into the carrier and on the other hand be modified with lower laser power of the laser-modifiable marker in the vicinity of the openings. Since both steps are carried out in the same operation, a highly accurate registration of openings and laser-modified near area is achieved. A highly accurate registration is understood to mean a registration with an offset of less than 0.4 mm, in particular less than 0.2 mm or even less than 0.1 mm. The registration has this high accuracy, preferably in all directions.

According to a further variant of the invention, the through openings can be introduced into the carrier by a first laser module and the laser-modifiable marking substance in the vicinity of the openings can be modified by a second laser module, wherein the first and second laser modules are controlled by the same control signal. The use of two laser modules for the two processing steps enables a particularly high production speed and, by using the same control signal for both laser modules, at the same time permits precise registration. The offset is less than 0.5 mm, in particular less than 0.3 mm in such a precise registration. The registration preferably has this accuracy in all directions.

To provide the carrier with the marker, this is coated in an advantageous variant of the invention on its surface with the marker, for example by a printing process. According to another likewise advantageous variant of the invention, the marking substance is introduced into the volume of the carrier. Depending on the carrier material, different methods are available.

If the carrier is formed from paper, the marker can advantageously be mixed with the sheet formation of the paper pulp. A further advantageous possibility is to introduce the marking substance into the volume of the paper substrate in a dipping bath or to impregnate the paper substrate in a size press with the marking substance. If the carrier is formed from a plastic film, the marking substance can likewise be introduced into the volume of the film during the production of the film or subsequently by means of an impregnation step.

The marker is inventively provided at least in the vicinity of the openings to be generated. However, since the marker is only modified by the application of laser radiation, it can be readily available in a wide environment around the openings or even in the entire carrier. If the marker material is present, for example, in the entire carrier, it can of course also be used in another area of the security element, security paper or data carrier for generating a further security feature, for example for generating an individual identification in a further working step.

As a marker material come into question with advantage whose visible color is changed by the action of the laser radiation. For example, thermoreactive colored pigments such as ultramarine blue can be used for this purpose. Advantageously, it is also possible to use marking substances whose infrared-absorbing properties or their magnetic, electrical or luminescent properties are changed by the action of the laser radiation. Security features having openings with such a laser-modified proximity area can be used in particular for mechanical authentication. It is also possible to use a combination of different marking substances, for example in order to enable both a visual and a machine authenticity check of the security feature. When using several markers, these can come to lie next to each other as well as in different layers one above the other.

In an advantageous process control, through the laser cut in the carrier continuous openings are produced with an inclined cutting edge. An oblique cutting edge can be ensured, for example, by guiding the laser beam at a predetermined angle to the surface normal of the carrier when producing the openings. Depending on the selected cutting angle, the size of the modification region can be adjusted, as explained in more detail below.

The through openings can be produced in particular in the form of perforations, cuts or extended window areas. In a specific embodiment of a security feature, particularly simple structures are produced by producing with the laser beam a plurality of circular, continuous openings with a circular laser-modified marking substance near zone. Such structures can be used beyond their visual and tactile effect by suitable detection routines as copy protection constellations.

In one embodiment of the invention can be provided that openings are introduced from opposite sides of the security element forth with the laser beam. In particular, the laser beam can be used to introduce first openings from a first side of the security element and second openings from a second, opposite side of the security element, the first and second openings complementing one another in an overall image recognizable by transmitted light. Depending on the desired effect, it may be provided, for example, that the first openings or their modified near areas are only visible in the incident light from the first side. The second openings or their modified near areas can also be seen in incident light only from the second side be. This can be achieved for example by very small holes and / or a corresponding coating of the security element with a marker. In transmitted light, on the other hand, regardless of the near-field modification, both the first and the second openings appear and form an overall image.

In all variants of the invention, the laser-modifiable marking substance can be modified by the action of laser radiation in an edge region of the openings directly adjoining the openings to be produced.

According to an advantageous variant of the invention, laser-modifiable effect pigments are used as the laser-modifiable marker. Such effect pigments are available to the person skilled in the art with different properties, in particular with regard to their body color, the color change under laser action, the threshold energy and the required laser wavelength. Also, effect pigments which do not (only) change their visible color upon laser irradiation but their infrared-absorbing, magnetic, electrical or luminescent properties are known to the person skilled in the art. The modification of the effect pigments can be made with laser radiation in the ultraviolet, visible or infrared spectral range, for example, a CO ₂ -Lase a wavelength of 10.6 microns.

