JP2018199323A - Color special latent image pattern-formed body and method for producing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a special latent image pattern-formed body capable of expressing a latent image pattern perceivable when observing a base material from an oblique direction as a full-color continuous gradation image which expresses change of hues, without requiring a special authenticity check tool.SOLUTION: A color special latent image pattern-formed body is characterized in that a convex-like pattern consisting of convex image lines having a relief shape arranged in a hatched manner is formed on at least a part of a base material 2, latent image elements consisting of an achromatic color and a color corresponding to a color of a basic image and complementary color camouflage elements different from the latent image elements are adjacent to each other to form one colored image line on the convex-like patterns, the convex image line and the colored image line overlap at least partially so that a colored hatch pattern can be visually recognized as a uniform achromatic color when observed from directly above and a latent image pattern 7 can be visually recognized as having full-color gradation when observed from the oblique direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention is a security printed matter that is required to prevent counterfeiting and falsification of banknotes, stock certificates, securities such as bonds, various certificates, important documents, etc. The present invention relates to a formed body that can be visually recognized and a manufacturing method thereof.

  Security printed materials such as banknotes, passports, and securities are required to be difficult to forge or duplicate due to their nature. In addition, in order to make it easy to visually determine whether forgery or duplication has occurred, observation is performed by combining the halftone dots or image lines that form the security forming body and the irregularities formed by the base material or the heap of ink. A forgery prevention technique in which an image that can be visually recognized changes with a change in angle is known.

  As an anti-counterfeiting technique that provides an image that can be visually recognized by such a change in the observation angle, the applicant of the present invention has various line patterns, or relief patterns that represent the pattern by partially varying the angle, or both. Various line drawing lines with a constant interval, depending on the color of the material and other different colors other than colorless and transparent, on the material having an uneven shape formed by embossing, filling or ink of any of the patterns, or We have applied for a special pattern forming body that prints either halftone dot lines or both of them in parallel or inclined with respect to the portion constituting the portion other than the above-mentioned uneven shape pattern (Patent Document) 1 or Patent Document 2).

  When the technology described in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 is observed from the front, only one of various line-drawing lines or halftone-dotting lines formed by straight lines having a certain interval or both drawing lines is confirmed. When observed from an oblique direction, the pattern formed by the concavo-convex shape can be easily confirmed by the non-constant positional relationship generated between the concavo-convex shape and the printed image line having the constant interval. When observed from an oblique direction, the light and darkness of the pattern can be reversed and confirmed.

  In addition, in the technique described in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 described above, the applicant of the present invention may include various line drawing lines or halftone dot drawing lines having a constant interval that constitute a portion other than the concavo-convex pattern, or both. We have applied for a special pattern forming body that prints the color of the material that prints one of the lines and other colors other than colorless and transparent using three colors of yellow, cyan, and magenta (Patent Literature) 3).

  In addition to the technique described in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2, the technique described in Patent Document 3 recognizes a latent image pattern that can be seen when viewed from an oblique direction as a color latent image pattern having shades of gray. Depending on the presence / absence of the latent image, its shape, the color of the color image, etc., it is possible to make true / false discrimination very easily and surely without using a true / false discrimination tool.

Japanese Patent No. 2615401 Japanese Patent No. 2600094 Japanese Patent No. 4304356

  The technique described in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 is a technique that uses a blind spot due to the height of the concavo-convex image line that is generated when the substrate is obliquely viewed, and does not require a special discrimination tool. Although it was an excellent technology that made it possible to distinguish between genuine and counterfeit products by confirming the appearance of the latent image pattern, the visible latent image pattern is either the color of the substrate or the color of the printed image line. There was a problem that the color sense was poor.

  The technique described in Patent Document 3 has solved the problem of poor color sensation in the technique described in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2, and uses three colors of yellow, cyan, and magenta for the printed image line. Therefore, the visible latent image pattern can express the continuous tone of the color, and the anti-counterfeiting technology has improved color sense. However, the technology described in Patent Document 3 is applied to one uneven image line. One printed image line using one color of yellow, cyan, or magenta is arranged correspondingly, and the entire latent image pattern can express the continuous tone of the color, but the color due to the change in lightness to the last It did not change the hue. Therefore, for example, a full color continuous tone like a face photograph cannot be expressed.

  The present invention is intended to solve the above-described problems. A latent image pattern that can be confirmed by observing the substrate from an oblique direction without a special discriminating tool or the like is displayed in a full color (pseudo-color) with a change in hue. In addition, a special latent image pattern forming body that can be expressed as a continuous tone image) and that can provide a latent image pattern to be formed as different variable information for each printed matter is provided.

  In the present invention, at least part of the base material has a first color that is the same color as the base material, and a convex image line in which a relief shape corresponding to the continuous tone of the base color image is formed is the first. Convex patterns arranged in a line at a predetermined pitch along the direction, and a colored image line configured as a single image line with a latent image element and a camouflage element adjacent to the convex pattern However, a colored line pattern is formed along the first direction at the same pitch as that of the convex line, and the latent image element is i) a process color different from that of the substrate and the first color. A neutral second color and a colored third color corresponding to the color of the base color image, or ii) corresponding to a color of the base color image different from the substrate and the first color If i) is the second color, or is the process color complementary to the third color? In the case of ii), the fifth color has a sixth color that is a complementary special color, and is a mixed color of the third color and the fourth color or the fifth color. The mixed color of the sixth color is an achromatic color, and at least a part of the convex image line and the colored image line overlap each other, and a latent image pattern is formed by a plurality of arranged latent image elements. When viewed from above, the colored line pattern is visually recognized as a uniform second color, and when viewed obliquely with respect to the substrate surface, the camouflage element is shielded by the convex line, and the latent image pattern becomes the base color image. It is a color special latent image pattern forming body characterized by having the same full-color gradation and being visible.

  The color special latent image pattern formed body of the present invention further has a sub color pattern different from the latent image pattern, and the sub color pattern has a sub color image line having a seventh color different from that of the base material. The sub-color is formed in a line shape so that it does not overlap the latent image element at the same pitch as the convex image line in the direction of, and in the colored line pattern when viewed from directly above the substrate surface When the pattern is visible and observed obliquely with respect to the substrate surface, the camouflage element and the sub-color image line are shielded by the convex image line, and the latent image pattern is visually recognized with the same full-color gradation as the base color image. It is a color special latent image pattern formed body characterized in that it can be produced.

  The seventh color in the color special latent image pattern formed body of the present invention is a color special latent image pattern formed body characterized by being a process color or a special color.

