EP3877193A1

EP3877193A1 - Method for producing a security feature

Info

Publication number: EP3877193A1
Application number: EP19821234.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Martin EGGINGER; Martin Bergsmann; Marco Mayrhofer
Original assignee: Hueck Folien GmbH; Banque de France
Current assignee: Hueck Folien GmbH; Banque de France
Priority date: 2018-11-09
Filing date: 2019-11-08
Publication date: 2021-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 2039-11-08
Also published as: CA3113572A1; JP7267420B2; SI3877193T1; CA3113572C; CN112930268A; BR112021006792A2; CN112930268B; WO2020093080A1; EP3877193B1; US20210379914A1; AT521847A1; PL3877193T3; HUE061432T2; ES2940118T3; JP2022513015A

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a security feature (1) in the form of a color image (2), wherein: in order to produce the image, a colorant is applied to a substrate (3); the image (2) is divided into grid areas; grid areas (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) of the image (2) that are directly adjacent to one another partially overlap; a region of overlap (7, 8) of directly adjacent grid areas (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) is smaller than one of the grid areas (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11); each grid area (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) of the image (2) is assigned at least one color and at least the regions of the substrate (3) corresponding to the respective grid areas (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) minus the corresponding regions of overlap (7, 8) are each covered with at least one colorant of the particular assigned color; the regions of overlap (7, 8) between adjacent grid areas (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) are covered at least with the colorant that has the color that is assigned to one of the grid areas (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) overlapping in the region of overlap (7, 8) in question.

Description

METHOD FOR PRODUCING A SECURITY FEATURE

The invention relates to a method for producing a security feature in the form of a colored image, a colorant being applied to a substrate for producing the image.

The invention further relates to a security feature in the form of a colored image.

In addition, the invention has a security element, in particular in the form of a security strip, the subject.

The invention also relates to a document of value.

When producing security features using the CMYK color model based on the printing process, the colors are usually applied over the entire surface, which results in a subtractive color mixture. However, these printing processes are not suitable for realizing additive color mixing. Particularly when using fluorescent colors, known printing methods based on a full coverage of the color layers lead to problems in the implementation of colored images, since a full coverage of the primary colors red, green and blue with fluorescent colorants results in a gray overall impression. When using only two fluorescent colors, however, one of the two colors is usually perceived more strongly than the other. With the known methods, it is therefore not possible to display colored images, for example in the form of portraits, landscapes, alphanumeric characters, etc., with fluorescent colors. The display of fluorescence rainbows is an established technique. So far, rainbows have been produced with three block stripe cylinders, which overlap printing and thus generate a color gradient in the form of a rainbow. However, it is not possible to use the existing solutions to display texts or individual letters or characters in the rainbow colors.

It is therefore an object to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art and to improve the production of security features with colored images. The above-mentioned object is achieved according to the invention by a method of the type mentioned at the outset in that the image is divided into raster areas, with immediately adjacent raster areas of the image partially overlapping, an overlapping area of directly adjacent raster areas being smaller than one of the raster areas, raster areas of the image are each assigned at least one color and at least the areas of the substrate corresponding to the respective raster areas minus the corresponding overlap areas are covered with at least one colorant of the respectively assigned color, the overlap areas between adjacent raster areas at least with the colorant which has the color which is assigned to one of the latching areas which overlap in the respective overlapping areas.

The solution according to the invention enables the production of security features with colored images in a simple manner even when fluorescent colors are used, since the only partial overlap of the raster areas enables an additive color mixture with luminous colorants. By varying the coverage area of adjacent grid surfaces, the intensity of the color impression can be optimally adjusted at this point, so that the desired overall visual impression is achieved. With the solution according to the invention, a rainbow representation can also be provided with designs. e.g. non-fluorescent text, opposite rainbow, white text etc.

According to an advantageous variant of the invention, it can be provided that the image is divided into at least one partial area into at least two partially overlapping raster areas, at least one of the at least two raster areas at least outside the overlapping area with a colorant which is one of the Color of the different colorant covering the other of the at least two latching surfaces has a different color.