In a further likewise advantageous variant of the invention, a pigment-free laser-modifiable marker is used. Pigment-free marking substances can also be applied to the carrier or introduced into the carrier volume, for example as a stitch or printing ink. With pigment-free markers it is possible to create a coating of high transparency, into which high-speed laser action is required a permanent and high-contrast mark can be introduced. Pigment-free marking substances can be modified by laser radiation in the ultraviolet, visible or infrared spectral range, for example with the 10.6 μm radiation of a CO ₂ laser. Specific, non-limiting examples of pigment-free laser-modifiable markers are in the references WO 02/101462 A1 . US 4,343,885 and EP 0290 750 B1 specified, the disclosure of which is included in the present description in this regard.

The invention also encompasses a security element for security papers, documents of value and the like with a security feature produced according to the method described, wherein the security element has a carrier into which apertures are introduced through the action of laser radiation and which contains a laser-modified marking substance in the vicinity of the openings. Such a security element may for example be in the form of a security thread, a label, a transfer element or a covering film for a window area or a hole in a value document, such as a banknote.

In addition, the invention also includes a security paper for the production of documents of value or the like with a security feature produced by the described method, wherein the security paper has a carrier are introduced into the through the action of laser radiation through openings and containing a laser-modified marker in the vicinity of the openings , Instead of introducing the openings directly into the security paper, this can also be provided with a security element of the type described above.

The invention further includes a data carrier with a security feature produced by the method described, in particular a document of value, such as a banknote, ID card or the like, wherein the data carrier has a carrier, are introduced into the through the action of laser radiation through openings and a laser-modified marker in the Contains near area of the openings. Instead of introducing the openings directly into the data carrier, the latter can also be provided with a security element according to the invention or can be produced from a security paper according to the invention.

Further exemplary embodiments and advantages of the invention are explained below with reference to the figures, in the representation of which a representation true to scale and proportion has been dispensed with in order to increase the clarity.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer Banknote mit einem erfindungsgemäßen Merkmalsbereich,

Fig. 2

eine Detailaufsicht auf den Merkmalsbereich von Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

zur Erläuterung des erfindungsgemäßen Prinzips in (a) schematisch die räumliche Energieverteilung eines Schneidlaserstrahls, und in (b) und (c) die räumliche Verteilung der beim Schneiden entstehenden Wärmeenergie,

Fig. 4

eine Detailansicht auf einen Merkmalsbereich nach einem anderen Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 5

Querschnittsdarstellungen eines erfindungsgemäßen Merkmalsbereichs bei der Erzeugung eines Randeffekts für eine Öffnung mit schräger Schnittkante, wobei (a) die Situation vor der Laserbeaufschlagung zeigt und (b) und (c) zwei Öffnungen mit unterschiedlich breitem Randeffekt zeigen,

Fig. 6

eine Aufsicht auf einen Merkmalsbereich mit einem weiteren erfindungsgemäßen Sicherheitsmerkmal,

Fig. 7

eine Banknote mit einer Mehrzahl von Laserlöchern, deren Randbereich durch einen laserinduzierten Farbumschlag von Effektpigmenten passergenau eingefärbt ist, und

Fig. 8

ein Sicherheitselement nach einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung, wobei (a) den visuellen Eindruck im Auflicht von der ersten Seite des Sicherheitselements, (b) den visuellen Eindruck im Auflicht von der zweiten Seite des Sicherheitselements, (c) den visuellen Eindruck im Durchlicht, und (d) einen Querschnitt durch das Sicherheitselement entlang der Linie D-D von (c) zeigt.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a banknote with a feature area according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a detailed supervision of the feature area of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 3

to explain the principle according to the invention in (a) schematically the spatial energy distribution of a cutting laser beam, and in (b) and (c) the spatial distribution of the heat energy generated during cutting,

Fig. 4

a detailed view of a feature area according to another embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 5

Cross-sectional representations of a feature area according to the invention in the generation of an edge effect for an opening with inclined cutting edge, wherein (a) shows the situation before the laser application and (b) and (c) show two openings with different wide marginal effect,

Fig. 6

a plan view of a feature area with a further security feature according to the invention,

Fig. 7

a banknote with a plurality of laser holes, the edge region of which is inked accurately in register by a laser-induced color change of effect pigments, and

Fig. 8

a security element according to a further embodiment of the invention, wherein (a) the visual impression in reflected light from the first side of the security element, (b) the visual impression in reflected light from the second side of the security element, (c) the visual impression in the transmitted light, and (d) shows a cross section through the security element along the line DD of (c).

The invention will now be explained using the example of a banknote. The Figures 1 and 2 show a schematic representation of a banknote 10, which in an in Fig. 2 shown in more detail, feature of the invention 12 is provided with a laser hole with edge effect.