  Further, in the method for producing a color special latent image pattern of the present invention, at least part of the base material, convex image lines having the same color as the base material are arranged in a single line at a predetermined pitch along the first direction. A colored image line composed of a latent image element and a camouflage element having a complementary color relationship with a color different from the convex image line on the convex pattern, and the convex image line along the first direction. A color special latent image pattern in which a colored line pattern arranged in a line at the same pitch is formed, and a latent image pattern composed of latent image elements can be visually recognized only at an oblique observation angle with respect to the substrate surface. A method for producing a base color image of a latent image pattern or obtaining a base color image from the outside, dividing the base color image into a plurality of regions, averaging the density for each region, and performing region averaging Region averaging process to generate normalized images and region averaged images A multi-value monochrome image generating step for producing a first multi-value monochrome image converted into a monochrome image and a second multi-value monochrome image obtained by reversing the gradation of the first multi-value monochrome image; Two different pattern files are created and applied to the first multi-value monochrome image and the second multi-value monochrome image, respectively, and the positive first binary image and the negative first 1-2 2 The first binary image generating step for creating the value image, the positive element constituting the 1-1 binary image, and the negative element constituting the 1-2 binary image are adjacent to each other For the camouflage element for making the latent image pattern invisible when observed from directly above the surface of the substrate, the convex pattern generation process to be synthesized with the image of each pixel of the image after the area averaging process 1-1, in which grayscale inversion is performed on basic multi-value color information indicating density values. The first multi-value color information having the first multi-value color information is prepared by creating 1-2 multi-value color information whose hue is inverted from that of the multi-value color information and averaging and synthesizing it to a density value of 50%. A value color image is generated, and for the latent image element, 2-1 multi-value color information is produced by reversing the brightness of the base multi-value color information indicating the density value of each pixel of the image after the region averaging process. A multi-valued color image generating step of generating a second multi-valued color image as second multi-valued color information by averaging and combining the basic multi-valued color information and 50% density value; A first multi-value color image and a camouflage element each having a latent image element by applying a slit mask arranged in the first direction to each of the one multi-value color image and the second multi-value color image. A mask processing step for generating a second multi-valued color image comprising: A color line pattern generating step for combining the latent image element constituting the first multi-value color image and the camouflage element constituting the second multi-value color image so as to be adjacent to each other. This is a method for producing a special latent image pattern.

  The method for producing a color special latent image pattern of the present invention further comprises a method for producing a sub color pattern different from the latent image pattern, and the method for producing the sub color pattern comprises producing an image serving as a basis of the sub color pattern or externally. And a pre-processing step for generating a sub-color base image by applying a tone curve to the base image of the sub-color pattern, and an area averaged image for generating a sub-color image mask. A multi-value monochrome image generation step for producing a fourth multi-value monochrome image converted into an image and a fifth multi-value monochrome image obtained by reversing the gradation of the fourth multi-value monochrome image, and a sub-color image mask 4-1 binary images in which two upper-level pattern files of the sub-color image mask are applied to the fourth multi-value monochrome image and the lower-side pattern of the sub-color image mask are prepared. A fourth binary image generating step for generating a 4-2 binary image to which a file is applied, and a sub-color image by combining the 4-1 binary image and the 4-2 binary image Sub-color image mask generating step for generating a mask, sub-color image mask applying step for generating a sub-color image by applying a sub-color image mask to the sub-color base image, a colored line pattern and a sub-color image And a step of generating a colored line pattern having a sub-color pattern, and a method for producing a color special latent image pattern.

  In addition, the method for producing a color special latent image pattern according to the present invention includes a saturation adjustment step for increasing the saturation of the base color image before the area averaging step. This is a manufacturing method.

  Further, the color special latent image pattern producing method of the present invention is a blurring method for making the boundary of each region inconspicuous with respect to the horizontal direction of the substrate surface with respect to the region averaged image after the region averaging step. A method for producing a color special latent image pattern comprising a horizontal blur processing step for performing processing.

  In the method for producing a color special latent image pattern of the present invention, in the multi-value color image generation step, the 1-2 multi-value color information and the 2- In the method of producing a color special latent image pattern, an image that is a basis of one multi-value color information is a region averaged image or a horizontal blurred image generated in a horizontal blurred image processing step.

  Further, the method for producing a color special latent image pattern of the present invention includes a convex pattern forming step of forming on a substrate based on the data of the convex pattern produced by the method of producing a color special latent image pattern, And a colored line pattern forming step of forming a colored line pattern on the convex pattern formed on the basis of the data of the colored line pattern.

  Further, in the method for producing a color special latent image pattern of the present invention, at least part of the base material, convex image lines having the same color as the base material are arranged in a single line at a predetermined pitch along the first direction. A colored image line composed of a latent image element and a camouflage element having a complementary color relationship with a color different from the convex image line on the convex pattern, and the convex image line along the first direction. A color special latent image pattern in which a colored line pattern arranged in a line at the same pitch is formed, and a latent image pattern composed of latent image elements can be visually recognized only at an oblique observation angle with respect to the substrate surface. A method for producing a base color image of a latent image pattern or obtaining a base color image from the outside, dividing the base color image into a plurality of regions, averaging the density for each region, and performing region averaging Region averaging process to generate normalized images and region averaged images A multi-value monochrome image generating step for producing a first multi-value monochrome image converted into a monochrome image and a second multi-value monochrome image obtained by reversing the gradation of the first multi-value monochrome image; Two different pattern files are created and applied to the first multi-value monochrome image and the second multi-value monochrome image, respectively, and the positive first binary image and the negative first 1-2 2 The first binary image generating step for creating the value image, the positive element constituting the 1-1 binary image, and the negative element constituting the 1-2 binary image are adjacent to each other A first synthesizing process of binary images to be synthesized, a color gamut extracting process for generating a third multi-valued monochrome image obtained by extracting a specific color gamut from the image after the area averaging process, and a third multi-value Apply tone curves with different density values to monochrome images to change the gradation. A multi-value monochrome gradation conversion process for generating the multi-value monochrome positive image and the multi-value monochrome negative image, and applying the pattern file for the lower part to the multi-value monochrome positive image and the multi-value monochrome negative image. First and 3-1 binary images are generated, and the upper and lower pattern files are applied to the multi-value monochrome positive image and the multi-value monochrome negative image, and the 2-2 and 3-2 binary images are applied. A special color binary image generating step for generating a binary image, and a second composite of a binary image for generating a second binary image by combining the 2-1 binary image and the 2-2 binary image A step, a third combining step of a binary image for generating a third binary image by combining the 3-1 binary image and the 3-2 binary image, and a second binary image And a colored line pattern generation process for a special color that combines the third binary image to generate a colored line pattern. This is a method for producing a large special latent image pattern.

  The method for producing a color special latent image pattern of the present invention further comprises a method for producing a sub-color pattern, and the method for producing a sub-color pattern comprises producing or obtaining an image as a basis of the sub-color pattern from the outside. A pre-processing step of generating a sub-color base image by applying a tone curve to the color base image, and a region-averaged image converted to a multi-valued monochrome image to generate a sub-color image mask Multi-value monochrome image generation process for creating a multi-value monochrome image and a fifth multi-value monochrome image obtained by reversing the gradation of the fourth multi-value monochrome image, and two different pattern files for the sub-color image mask The fourth binary image obtained by applying the upper pattern file of the sub-color image mask to the fourth multi-value monochrome image and the lower pattern file of the sub-color image mask are applied. Sub-color for generating a sub-color image mask by synthesizing the fourth binary image generating step -2 to generate a binary image -2 and the 4-1 binary image and the 4-2 binary image Image mask generation step, sub color image mask is applied to the sub color base image, and a sub color image mask application step for generating a sub color image, a colored line pattern for a special color and a sub color image are combined, And a step of generating a colored line pattern for a special color having a sub-color pattern.

  In addition, the method for producing a color special latent image pattern according to the present invention includes a saturation adjustment step for increasing the saturation of the base color image before the area averaging step. This is a manufacturing method.

  Further, the color special latent image pattern producing method of the present invention is a blurring method for making the boundary of each region inconspicuous with respect to the horizontal direction of the substrate surface with respect to the region averaged image after the region averaging step. A method for producing a color special latent image pattern comprising a horizontal blur processing step for performing processing.