Any color images can be produced by covering at least some of the raster areas with red color and at least some of the raster areas of the image with green color and some of the raster areas (6) of the image at least partially with blue color. According to an advantageous development of the invention, which is particularly suitable for the produc- tion by means of a gravure printing process, it can be provided that the screen areas are of the same size and shape.

In order to achieve an optimal additive color mixture, it can be provided that the colorant fluorescent colorant, in particular a colorant fluorescent in UV spruce, are used.

A particularly high level of moisture and coverage can be achieved by transferring the colorant to the substrate using an intaglio printing process.

To produce the image, at least one character, in particular an alphanumeric character and / or icon and / or geometrical figure and / or symbol, or a sequence of characters can be applied.

At least some of the raster areas can be coated partially or completely and / or in overlapping areas with adjacent raster areas with at least two layers of colorant of different colors.

The colorants can be applied in layers overlapping, so that at least one sequence of colors in the image corresponds to the sequence of colors of a rainbow or a multicolored color gradient.

According to a variant of the invention, at least partially a colored area can be generated around the at least one character or the at least one character sequence by applying one or more colorants into the raster areas surrounding the character.

Furthermore, a sequence of colors in the at least one character or in the at least one character sequence can be plotted against a sequence of colors in the colored area. The above-mentioned object can also be achieved according to the invention with a security feature of the type mentioned at the outset in that it is produced in particular by a method in accordance with claims 1 to 11 and in that the image is divided into colored raster areas, with adjacent raster areas of the Partially overlap the image and an overlap area of adjacent grid areas is smaller than each of the grid areas per se.

It is preferably provided that an image at least in a partial area comprises at least two overlapping raster areas, at least one of the raster areas at least outside the overlapping area with a colorant which is a color different from the color of the colorant covering the other of the at least two latching areas has, is covered.

The realization of images of any color is favored in that a part of the raster surfaces of the image is at least partially covered with red color and a part of the raster surfaces of the image is at least partially covered with green color and a part of the raster surfaces of the image is at least partially covered with blue color .

According to an advantageous variant of the invention, it can be provided that the raster areas forming the image are of the same size and shape.

It has been found to be particularly advantageous that an overlap area of two adjacent raster areas of the image is between 1 and 90% based on the size of a raster area.

A preferred variant of the invention is that the colorant is a fluorescent colorant, in particular a colorant fluorescent in UV light.

The image is preferably a portrait, a landscape, an abstract geometric sign, a logo or an alphanumeric sign or a code.

Furthermore, at least some of the raster areas can be coated partially or completely and / or in overlapping areas with adjacent raster areas with at least two layers of colorants of different colors. In addition, at least partially a colored area can be arranged around the at least one character or the at least one character sequence.

A sequence of colors, in which at least one character or in the at least one character sequence is contained, can be applied in the opposite direction to a sequence of colors in the colored area.

According to a variant of the invention, the colorants can be applied in layers overlapping, so that at least one sequence of colors in the image corresponds to the sequence of colors of a rainbow or a multicolored color gradient.

The problem underlying the invention is also solved by a Sicherheitsele element, in particular in the form of a security strip, which has a security feature according to one of claims 12 to 22.

The object mentioned at the outset can also be achieved by a document of value in that it has a security element according to claim 23 and / or a security feature according to one of claims 12 to 22.

For a better understanding of the invention, this is explained in more detail with reference to the following figure.

It shows in a highly simplified, schematic representation:

1 shows a security feature according to the invention.

In the introduction, it should be noted that in the differently described embodiments, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals or the same component designations, the disclosures contained in the entire description being correspondingly applied to the same parts with the same reference numerals or the same component designations. that can. Also, the position information selected in the description, such as above, below, laterally, etc., are based on the figure described and illustrated immediately, and these position information are to be transferred to the new position in the event of a change in position.

All information on value ranges in the present description is to be understood in such a way that it includes any and all sub-areas, e.g. the information 1 to 10 is to be understood in such a way that all sub-areas starting from the lower limit 1 and the upper limit 10 are included, i.e. all sub-areas begin with a lower limit of 1 or greater and end with an upper limit of 10 or less, e.g. 1 to 1.7, or 3.2 to 8.1, or 5.5 to 10.