With reference to the supervision of Fig. 2 was in the feature area 12 by the action of laser radiation, a through opening 14 cut into the paper substrate 16 of the banknote 10, the edge region 18 a Color effect in perfect registration to the opening 14 has. In the exemplary embodiment, the opening 14 is provided with a red edge 18 which revolves without offset.

In order to produce this perfectly matched edge 18, the paper substrate 16 has been provided with laser-modifiable effect pigments before the laser cutting in a certain surrounding area 20 of the opening 14 to be produced, which show the desired color change upon exposure to laser radiation.

The principle of simultaneous production of the opening 14 and the rim 18 is shown in FIG Fig. 3 (a) illustrated. Fig. 3 (a) schematically shows the substantially Gaussian spatial energy distribution 30 of a cutting laser beam.

In an inner region, the cutting region 32, the laser energy exceeds the threshold energy E ₁ required to cut the substrate 16. With E ₂ is in Fig. 3 (a) denotes the reaction energy of the effect pigments, when exceeded the desired color change takes place. As can be seen directly from the figure, in an outer region of the laser beam profile, the marking region 34, the laser energy lies between the energy E ₂ required for the color change and the energy E ₁ required for cutting, so that a color change of the effect pigments is induced in this region 34 but the substrate is not cut.

The paper substrate 16 is therefore colored during laser cutting by the laser beam 30 in an edge region 18 of the cut opening 14 in perfect registration to the opening 14. The width of the colored edge region 18 corresponds to the width of the marking region 34 and hangs from the beam profile, the reaction energy of the effect pigments used and the material properties of the carrier.

Outside the cutting region 32 and the marking region 34, the laser energy is below the reaction threshold of the effect pigments, so that the substrate is not changed there.

The laser-modifiable effect pigments can be applied to the substrate 16, for example printed on, or can be introduced into the volume of the substrate 16. This can already be done in papermaking by admixture of the effect pigments to the paper pulp during sheet formation or else subsequently in a dip bath or by impregnation in the size press.

As effect pigments, which change their visible color by the action of the laser radiation, for example, thermoreactive color pigments, such as ultramarine blue, come into question.

It is understood that two or more effect pigments with different threshold energies or a combination of visually and mechanically detectable effect pigments can also be used to produce a number of registered edge effects.

Instead of the effect pigments described by way of example, it is also possible to use a pigment-free laser-modifiable marker. Such pigment-free marking substances can also be printed on the substrate 16 or introduced into the volume of the substrate 16, for example as a stitch or printing ink. Non-pigmented, laser-modifiable coatings can have a very high transparency in the unlabelled state exhibit. By the action of laser radiation, for example a CO ₂ laser at 10.6 microns can be a high speed permanent and high-contrast markings, for example, produce a black marking in the coating.

In addition to the modification of the effect pigments or of the pigment-free marking substance by the laser radiation itself, a modification of the marking substance by the heat generated during laser beam cutting is also suitable. In this way, the modified edge area of the opening may even be larger than the beam extent, as in FIG Fig. 3 (b) clarified.

Fig. 3 (b) schematically shows the spatial distribution 30 'of the heat energy in the substrate 16, the cutting of an opening with the laser beam of Fig. 3 (a) is produced. As if from a comparison of FIGS. 3 (a) and (b) Immediately apparent, the heated area extends beyond the beam diameter due to the heat conduction in the substrate.

As already at Fig. 3 (a) described, the substrate 16 is cut in the inner cut region 32, since there exceeds the laser energy E required for cutting threshold energy E ₁ . If the effect pigments or the pigment-free marking substance now respond at least also to the heat energy E 'generated during cutting and E ₂ ' denotes the reaction energy of the effect pigments or of the pigment-free marking substance, at which the desired color change occurs, then the results for Fig. 3 (b) assumed conditions, a marking region 34 ', the extent of which can easily be greater than the dimension of the laser beam.

It is even possible that the marking material is removed or destroyed immediately next to the cutting edge, and is modified only from a certain small distance from the cutting edge, as in the FIGS. 3 (c) and 4 illustrated. The laser modification is done in this variant of the invention no longer in the immediate edge region, but at a certain distance from the cutting edge in the vicinity of the opening. In Fig. 3 (c) is like in Fig. 3 (b) the spatial distribution 30 'of the heat energy in the substrate 16 shown, it being assumed for the representation that the marker used is modified from a heat energy E ₂ ' and above a heat energy E ₃ 'is removed or destroyed.