  Furthermore, the method for producing a color special latent image pattern of the present invention includes a convex pattern forming step for forming on a substrate based on the data of the convex pattern produced by the method for producing a color special latent image pattern, This is a method for producing a color special latent image pattern forming body comprising a colored line pattern forming process for a special color formed on the convex pattern formed on the basis of the data of the colored line pattern for the special color.

  According to the present invention, a latent image pattern that can be confirmed with the naked eye without using a special discriminating tool or the like becomes a full-color continuous tone image, and it is possible to impart a rich color feeling to the latent image pattern.

  In addition, since full-color continuous tone can be expressed by the present invention, a photographic image can be formed, and further, variable information that differs for each printed matter can be formed. Certificates issued by each local government, etc. In addition, latent image patterns such as facial photographs can be printed as personal information in the passport booklet.

The figure which shows an example of the color special latent image pattern formation body of this invention. Development view of color special latent image pattern. The figure which shows the effect of the color special latent image pattern formation body of this invention. The figure explaining the convex pattern which comprises a color special latent image pattern. The partial cross section figure of a convex pattern. The figure explaining the example of the relief shape of a convex line. The figure explaining the colored line pattern which comprises a color special latent image pattern. The figure which shows the arrangement | positioning relationship between a convex pattern and a colored line pattern. The partial cross section figure in the lamination state of a convex pattern and a colored line pattern. The block diagram of the apparatus for producing a color special latent image pattern. The flowchart figure of the method of producing a color special latent image pattern. The figure which shows a base color image. The figure which shows the image which performed the area | region average process to the base color image. The figure which shows the image which performed the blurring process to the image which performed the area | region average process. The figure which shows the 1st and 2nd multi-value monochrome image. The figure which shows the 1-1 binary image which applied the 1st pattern file to the 1st multi-value monochrome image. The figure which shows the 1st-2 binary image which applied the 2nd pattern file to the 2nd multi-value monochrome image. The figure which shows the convex pattern which synthesize | combined the 1-1 binary image and the 1-2 binary image. The figure which shows the density value of the pixel in multi-value color information. The figure which shows a 1st multi-valued color image. The figure which shows a 2nd multi-value color image. The flowchart figure which shows the method of producing a line pattern using a special color. The figure which shows the 3rd multi-valued monochrome image which extracted the skin color from the image which performed the area | region average process. The figure which applied the tone curve to the 3rd multi-value monochrome image, and produced | generated the multi-value monochrome positive image and the multi-value monochrome negative image. The figure which shows the kind of pattern file applied in order to produce | generate the image for skin color. The figure which shows the 2nd binary image expressing the skin color to which a pattern file is applied. The figure which shows the 3rd binary image which has a complementary color relationship with the 2nd binary image. The figure which shows the colored line pattern for special colors. The figure which shows the effect of the color special latent image pattern formation body which has a subcolor pattern of this invention. The flowchart figure of the method of producing the color special latent image pattern which has a subcolor pattern. The figure which shows the 4th-1 binary image which applied the 7th pattern file to the 4th multi-value monochrome image. The figure which shows the 4-2 binary image which applied the 8th pattern file to the 5th multi-valued monochrome image. The figure which shows the mask for subcolor images which synthesize | combined the 4th-1 binary image and the 4th-2 binary image. The figure which shows a base color image. The figure which shows the sub color image by which the base image of the mask for sub color images was applied to the sub color image. The figure explaining the colored line pattern which has the sub color pattern which comprises a color special latent image pattern.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and includes various other embodiments within the scope of the technical idea described in the scope of claims.

  FIG. 1 is an example of a color special latent image pattern formed body (hereinafter referred to as a “color formed body”) (1) and a base color image (15) of the present invention. In FIG. 1, taking a passport booklet as an example, a plurality of recording pages are integrated between the front cover and the back cover by a binding portion, and a base color image is displayed on the facing page (base material) (2) of the cover. The owner's face image (3) obtained from (15), personal information (4), booklet number (5), and a color special latent image pattern (hereinafter referred to as “color special latent image”) which is a feature of the present invention. (6) is formed. In addition, the passport booklet shown in FIG. 1 is only an example, and it is not always necessary to have the same design (arrangement).

  The size of the color special latent image (6) may be formed over the entire substrate (2). However, in consideration of an actual utilization form, as shown in FIG. It is preferable to form a part. Accordingly, the size is not particularly limited as long as it does not affect other patterns, and the size is arranged at least on a part of the base material (2).

  FIG. 2 is a development view showing the configuration of the color special latent image (6). The color special latent image (6) in the present invention was printed on the convex pattern (8) in which convex convex image lines (9) are arranged in a line, and the convex pattern (8). The colored image line (11) is composed of a colored line pattern (10) arranged in a line. In the present invention, “line-like” means a state in which a plurality of image lines are arranged according to a certain rule. The image line constituting this “line-like shape” is preferably a straight line, but may be a curved line as long as it is possible to visually recognize the latent image pattern when the substrate (2) is tilted. The following is described as a straight line.

  The substrate (2) for forming the convex pattern (8) is not particularly limited as long as the convex image line (9) can be formed. When the convex line (9) is formed by deforming (processing) the base material (2) itself, for example, the paper base material (2) is formed by known squeezing, embossing, or laser processing. Can do. Specific paper is not particularly limited, such as high-quality paper, coated paper, art paper, etc., but paper with high smoothness is preferable. Moreover, when forming a convex image line (9) with an ink, although the paper base material (2) mentioned above may be sufficient, a material with higher smoothness like a plastic is preferable. Metals may be used as long as ink can be applied. When laser processing is used, plastic or metal can be used.

  The effect of this color forming body (1) is shown in FIG. For the color formed body (1), as shown in FIG. 3 (a), when the observer's viewpoint is the first observation angle (L1) from directly above that is perpendicular to the substrate (2). In the color special latent image (6), the colored line pattern (10) can be visually recognized, and as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the second observation angle (L2) when the base material (2) is observed obliquely. Then, the latent image pattern (7) having a continuous color tone surrounded by the background portion (18) can be visually recognized.

  Next, each pattern will be described. FIG. 4 is a plan view for explaining the configuration of the convex pattern (8). In the convex pattern (8), the convex image lines (9) are arranged in a line shape in the first direction (S1: in the figure). The first direction (S1) is perpendicular to the drawing in FIG. 4, but is not particularly limited, and the determined same direction is defined as the first direction (S1).

  The convex line (9) constituting the convex pattern (8) has a first color that is the same color as the color of the substrate (2). Although details of the visual recognition principle will be described later, in order to make the latent image pattern (7) appear when the substrate (2) is observed from the second observation angle (L2), one of the convex image lines (9) is displayed. This convex line (9) must have a low transmittance characteristic, such as opaque or translucent, because one slope must shield the other. Furthermore, since the appearing latent image pattern (7) is an image having a full-color continuous tone, it must be the same color as the base material (2) in order not to disturb the color balance. In order not to disturb the color balance of the latent image pattern (7), the first color is preferably white.