1, a security feature 1 according to the invention has the shape of a colored image 2, for example in the form of a portrait, a landscape, a building, an abstract geometric character, logo or an alphanumeric character 3, or a sequence of characters etc. . The security feature 2 is applied to a substrate, for example a security strip or directly to a document of value.

Image 2 is divided into grid areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11. The grid areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 forming the image 2 can be of the same size and shape. Deviating from the form shown here, the grid areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 can have a triangular, square or polygonal contour. Thus, the contours of the grid areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 can be formed in particular by triangles, rectangles, parallelograms, trapezoids, deltoids, hexagons, octagons, or any polygons.

From the illustration it can be seen that adjacent grid areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 of the image 2 partially overlap, an overlap area 7, 8 of two adjacent grid areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 being smaller than each of the grid areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 per se. An overlap area of two adjacent raster areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 of image 2 is preferably between 1 and 90%, in particular between 3 and 80%, particularly preferably between 1 - 25% or 5 - 10%, based on the Size of a grid area 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11. 1, each raster area 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 of the image 2 is at least outside the overlap areas 7, 8 with its neighboring raster areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 with a colorant from one of the respective ones Color assigned to grid area.

A partial area of the grid areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 can be colored differently. Each of the grid areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 can be single-colored outside the overlap areas 7, 8 with the adjacent grid cells. In an overlap area 7, 8, for example, that colorant can be applied which corresponds in color to the colorant of one of the overlapping latching areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 outside the overlap area 7, 8. The overlap region 7, 8 is thus covered with only one colorant layer in this embodiment, which corresponds to that which covers one of the adjacent raster surfaces 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11. Thus, the grid area 5 outside the overlap area 7 can be colored green over the entire area, while the overlap area 7 and the grid area 6 can be completely covered with a colorant of blue color.

Alternatively, however, each raster area 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 can be covered over its entire area with a colorant of one color, wherein, in an overlap area of the raster areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, layers of the different Colorants come to lie on top of each other. The first grid area 4 can be covered, for example, over the entire area with red paint, the second grid area 5 over the entire area with green paint, and the third grid area 6 with blue paint. In an overlap area of the three grid areas 4, 5, 6, the layer structure thus results, depending on the order of the application of colorant, in red, green and blue.

In other partial areas of the image 2, however, adjacent raster areas 9, 10, 11 can also be covered with the same color, for example blue, red or green.

A fluorescent colorant, in particular a colorant fluorescent in UV light, is preferably used as the colorant. Inks with fluorescent pigments, for example, have proven to be particularly suitable.

To produce the security feature 1 shown in FIG. 1, the image 2 is generated by applying colorants to the substrate. Image 2 is divided into grid areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 divided. Adjacent grid areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 partially overlap one another, the size of the overlap area 7, 8 of two adjacent grid areas 4,

5, 6, 9, 10, 11, as already mentioned above, preferably between 1 and 90%, in particular between 3 and 80%, particularly preferably between 1 - 25% or 5 - 10%, based on the size of a grid area 4 , 5, 6, 9, 10, 11.

Partially overlapping grid areas can be covered with different colors. For example, the grid surface 4 can be covered with a fluorescent red, the grid surface 5 with a fluorescent green and the grid surface 6 with a fluorescent blue.

If full coverage of the grid areas 4, 5, 6 with colorants is carried out in succession, there may be an overlap of three layers of the colorants used in corner areas of the grid areas. Thus, the layer sequence red, green, blue can result in a corner cutting area of the grid areas 4, 5, 6, while in a side tenkanten cutting area between the grid areas 4 and 5, the layer orders red and green and in a side edge cutting area between the two grid areas 5 and 6 can result in the layer sequence green and blue. This type of image transfer to the substrate can, for example, also be carried out using a digitally controlled inkjet printing method.