The laser beam in this case generates in the substrate a cutting region 32, through which the opening 14 (FIG. Fig. 4 ), an immediately adjacent destruction region 36 in which the label is ablated or destroyed, and a marker region 34 'adjacent to the destruction region 36 in which only the desired color change of the label is induced.

As in Fig. 4 to recognize the like Fig. 2 5 shows a plan view of a feature region according to the invention, this results in an opening 14 with a perfectly adjusted, in a small distance circumferential modification region 18 '. The distance of the modification region 18 'to the cutting edge 38 of the opening 14 corresponds to just the width of the destruction region 36 of the Fig. 3 (c) ,

Closes, as in the case of Fig. 3 (c) and 4 , the modification area is not immediately adjacent to the cutting edge of the opening, so he is still in the vicinity of the terminology used in this description, but no longer in the edge region of the opening. One directly to the cutting edge the opening subsequent modification area, such as in Fig. 2 on the other hand, it is not only in the vicinity, but even in the edge region of the opening.

If an oblique cut edge in the carrier of a security element, security paper or value document is produced by the laser cut, then the edge effect can also be formed along the entire cut edge, as described with reference to FIG Fig. 5 explained.

In this variant of the invention, the marking substance is introduced in an environment of the opening to be produced not only on the surface, but in the volume 42 of the carrier 40, as in FIG Fig. 5 (a) shown.

By applying the thus prepared carrier with laser radiation 44, an inclined cutting edge 46 is generated, as in the FIGS. 5 (b) and (c) for example by performing the laser cutting at a predetermined angle to the surface normal of the carrier and / or because of the Gaussian energy distribution of the laser beam.

The energy threshold required for the reaction of the marking substance is thereby exceeded in an edge region 48 along the oblique cutting edge 46 and the marking substance is modified. Depending on the setting of the beam profile of the laser beam and the angle of the beam guidance during cutting, a narrower or wider modified edge region can be produced, as in FIG Fig. 5 (b) and (c) illustrated.

Instead of modifying the effect pigments or the pigment-free marking substance by the cutting laser beam itself, it is with reference to Fig. 6 also possible, by a laser module in the same operation with higher laser power insert through holes 52 in the carrier 50 and to modify the laser-modifiable marker in the vicinity 54 of the openings 52 with lower laser power. Since laser cutting and pigment modification are performed in the same operation, highly accurate registration of hole design 52 to effect design 54 is possible with less than 0.1 mm offset.

Unlike the above-described generation of opening and edge effect by the same laser beam, the modified short-range region 54 in this variant of the invention can also be separated from the cut opening 52 by a certain largely freely selectable gap 56. The simple representation of the Fig. 6 serves only to explain the principle of the invention, in practice, of course, much more complex hole and effect designs can be generated. In particular, it is not necessary for the effect design to have the same shape as the hole design, so that an opening 52 with a first outline shape and the effect design 54 with a second, different outline shape can be designed. For example, a round opening 52 may be combined with a square or star-shaped effect design 54.

In the procedure just described, however, the production speed of a laser cutting system is reduced because the system has to fulfill two steps in one operation - cutting at high power setting and modifying at low power setting. Alternatively, it is therefore also possible to use a first laser module for producing the through openings and a downstream second laser module for modifying the marking substance, the first and second laser modules being controlled by the same control signal. Thereby the laser cutting system can be driven with very good registration even at high speed.

Another application of modified openings according to the invention is in Fig. 7 shown. The banknote 60 shown there is provided with a feature area 62 with a plurality of laser holes 64, whose edge area, as described above, is inked in a register-accurate manner by a laser-induced color change of effect pigments.

In addition to their visual and tactile effect, such laser holes can also be used to complicate or prevent the copying and processing of banknotes with scanners, color copiers, image processing programs or the like.

For this purpose, the laser holes 64 are arranged, for example, in the form of predetermined special constellations 66, which can be identified via the colored edges by suitable recognition routines from the reproduction devices or machining programs. The editing or output of image files with the predetermined constellations can then be restricted or inhibited.

Fig. 8 shows a security element 70 according to another embodiment of the invention, in which with a laser beam from opposite sides 72, 76 of the security element forth small openings 74, 78 are introduced. Fig. 8 (a) shows first openings 74, which are introduced from the first side 72 of the security element 70 ago, in Fig. 8 (b) shown second openings 78 are introduced from the second opposite side 76 of the security element ago.

The carrier 80 of the security element is provided at least in the vicinity with a group of openings 74 and 78 with laser-modifiable effect pigments. As seen from the cross section through the security element of Fig. 8 (d) In the embodiment shown, the carrier 80 is even provided with an effect pigment layer 84, 88 in the vicinity of both aperture groups 74, 78, the effect pigments of the layer 84 having a color change to a first color, for example red, the effect pigments of the second layer 88 after laser action after laser action a color change to a second color, such as green, show.