  A plurality of convex lines (9) constituting the convex pattern (8) are shown in FIG. 5 which is a diagram showing a cross section taken along the line XX ′ and the cross section X0-X0 ′ in the partially enlarged view of FIG. As described above, the relief shape has a phase shift distance (Z) in one image line. As shown in FIG. 6 (a), which is an enlarged view of the square-enclosed area in FIG. 4 (b), this relief shape is formed for the portion forming the background portion (18) and the latent image pattern (7). The relief is finely provided corresponding to the gradation of the base color image (15). The role of the relief is to express the contrast in the color special latent image (6), and the colored image line (11) formed on the convex image line (9) described later is linear. The continuous tone of the latent image pattern (7) is expressed by adjusting the width of the portion where the colored image line (11) overlaps the relief-shaped convex image line (9). A detailed arrangement relationship and a specific manufacturing method will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 6 (a), this relief shape has a two-stage phase as shown in FIG. 6 (b), in addition to the shape forming the portion shown by the black solid line in FIG. 4 (a). If the phase is shifted, two tones can be expressed. If the phase is continuously shifted as shown in FIG. 6C, continuous tones can be expressed.

  The relief-shaped phase shift distance (Z) shown in the partially enlarged view of FIG. 5 is ½ or less of the pitch (P) of the colored image line (11). Although the details of the reason will be described later, as described above, the relief shape of the convex image line (9) expresses the difference in brightness and darkness, and the location where the phase shift distance (Z) in the relief shape is maximum is as follows. In the section of the background portion (18) and the latent image pattern (7), it is ½ with respect to the pitch (P) of the colored image line (11). If the base color image (15) has a continuous tone, the latent image pattern (7) must also express the same continuous tone, and therefore 1 / of the pitch (P) of the colored image line (11). 2 or less, and changes from time to time corresponding to the gradation of the base color image (15).

  Although it does not specifically limit about the height (H) of the convex image line (9) shown in FIG. 5, When the above color forming body (1) is used as a security printed matter, it is 10 micrometers-100 micrometers. It is preferably formed in a range.

  Although it is possible to make the height (H) of the convex image line (9) higher than 100 μm, the thickness of the base material (2), the material constituting the base material (2), and further, the image line is made of ink. Considering the height that can be formed, the base material (2) becomes unnecessarily thick, resulting in a problem that the processing efficiency is deteriorated. Further, although it is possible to make the height (H) lower than 10 μm, when the base material (2) is observed from the second observation angle (L2), it becomes difficult to shield the other slope. Since the latent image pattern (7) cannot be clearly seen, it is not preferable.

  Further, the pitch (P) between the convex image lines (9) is not particularly limited, but when the color formed body (1) is a security printed matter, the pitch (P) is 80 μm to 1,000 μm. It is preferably formed in a range.

  Although it is possible to make the pitch (P) wider than 1,000 μm, the color special latent image (6) imparting the latent image pattern (7) becomes larger and the design forming the color forming body (1), for example, This is not preferable because the image resolution of other printed designs is lowered. In addition, it is not preferable to make the pitch (P) narrower than 80 μm because it is difficult to manufacture.

  The line width (W1) of the convex line (9) is formed corresponding to the pitch (P). In order to form the latent image pattern (7) with good visibility, the image line width (W1) of the convex image line (9) that is approximately ½ of the pitch (P) is preferable. The line width (W1) of the convex line (9) when P) is 80 μm is 40 μm, and the line width (W1) of the convex line (9) when the pitch (P) is 1,000 μm. May be appropriately adjusted in consideration of the visibility of the latent image pattern (7) by selecting the image line width (W1) of the convex image line (9) with respect to the pitch (P), such as 500 μm.

  Next, the colored line pattern (10) printed on the convex pattern (8) will be described. FIG. 7 is a plan view of a colored line pattern (10) and a partially enlarged view thereof. As shown in FIG. 7A, the colored line pattern (10) is formed by arranging colored image lines (11) in a line shape in the first direction (S1), and a first observation angle (L1). ), It can be visually recognized as a uniform line pattern of the same color. If the color that appears uniformly with the naked eye is the second color, the colored line pattern (10) has the second color.

  As shown in FIG. 7 (b), which is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 7 (a), the colored image line (11) has a relationship between the latent image element (14) having the third color and the third color. A camouflage element (13) having a fourth complementary color relationship is provided. The camouflage element (13) and the latent image element (14) are arranged in pairs, and the latent image pattern is matched with the color balance in the base color image (15) that is the basis of the latent image pattern (7). In (7), the camouflage element (13) and the latent image element (14) are arranged at a place where full color expression is desired, and corresponds to the color display area (C) shown in FIG.

  In addition, one colored image line (11) is a portion that is not expressed in full color, specifically, a background portion (18) or an achromatic color of human hair or eyebrows is displayed in a monotone display area ( M) is formed of a second color which is a mixed color of the camouflage element (13) and the latent image element (14). Since the colored image line (11) is an element having a fine width (specifically described later), the fourth color camouflage element (13) and the third color display area (C) are the same. Although it consists of a latent image element (14) of color, since it is visually recognized by the naked eye in a state where the two colors are mixed, it is visually recognized as the same color as the color of the monotone display area (M). The line (11) is visually recognized as if one line is formed by one color.

  In the monotone display area (M), the colored image line (11) seems to be formed by one, but in the color display area (C), the camouflage element (13 formed by the fourth color). ) Is formed in the achromatic second color in the monotone display area (M), and the latent image element (14) formed in the third color in the color display area (C) is a monotone display area. In (M), an achromatic second color is formed. Actually, in the monotone display area (M), since both the camouflage element (13) and the latent image element (14) are formed in the second color, they cannot be distinguished from each other and are formed by one. It looks like Therefore, the colored image line (11) is formed by the camouflage element (13) and the latent image element (14).

  From the above, the fact that the colored line pattern (10) is visually recognized with the uniform second color means that the mixed color of the third color and the fourth color becomes the second color as described above. The colored image line (11) constituting the monotone display area (M) is identified as the second color.

  Since the boundary between the color display area (C) and the monotone display area (M) of the camouflage element (13) and the latent image element (14) cannot be identified with the naked eye, the boundary line of the latent image pattern (7) Although it may be clearly separated, in order to avoid a sense of incongruity, as shown in FIG. 7B, both sides of the boundary of the latent image pattern (7) are the second color, so-called third It is preferable that the gradation is a mixed color of the color and the fourth color.

  Although the details of the production method will be described later, the latent image element (14) has a color corresponding to the full-color continuous tone of the base color image (15), and therefore, in one latent image element (14). However, although the color may change, the plurality of latent image elements (14) also have different colors, and the color constituting the latent image element (14) is collectively referred to as a third color. In the present invention, the “color corresponding to the full color continuous tone of the base color image (15)” means the color of each pixel of the base color image (15) and the colored line pattern (10). About the same position of the colored image line (11), it means having the same color. Similarly, since the camouflage element (13) has a complementary color relationship with the latent image element (14), the plurality of latent image elements (14) correspond to the full color continuous tone of the base color image (15). Accordingly, the camouflage element (13) also has a different color in accordance with having different colors, but is collectively referred to as a fourth color.

  While the latent image element (14) is an element for forming the latent image pattern (7) when the substrate (2) is observed from the second observation angle (L2), the camouflage element (13) This is an element for making the latent image pattern (7) invisible when observed from the first observation angle (L1). Therefore, the fourth color of the camouflage element (13) needs to have a complementary color relationship with the third color of the latent image element (14). Specifically, the colored image line (11) of the monotone display area (M) composed of one color constitutes an area composed of achromatic colors in the latent image pattern (7). . This achromatic color is a color having no saturation, such as gray and black.