As an alternative to a full-area coating of the grid areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 carried out in succession, only a section of one of the grid areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 located outside the overlap area 7, 8 can also be provided with a Colorants of a first color and another of the grid areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 and the overlap area

7, 8 are covered with a colorant of a second color. In the corner cut area of the grid areas 4, 5, 6 and in the lateral overlap areas, only a blue color layer, as in the grid area 6, could therefore be applied, while the remaining part of the grid area 4 could be colored red and the remaining part of the grid area 5 could be colored green . For the embodiment described in this paragraph, a gravure printing method is particularly suitable, it being possible to use a gravure cylinder whose cups are designed in accordance with the contour of the grid areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, taking into account the overlap regions 7, 8 . For all of the embodiments described above, it is true that in partial areas of the image 2, adjacent and partially overlapping raster areas 9, 10, 11 can also be covered with a colorant of the same color, for example a fluorescent blue, red or green.

To produce the image 2 shown in FIG. 1, a character or a sequence of characters 3 can be applied to the substrate. The characters can be, for example, alphanumeric characters and / or icons, such as hieroglyphs and the like, and / or geometric figures and / or symbols. Each character 3 can additionally be surrounded by a colored surface.

At least some of the raster areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 can be partially or completely and / or those in overlapping areas 7, 8 with adjacent raster areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 also with two or more layers of colorant different colors can be coated. With this embodiment, a continuous color gradient can be targeted in the individual characters 3. Both the character 3 or the character string and any surrounding colored areas are divided into the grid areas. In addition, a geometric surface coverage of the colorants used in Figure 2 can vary. For example, in a raster area of the raster areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 at least one first layer of a first color and at least one second layer of a second color can be applied above where the second layer has a first area of the first layer, for example 20%. In another raster area of the raster areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, two corresponding layers of the first and the second color can likewise be applied, the second layer covering a second surface area of a different size, for example 10%, of the first layer. The area coverage in the grid areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 are selected so that the desired color impression or color gradient in the image 2 is achieved.

In addition, as an alternative or in addition to a variation of the geometric surface coverage, the thickness of the layers applied one above the other can also be varied in order to achieve the desired color impression. Thus, in a first raster area of the raster areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, a first layer can have a first thickness and a second layer located below it can have a second thickness, while in another raster area, for example Grid areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 a first or second layer can be thicker or thinner than the corresponding first or second layer of the first grid area.

The colorants can, for example, be applied in the grid areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 in layers overlapping so that at least one sequence of colors in the image 2, e.g. in the sequence of characters 3 and / or a colored area surrounding them, which corresponds to the sequence of colors of a rainbow. Colors from the RGB color space are preferably used. For example, a gravure printing process can be used to produce the image 2, in which three cylinders are used, each of which successively applies a colorant of one color to the substrate. For example, one of the cylinders can apply a colorant red, another cylinder a colorant green and another cylinder a colorant blue color. The colorants are filled in a manner known per se into the wells of the cylinders and excess paint is stripped from the webs of the cylinders located between the wells. The contours of the cells can define the grid areas 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 - this connection applies in general to all embodiments of the invention in which an intaglio printing process is used. The cylinders are matched to one another in such a way that the desired coverage with colorant or the desired color gradient on the substrate is achieved. The solution according to the invention enables the display of characters with any color gradient, for example a continuous color gradient.

A sequence of colors in the at least one character 3 or in the one character string can also be opposite to a sequence of colors in the colored area.

For the sake of order, it should finally be pointed out that, for a better understanding of the structure, elements have been shown sometimes to scale and / or enlarged and / or reduced. List of reference symbols

Security feature

picture

Substrate

Grid area

Overlap area

Grid area

Claims

Patent claims

1. A method for producing a security feature (1) in the form of a colored image (2), a colorant being applied to a substrate (3) for producing the image, characterized in that the image (2) is divided into raster areas, whereby immediately adjacent raster areas (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) of the image (2) partially overlap, with an overlap area (7, 8) of immediately adjacent raster areas (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 ) is smaller than one of the grid areas (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11), whereby grid areas (4, 5, 6, 9, 10,