Due to the small, tapered diameter of the openings 74, 78 and the position of the effect pigment layers 84, 88 on the carrier, the openings 74, 78 can be seen in incident light only from one side of the arrangement. In particular, only the openings 74 with a red edge can be seen from the first side of the security element ( Fig. 8 (a) ), from the second side of the security element forth only the openings 78 with green edge.

In transmitted light, however, both groups of openings 74 and 78 without - recognizable and thus form a visible only in transmitted light overall picture, as in Fig. 8 (c) shown.

Claims (15)

1. A method for manufacturing a security feature, for a security element, a security paper or a data carrier, that exhibits a substrate (16) into which one or more through openings (14) are to be introduced, having the features that, in the method,

   - the substrate (16) is provided (20) with a laser-modifiable marking substance at least in the vicinity of the openings to be produced,

   - by the action of laser radiation, through openings (14) are introduced into the substrate (16) and

   - the laser-modifiable marking substance is modified by the action of laser radiation in the vicinity (18) of the openings (14),

   - the modification of the laser-modifiable marking substance not consisting in an ablation or destruction, but rather the visible color, the infrared-absorbing, magnetic, electric or luminescent properties of the laser-modifiable marking substance being changed by the action of the laser radiation.
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, upon introduction of the through openings (14) into the substrate (16), the laser-modifiable marking substance is modified by the same laser beam.
3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, by a laser module, in the same operation, the through openings are introduced into the substrate (16) with higher laser power, and the laser-modifiable marking substance in the vicinity of the openings is modified with lower laser power.
4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the through openings are introduced into the substrate (16) by a first laser module, and the laser-modifiable marking substance in the vicinity (18) of the openings is modified by a second laser module, the first and second laser module being controlled by the same control signal.
5. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the substrate (16) is coated with the marking substance, or the marking substance is introduced into the volume (42) of the substrate (40).
6. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the substrate (16) is formed from paper or from a plastic foil.
7. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that through openings having an oblique cut edge (46) are produced in the substrate (40).
8. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that circular, through openings (14) having a circular, laser-modified marking-substance vicinity (18) are produced with the laser beam.
9. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, with the laser beam, openings (74, 78) are introduced from opposing sides (72, 76) of the security element, especially, with the laser beam, first openings (74) are introduced from a first side (72) of the security element and second openings (78) are introduced from a second opposing side (76) of the security element, the first and second openings (74, 78) complementing each other to form a complete image that is perceptible in transmitted light.
10. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the laser-modifiable marking substance is modified by the action of laser radiation in an edge region (18) of the openings (14) that immediately adjoins the openings to be produced (14).
11. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that laser-modifiable effect pigments are used as the laser-modifiable marking substance, or a pigment-free, laser-modifiable marking substance is used.
12. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that laser radiation in the ultraviolet or visible spectral range or laser radiation in the infrared spectral range, especially laser radiation of a CO₂ laser at a wavelength of about 10.6 µm, is used to introduce the openings (14) and to modify the marking substance.
13. A security element for security papers, value documents and the like, having a substrate (16) into which, by the action of laser radiation, through openings (14) are introduced, and having a laser-modified marking substance in the vicinity (18) of the openings (14), manufacturable according to one of claims 1 to 12, the modification of the laser-modified marking substance not consisting in an ablation or destruction, but rather the visible color, the infrared-absorbing, magnetic, electric or luminescent properties of the laser-modified marking substance being changed by the action of the laser radiation.
14. A security paper for manufacturing value documents or the like, having a substrate (16) into which, by the action of laser radiation, through openings (14) are introduced, and having a laser-modified marking substance in the vicinity (18) of the openings (14), manufacturable according to one of claims 1 to 12, the modification of the laser-modified marking substance not consisting in an ablation or destruction, but rather the visible color, the infrared-absorbing, magnetic, electric or luminescent properties of the laser-modified marking substance being changed by the action of the laser radiation.
15. A data carrier, especially a value document, such as a banknote, identification card or the like, having a substrate (16) into which, by the action of laser radiation, through openings (14) are introduced, and having a laser-modified marking substance in the vicinity (18) of the openings (14), manufacturable according to one of claims 1 to 12, the modification of the laser-modified marking substance not consisting in an ablation or destruction, but rather the visible color, the infrared-absorbing, magnetic, electric or luminescent properties of the laser-modified marking substance being changed by the action of the laser radiation.

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