  Since the latent image pattern (7) of the present invention is mainly intended for the human face image (3), if the human face is taken as an example, the hair and the eyebrows are defined as an area in which the achromatic color is formed. Become. The camouflage element (13) and the latent image element (14) have a complementary color relationship, but when complementary colors are mixed, a gray achromatic color is obtained. Therefore, since the latent image pattern (7) is all achromatic by matching with the achromatic color of the hair and eyebrows in order to invisible the color region in the human face image (3), Can no longer be identified. Further, by forming the background portion (18) around the latent image pattern (7) as a monotone display area (M) with the second color of achromatic color, the latent image pattern (7) and the background portion (18) Cannot be identified, and the latent image pattern (7) can be completely invisible.

  Discrimination between the latent image pattern (7) and the background portion (18) is performed by the relief portion (12) formed on a part of the above-described convex image line (9). Due to the relief portion (12), the phase of the convex image line (9) differs in part of the image line. The difference in brightness is expressed by this phase difference. Therefore, the latent image pattern (7) and the background portion (18) are identified by the difference in brightness.

  The pitch (P) between the colored image lines (11) is equal to the pitch (P) between the convex image lines (9), and is preferably formed in the range of 80 μm to 1,000 μm.

  The line width (W2) of the colored image line (11) is at least wider than 10 μm, and the upper limit is the line width (9) of the colored image line (11) in the range of 9/10 with respect to the pitch (P). W2). If the image line width (W2) of the color image line (11) is wider than 9/10 with respect to the pitch (P), the color image line ( 11) overlap, the contrast cannot be obtained, and the latent image pattern (7) cannot be visually recognized. Also, if the line width (W2) of the colored image line (11) is smaller than 10 μm, the area where the convex image line (9) and the colored image line (11) overlap is small, so the visibility of the latent image pattern (7) is high. It is because it falls.

  However, in consideration of the color balance of the latent image pattern (7), it is preferable that the image line width (W2) of the color image line (11) is approximately ½ of the pitch (P). ) And the non-image width (W3) between the colored image lines (11) are substantially equal.

  The ratio of the respective line widths (W2-1, W2-2) of the camouflage element (13) and the latent image element (14) in the line width (W2) of the colored image line (11) is approximately 1. / Equal by 2 each. As described above, since the camouflage element (13) and the latent image element (14) have a complementary color relationship, and the mixed color of the two elements becomes an achromatic color, the line width (W2-1, If W2-2) is different, the mixed color does not become an achromatic color, and the latent image pattern (7) is the color of the base color image (15) or the base color even in the observation from the first observation angle (L1). The image can be visually recognized with the complementary color of the image (15), and the latent image effect is lost in the first place.

  The method for forming the colored image line (11) is not particularly limited as long as it can be formed on the convex pattern (8), such as a known IJP method, offset printing method, flexographic printing method or the like. However, in order to express a clear full-color continuous tone of the latent image pattern (7), high printing accuracy with the convex image line (9) is required. Printing machine) is preferred.

  By forming the color special latent image (6) of the present invention by the IJP method, the data of each pattern (8, 10), which will be described later, is made different for each color forming body (1) and given as variable information. You can also. In particular, by using the base color image (15) as a person (face), it can be sufficiently utilized as a passport booklet as shown in FIG.

  For the second color, the third color, and the fourth color that the colored image line (11) has, the process colors cyan, magenta, and yellow may be used. You may form by the special color which mixed various pigments. When process colors are used, the color balance of the three colors cyan, magenta and yellow affects the quality. On the other hand, when a special color is used, since it is configured with two colors, there is an advantage that an unstable factor of the color balance of the process color is alleviated.

  Here, the meaning of “full color” in the present invention will be described. As described above, the three colors of the process color can be used to form the colored image line (11), and the same color as the base color image (15) can be expressed in full color. However, since the basic color image (15) that is the target of the color special latent image (6) of the present invention is a person (face), the hair and eyebrows are expressed in achromatic colors, and the remaining colors are almost skin-colored. Therefore, a color special latent image (6) can be formed by using two special colors. Therefore, it is sufficient for the producer to determine as appropriate whether the process color or the special color is used to form the color special latent image (6). However, when the special color is used, a general full color is not obtained. However, even when a special color is used, it can be visually recognized as a pattern close to full color. Therefore, the “full color” in the present invention refers to a color pattern having a continuous gradation, and is a continuous process using a general process color. Both a gradation pattern and a continuous gradation pattern using a spot color are applicable. The colored line pattern (10) using this special color will be described later.

  Next, the arrangement relationship between the colored image line (11) and the convex image line (9) will be described. 8 and 9 show the positional relationship between the convex image line (9) and the colored image line (11) formed thereon. FIG. 9A is a cross section taken along line X1-X1 ′ shown in FIG. 8B, and is in the monotone display area (M) and in the “white background portion” of the base color image (15). When viewed from the observation angle (L2), the center line (T2) of the colored image line (11) is compared to the center line (T1) of the convex image line (9). Since it is shifted in the depth direction on the viewer side by 1/2 of (W1), at least the camouflage element (13) and the latent image element (14) are with respect to the center line (T1) of the convex image line (9). It is arranged on the slope on the opposite side as viewed from the observer, and is invisible by being shielded by the convex line (9). Therefore, it is recognized by the observer as the first color, that is, the white color.

  On the other hand, FIG. 9B is an X2-X2 ′ cross section shown in FIG. 8B, in the color display area (C), and in the “skin color face” of the base color image (15). Since the center line (T2) of the colored image line (11) is substantially equal to the center line (T1) of the convex image line (9) when observed from the second observation angle (L2), the colored image line (11) Is formed on the convex image line (9), and at least the camouflage element (13) is shielded by the convex image line (9) and cannot be visually recognized. Therefore, the latent image element (14) is arranged on the slope opposite to the center line (T1) of the convex image line (9) when viewed from the observer, and the latent image element (14) is located on the front convex image line (9 ) Is placed on the slope. Thereby, the observer recognizes the third color of the latent image element (14), that is, the skin color.

  However, as described above, since the latent image pattern (7) is a continuous tone image, it is necessary to express a subtle gradation difference, so that the convex line (9) corresponds to the continuous tone. Since it has a delicate curve, the camouflage element (13) and the latent image element (14) are arranged so as to be completely separated from the center line (T1). There is a place where the center line (T2) of (T1) and the colored image line (11) is not arranged at the same position.

  That is, the colored image line (11) has a linear shape, but the convex image line (9) has a curve corresponding to the gradation of the base color image (15) in order to express continuous gradation. ing. The distance (Z) of the maximum phase shift in the curve of the convex image line (9) is a distance approximately half of the image line width (W2) of the colored image line (11). A method of forming the shape of the convex image line (9) corresponding to the continuous tone of the basic color image (15) will be described later. Due to the curved shape of the convex image line (9), the latent image element (14) of the colored image line (11) formed in a linear shape is compared with the center line (T1) of the convex image line (9). There is also a place arranged on the slope on the opposite side as viewed from the observer (upper side in FIG. 8B). The positional relationship between the latent image element (14) and the convex image line (9) represents a fine continuous tone.