11) at least one color is assigned to the image (2) and at least the areas of the substrate corresponding to the respective raster areas (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) minus the corresponding overlap areas (7, 8) with at least one colorant the respectively assigned color are covered, the overlap areas (7, 8) between adjacent raster areas (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) at least with the colorant which has the color that is one of the ones in the respective overlap areas (7, 8) overlapping grid areas (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) is covered.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the image (2) in at least one partial area in at least two partially overlapping raster surfaces (4, 5, 6,

9, 10, 11), at least one of the at least two grid areas (4, 5, 6, 9,

10, 11), at least outside the overlap area (7, 8), is covered with a colorant which has a color different from the color of the colorant covering the other of the at least two grid areas (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) becomes.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a part of the screen areas (4) at least partially with red color and a part of the screen areas (5) of the image (2) at least partially with green color and a part of the screen areas (6) of the picture (2) is at least partially covered with blue paint.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the Ras terflächen (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) are of the same size and shape.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the colorant fluorescent colorant, in particular a fluorescent in UV light, are used.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the color medium is transferred to the substrate by means of a gravure printing process.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that for the manufacture of the image (2) at least one character (3), in particular an alphanumeric character (3) and / or icon and / or geometric figure and / or symbol , or a sequence of characters is applied.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least some of the grid areas (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) partially or completely and / or in overlapping areas (7, 8) with adjacent grid areas (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) can be coated with at least two layers of colorants of different colors.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the colorants are applied in layers overlapping, so that at least one sequence of colors in the image (2) corresponds to the sequence of colors of a rainbow or a multicolored gradient.

10. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that around the at least one character (3) or the at least one character sequence at least partially a colored area by applying one or more colorants in the characters (3) surrounding raster areas (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) is generated.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that a sequence of colors in the at least one character (3) or in the at least one character sequence is applied in the opposite direction to a sequence of colors in the colored area.

12. Security feature in the form of a colored image (2), characterized in that it is produced, in particular by a method according to claims 1 to 11, and that the image is divided into colored raster areas (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11), with adjacent raster areas (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) of the image partially overlapping and an overlap area (7, 8 ) of adjacent grid areas (4, 5, 6) is smaller than one of the grid areas (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) per se.

13. Security feature according to claim 12, characterized in that an image (2) comprises at least two overlapping raster areas (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) at least in a partial area, at least one of the raster areas (4, 5 , 6, 9, 10, 11), at least outside the overlap area, is covered with a colorant which has a color different from the color of the colorant covering the other of the at least two latching surfaces (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) .

14. Security feature according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that a first raster surface (4) of the image (2) at least partially with red color and / or a second raster surface (5) of the image (2) at least partially with green color and / or a third raster surface (6) of the image (2) is at least partially covered with blue paint.

15. Security feature according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the raster surfaces (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) forming the image (2) are of the same size and shape.

16. Security feature according to one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the overlap region (7, 8) of two adjacent grid areas (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) of the image (2) is between 1 and 90% to the size of a grid area (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) be.

17. Security feature according to one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that the colorant is a fluorescent colorant, in particular a colorant fluorescent in UV light.

18. Security feature according to one of claims 12 to 17, characterized in that the image (2) is a portrait, a landscape, an abstract geometric symbol, logo or a comprises alphanumeric characters and / or an icon and / or a coding and / or a sequence of characters.

19. Security feature according to one of claims 12 to 18, characterized in that at least some of the grid areas (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) partially or completely and / or in overlapping areas (7, 8) with adjacent grid areas (4th , 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) are coated with at least two layers of colorants of different colors.

20. Security feature according to one of claims 12 to 19, characterized in that a colored surface is at least partially arranged around the at least one character (3) or the at least one character sequence.

21. Security feature according to one of claims 12 to 20, characterized in that a sequence of colors in the at least one character (3) or in the at least one character sequence is applied in the opposite direction to a sequence of colors in the colored area.

22. Security feature according to claim 21, characterized in that the colorants are applied in layers overlapping, so that at least one sequence of colors in the image corresponds to the sequence of colors of a rainbow or a multicolored color gradient.

23. Security element, in particular in the form of a security strip, characterized in that it has a security feature (1) according to one of claims 12 to 22.

24. Value document, characterized in that it has a security element according to claim 23 and / or a security feature (1) according to one of claims 12 to 22.