  The phase shift distance (Z) is approximately 1 of the line width (W2) of the colored image line (11) in consideration of the change in brightness and darkness of the achromatic second color and the shielding of the camouflage element (13). A distance corresponding to / 2 is preferable. If the phase shift amount is less than ½ or wider than 1/2, the color balance of the latent image pattern (7) is lost, and full-color continuous tone faithful to the base color image (15) cannot be expressed. End up.

  Next, a colored line pattern (10) using special colors without using process colors will be described. When the colored line pattern (10) is formed using the special colors, it can be formed by two colors, one color less than when three process colors are used. As described above, in the basic color image (15) of the present invention, when a person (face) is targeted, the main component of the skin color is the color of hemoglobin of red blood cells, that is, red, so the red component in the color space An ink prepared from (R component) and its neighboring colors can be used. The skin color of the latent image element (14) formed with this ink is referred to as a fifth color.

  Even when the latent image element (14) is formed using the fifth special color, the camouflage element (13) is the fifth of the latent image element (14) as in the case where the process full color is used. And a sixth color having a complementary color relationship with the other colors. The sixth color is not produced with a process color, but is formed with a special color like the fifth color.

  Regarding the colored image line (11) with the special color, the configuration, such as the image line width (W), the pitch (P), the arrangement relationship, and the like is the same as that in the case of forming using the process color described above, and the details are omitted. The production method will be described later.

  Next, a method for producing the color formed body (1) of the present invention will be described. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments to be described below, and includes various other embodiments within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims.

(Color forming body production apparatus)
The present invention embeds a base color image (15) having a full color gradation such as a photograph as an image of a full color gradation in a printed pattern composed of a color special latent image (6) constructed using an image line. The present invention relates to a method for producing a color formed body (1) that can appear as an image of a full color gradation as it is. As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 10, the data forming apparatus for the color forming body (1) in the present embodiment includes an input means (M1), an editing means (M2), an output means (M3), and a display means. (M4), a communication interface (M5), and a database (M6).

  The input means (M1) is composed of a color image input means (M1a) and an information input means (M1b). The input of the base color image (15) in the color image input means (M1a) is a digital camera, a scanner, etc. It is not particularly limited. It is also possible to obtain images, text, etc. from a database server registered in advance by the database (M6) or the communication interface (M5).

  On the other hand, the information input means (M1b) is input from a keyboard or the like, numerical information registered in the same personal computer as the database (M6), and numerical values from an external database server input in advance by the communication interface (M5). Information can be obtained. The numerical information is output resolution related to a first image, a second image, and a third image, which will be described later.

  The editing unit (M2) includes a preprocessed image generation unit (M2a), a line pattern generation unit (M2b), and a convex pattern generation unit (M2c). The preprocessed image generation unit (M2a) generates a preprocessed image based on the color image, numerical information, pattern file, and the like obtained from the communication interface (M5) or the database (M6). The line pattern generation unit (M2b) Then, the colored line pattern (10) is generated, and the convex pattern generation means (M2c) generates the convex pattern (8).

  The output means (M3) is a printing apparatus or the like capable of printing an image from a computer such as a UV / inkjet printer, and is not particularly limited. The display means (M4) is not particularly limited, such as a personal computer monitor or a dedicated monitor. Further, the communication interface (M5) is not particularly limited, such as USB, RS-232C, IEEE1394.

  Next, a method for producing the color forming body (1) will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The data creation method is mainly composed of three processing flows surrounded by a one-dot chain line. The preprocessing flow is executed in the preprocessed image generation means (M2a), the colored line pattern generation flow is executed in the line pattern generation means (M2b), and the convex pattern generation flow is the convex pattern generation means ( In M2c).

(Pre-processing flow)
First, the preprocessing flow will be described. Step 1 for setting a color image sets a color image input from, for example, a digital camera in the basic color image setting step. In this embodiment, a multi-valued color image such as a 24-bit RGB format is used as the base color image (15) including the face photograph shown in FIG. 12, the image resolution is 1,200 dpi, and the image size is 1,535 × 1. , 535 Pixel.

  In addition, you may add the saturation adjustment process which raises the saturation of the base color image (15) of Step1-2 as needed. The reason for increasing the saturation is to make the full color image appear more vividly when the substrate (2) shown in FIG. 3B is tilted and observed.

  Next, in the step 2 area averaging process, the base color image (15) is converted into an area averaged image (19) composed of a multi-valued color image by the area averaging process. In the area averaging process, as shown in FIG. 13, the average value is set by the pixel density in the vicinity in the area of the number of horizontal pixels (v) and the number of vertical pixels (h) in the basic color image (15). is there. In this embodiment, the number of horizontal pixels (v) is 24 pixels, and the number of vertical pixels (h) is 48 pixels. The number of vertical pixels (h) corresponds to the pitch (P) of the color special latent image (6).

  Next, by performing horizontal blur processing on the region averaged image (19) converted in Step 2, the vicinity of a predetermined number of pixels is blurred in the direction of the number of horizontal pixels (v) as shown in FIG. You may add the horizontal blur processing process of Step2-2 converted into the horizontal blur processing image (20) which consists of a multi-valued color image. The horizontal blur process is a process for improving the quality of a line pattern and a convex pattern, which will be described later, and is not necessarily a required process. In the present embodiment, a horizontal blur process of 24 pixels is performed in the direction of the number of horizontal pixels (v).

  The area averaged image (19) or the horizontal blurring processed image (20) shifts to a line pattern generation flow and a convex pattern generation flow, and each process is automatically executed.

(Convex pattern generation flow)
Next, a convex pattern generation flow will be described. Step 3 generates two multi-value monochrome images as a multi-value monochrome image generation step. As shown in FIG. 15A, the first image is an area averaged image (19) converted at Step 2 or a horizontal blurred image (20) converted at Step 2-2. Converted to a first multi-value monochrome image (21) such as a scale format.

In the second image, gradation inversion of the first multi-value monochrome image (21) generated as the first image, that is, each pixel density value (gray level) is inverted, and FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the first multi-value monochrome image (21) is converted into a negative second multi-value monochrome image (22). For example, when the first multi-value monochrome image (21) is in 8-bit format, the density value (gray level from 0 to 255) of each pixel of the entire multi-value information (D ₀ ) image is converted by Equation 1. By doing so, the multi-value information (D ₁ ) whose tone is inverted is obtained.

(Formula 1)

  Next, in Step 4, as a first binary image generation step, first, a first pattern file (A) as shown in FIG. 16 is added to the first multi-value monochrome image (21) generated in Step 3. Apply. The first pattern file (A) is a multi-valued image also called a critical value array image, and the number of vertical pixels is the number of vertical pixels (h) used when averaging the neighboring pixel densities in Step 2. In this embodiment, it is 48 pixels. By applying the first pattern file (A) to the entire first multi-value monochrome image (21), the positive 1-1 binary image (23) shown in FIG. 16 is generated. .

  In addition, the second pattern file (B) as shown in FIG. 17 is applied to the negative second multi-valued monochrome image (22) generated in Step 3. The second pattern file (B) is a multi-valued image also called a critical value array image like the first pattern file (A), and the number of vertical pixels is set to an average value at neighboring pixel densities in Step 2. It is equal to the number of vertical pixels (h) used in the above, and in this embodiment, it is 48 pixels. By applying the second pattern file (B) to the entire negative second multi-value monochrome image (22), the negative first-second binary image (24) shown in FIG. Generated.

  Next, in the convex pattern generation process in Step 5, the 1-1 binary image (23) and the 1-2 binary image (24) generated in Step 4 are combined, and the first binary image shown in FIG. The base image (25) of the convex pattern (8) to be a binary image is completed. The convex pattern (8) shown in FIG. 2 is obtained by printing the base image (25) of the convex pattern (8). At this time, for the synthesis of the 1-1 binary image (23) and the 1-2 binary image (24), the entire areas indicating the respective images are arranged in the same area. A positive element (40) that constitutes a first binary image (23) in a positive shape and a negative element (41 that constitutes a first and second binary image (24) in a negative shape. ) And are arranged adjacent to each other as in the first binary image shown in the partially enlarged view of FIG.

(Line pattern generation flow)
Next, a flow chart generation flow surrounded by a dotted line in FIG. 11 will be described. Step 6 is a multi-value color information conversion step, in which the multi-value color information (R ₀ , G ₀ , B ₀ ) of the area averaged image (19) or the horizontal blurred image (20) is converted into the camouflage element (13) and the latent image. Conversion into multi-value color information which is the basis of the image element (14). First, for the camouflage element (13), gradation reversal of the multi-valued color image of either the area averaged image (19) converted in Step 2 or the horizontal blurring processed image (20) converted in Step 2-2 is performed. Done. For example, when the area averaged image (19) or the horizontal blurring processed image (20) is in the 24-bit RGB format, the density value of each pixel of the entire image of the basic multi-value color information (R ₀ , G ₀ , B ₀ ) By converting (gray level from 0 to 255) by Equation 2, the _first- valued multi-value color information (R ₁ , G ₁ , B ₁ ) is obtained by gradation inversion. That is, when the base multi-value color information (R ₀ , G ₀ , B ₀ ) of the base color image (15) is, for example, the density value of the pixel shown in FIG. The multi-value color information (R ₁ , G ₁ , B ₁ ) 1-1 is converted into pixel density values shown in FIG.

(Formula 2)

Next, the hue inversion of the multi-valued color image of either the region averaged image (19) converted in Step 2 or the horizontal blurring processed image (20) converted in Step 2-2 is performed. For example, when the area averaged image (19) or the horizontal blurring processed image (20) is in the 24-bit RGB format, the density value of each pixel of the entire image of the basic multi-value color information (R ₀ , G ₀ , B ₀ ) By converting (gray level from 0 to 255) by Equation 3, the 1-2 multi-valued color information (R ₂ , G ₂ , B ₂ ) whose hue is inverted is obtained. That is, when the base multi-value color information (R ₀ , G ₀ , B ₀ ) of the base color image (15) is, for example, the pixel density value shown in FIG. -2 multi-value color information (R ₂ , G ₂ , B ₂ ) is converted into, for example, the pixel density values shown in FIG.

(Formula 3)

Next, the gradation-reversed _first-first multi-value color information (R ₁ , G ₁ , B ₁ ) and hue-reversed 1-2 multi-value color information (R ₂ , G ₂ , B ₁ ) ₂ ), the first multi-value color information (50% synthesized) averaged (50% synthesized) by converting and synthesizing the density value (gray level of 0 to 255) of each pixel of the entire image using Equation 4. _{R 4, G 4, B 4} ) become. That is, the averaged first multi-value color information (R ₄ , G ₄ , B ₄ ) is converted into, for example, the pixel density values shown in FIG. An image having the first multi-value color information (R ₄ , G ₄ , B ₄ ) is the first multi-value color image (26).

(Formula 4)

Next, for the latent image element (14), the lightness inversion of the multi-valued color image of either the area averaged image (19) converted in Step 2 or the horizontal blurred image (20) converted in Step 2-2 Is done. For example, when the area averaged image (19) or the horizontal blurring processed image (20) is in the 24-bit RGB format, the density value of each pixel of the entire image of the basic multi-value color information (R ₀ , G ₀ , B ₀ ) By converting (gray level from 0 to 255) by Equation 5, the 2-1 multi-value color information (R ₃ , G ₃ , B ₃ ) whose brightness is inverted is obtained. That is, when the base multi-value color information (R ₀ , G ₀ , B ₀ ) of the base color image (15) is, for example, the pixel density value shown in FIG. The multi-value color information (R ₃ , G ₃ , B ₃ ) of −1 is converted into, for example, the pixel density values shown in FIG.

(Formula 5)

Next, basic multi-value color information (R ₀ , G ₀ , B ₀ ) consisting of the area averaged image (19) converted in Step 2 or the horizontal blurring processed image (20) converted in Step 2-2 and brightness inversion Using the obtained 2-1 multi-value color information (R ₃ , G ₃ , B ₃ ), the density value (gray level from 0 to 255) of each pixel of the entire image is converted by Equation 6 and synthesized. Thus, the second multi-value color information (R ₅ , G ₅ , B ₅ ) averaged (50% synthesis) is obtained. The averaged second multi-value color information (R ₅ , G ₅ , B ₅ ) is converted into, for example, the pixel density values shown in FIG. An image provided with the second multi-value color information (R ₅ , G ₅ , B ₅ ) becomes the second multi-value color image (27).

(Formula 6)

Next, in the mask processing step in Step 7, the first multi-value color information (R ₄ , G ₄ , B ₄ ) averaged in Step 6 is converted into the first multi-value color as shown in FIG. An image (26) is developed, and a line-shaped upper slit (Q1) mask is applied at that time. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 20B, which is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 20A, the camouflage element (13) having the fourth color in the complementary color relation is formed.

On the other hand, the second multi-value color information (R ₅ , G ₅ , B ₅ ) averaged in Step 6 is developed into a second multi-value color image (27) as shown in FIG. At that time, an image-shaped lower slit (Q2) mask is applied. As a result, as shown in FIG. 21B, which is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 21A, a latent image element (14) having a complementary color-related third color is formed.

  Furthermore, in the colored line pattern generation process in Step 8, the first multi-value color image (26) and the second multi-value color image (27) generated in Step 7 are combined, and the color shown in FIG. The base image of the line pattern (10) is completed. A color line pattern (10) shown in FIG. 2 is obtained by printing a base image of the color line pattern (10).

  The flow chart of FIG. 11 shows the process up to the production of the image data of the convex pattern (8) and the image data of the colored line pattern (10). The color forming body (1) of the present invention can be produced by the convex pattern forming step and the colored line forming step formed using

(Special color line pattern generation flow)
As described above, the full color in the present invention may be expressed by a special color. An advantage of using a spot color is that the number of printing colors is reduced or color stability is improved. The special color line pattern generation flow will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the color gamut extraction step of Step 9, a specific color gamut (skin color) is extracted from the multi-valued color image of the area averaged image (19) converted in Step 2 or the horizontal blurring processed image (20) converted in Step 2-2. Is done. Since the base color image (15) is a person (face) and the skin color main component of the person (face) is the color of hemoglobin of red blood cells, that is, red, as shown in FIG. When 15) is in the 24-bit RGB format, the red component (R component) and its neighboring colors may be extracted from the color space (28). As a result, the third multi-value monochrome image (29) from which the red component is extracted is obtained.

  Next, in the multi-value monochrome gradation conversion process in Step 10, the third multi-value monochrome image (29) from which the red component obtained in Step 9 is extracted is converted into two 8-bit grayscale images prepared on the memory. Tone curve is applied to each. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 24, the first tone curve (30) is applied to the third multi-value monochrome image (29) of the first system. The density value 255 is the density value 222, the density value 0 is the density value 199, and the tone curve has linear continuity. As a result, the multi-value monochrome positive image (31) after applying the first tone curve (30) is generated in a positive shape with low contrast. In addition, the second tone curve (32) is applied to the third multi-value monochrome image (29) of the second system. The density value 255 is the density value 232, the density value 0 is the density value 255, and the tone curve has linear continuity. As a result, the multi-value monochrome negative image (33) after applying the second tone curve (32) is generated in a negative shape with a low contrast at first glance.

  Next, in the binary image generation process for special colors in Step 11, first, in the first multi-value monochrome positive image (31) generated in Step 10, the lower third pattern file (K1) shown in FIG. ) Is applied to generate a 2-1 binary image (34) shown in FIG. In addition, in the second multi-value monochrome negative image (33) generated in Step 10, the upper fourth pattern file (K2) shown in FIG. 25 is applied, and the second 2-2 shown in FIG. A binary image (35) is generated. By combining the 2-1 binary image (34) and the 2-2 binary image (35) in the second combining step of the Step 12 binary image, the second image shown in FIG. This is a binary image (36), which is a full-color skin color image.

  Further, the lower fifth pattern file (K3) shown in FIG. 25 is applied to the multi-level monochrome positive image (31) of the first system generated in Step 10, and the 2-1-2 shown in FIG. 27 is applied. A value image (37) is generated. Furthermore, in the second multi-value monochrome negative image (33) generated in Step 10, the upper sixth pattern file (K4) shown in FIG. 25 is applied, and the 3-2 binary shown in FIG. 27 is applied. An image (38) is generated. By combining the 3-1 binary image (37) and the 3-2 binary image (38) in the third combining step of the binary image of Step 13, the third image shown in FIG. This binary image (39) is a complementary color image in full color.

  Further, in the step 14 for generating the special colored line pattern for the special color in Step 14, the second binary image (36) generated in the second synthesizing process of the binary image in Step 12, the so-called skin color image, and the binary image in Step 13. The third binary image (39) generated in the third combining step, that is, a so-called complementary color image, is combined with each other image to generate a colored line pattern (10 '). In the colored line pattern (10 ′), as shown in a partially enlarged view of FIG. 28, the element arranged on the upper side of the drawing becomes the camouflage element (13 ′) and arranged on the lower side of the drawing. The element thus formed becomes the latent image element (14 ').

  Naturally, the special colored line pattern (10 ′) shown in FIG. 28 may be prepared with two special colors and printed, but the second binary image (36) shown in FIG. The third binary image (39) shown in FIG. 27 is a multi-valued color image obtained by combining each color into a color image, and is converted into CMYK by the color separation means of the output means (M3) and printed. Good.

  The flow chart of FIG. 22 shows the steps up to the production of image data for forming a colored line pattern (10) using a special color. The above-described process is described above on the base material (2). According to the present invention, the convex pattern forming step formed using the image data of the convex pattern (8) and the colored line forming step formed using the image data of the colored line pattern (10 ') for this special color are used. The color former (1 ′) can be produced.

  Next, the color forming body (1) described above is viewed at the first observation angle (L1) shown in FIG. 3A, that is, when the color forming body (1) is observed from directly above. The form which provided the pattern (43) is demonstrated. By providing this sub-color pattern (43), it is possible to have an effect of switching to a different image by changing the observation angle of the color forming body (1).

(Additional sub-color pattern)
As shown in FIG. 29 (a), the color forming body (1) having the sub-color pattern (43) is a first observation from directly above where the viewpoint of the observer is perpendicular to the substrate (2). In the case of the angle (L1), the color special latent image pattern (42) can visually recognize a sub-color pattern (43) different from the base color image (15), as shown in FIG. 29 (b). At the second observation angle (L2) for observing the base material (2) from an oblique direction, the latent image pattern (7) having a continuous color tone can be visually recognized. That is, the color forming body (1) in which a color image is switched between observation from directly above and observation from an oblique direction.

  The image line forming the sub-color pattern (43) has the same pitch as the convex pattern (8) and the colored line pattern (10) depending on the process color or special color as the seventh color different from the base material (2). It is necessary to form at a position that becomes the blind spot of the convex line (9) when the substrate (2) is viewed from the second observation angle (L2). That is, it is arranged on the slope on the opposite side to the center line (T1) of the convex line (9) shown in FIG. What is important at this time is that the sub-color pattern (43) and the latent image pattern (7) can be confirmed by being completely switched by the observation angle, so that the latent image element (14) for forming the latent image pattern (7) can be confirmed. ) And the sub-color image line (44) forming the sub-color pattern (43) are arranged so as not to overlap. As a result, the image line forming the sub-color pattern (43) is invisible by being blocked by the convex image line (9).

(Sub color pattern generation process)
The sub color pattern (43) generation process will be described in detail with reference to the flow shown in FIG. Step 17 generates two multi-value monochrome images as a multi-value monochrome image generation step. The first image is an area averaged image (19) converted at Step 2 or a horizontal blurred image (20) converted at Step 2-2, for example, a fourth multi-scale format such as an 8-bit group-scale format. Converted to a monochrome image.

  The second image is a tone inversion of the fourth multi-value monochrome image generated as the first image, that is, each pixel density value (gray level) is inverted, and the fourth multi-value monochrome image is obtained. Is converted into a negative fifth multi-value monochrome image.

  The fourth multi-value monochrome image and the fifth multi-value monochrome image generated in Step 17 are similar to the convex pattern generation step in FIG. 11, but in the sub-color pattern preparation processing step, it is viewed from the observer. Since it is necessary to form the sub-color pattern (43) on the opposite side of the convex image line (9), this is a step of generating a multi-value monochrome image as another step in order to specify this position.

  Next, in Step 18, as a fourth binary image generation step, first, the seventh pattern file (K5) as shown in FIG. 31 is applied to the fourth multi-value monochrome image generated in Step 17. . The number of vertical pixels in the seventh pattern file (K5) is equal to the number of vertical pixels (h) used in averaging the neighboring pixel densities in Step 2, and is 48 pixels in this embodiment. By applying the seventh pattern file (K5) to the entire fourth multi-value monochrome image, the positive 4-1 binary image (45) shown in FIG. 31 is generated.

  In addition, the eighth pattern file (K6) as shown in FIG. 32 is applied to the negative fifth multi-valued monochrome image generated in Step 17. The number of vertical pixels in the eighth pattern file (K6) is equal to the number of vertical pixels (h) used in averaging the neighboring pixel densities in Step 2, and is 48 pixels in this embodiment. By applying the eighth pattern file (K6) to the entire negative fifth multi-value monochrome image, the negative fourth-second binary image (46) shown in FIG. 32 is generated. .

  Next, in the sub color image mask generation processing in Step 19, the 4-1 binary image (45) and the 4-2 binary image (46) generated in Step 18 are combined and shown in FIG. A base image (47) of the sub-color image mask to be the first binary image is completed.

(Pre-processing flow)
A preprocessing flow in generating the sub color pattern (43) will be described. Step 15 for setting the sub color image (48) sets a color image input from, for example, a digital camera in the sub color image setting step. In the present embodiment, a multi-value color image such as a 24-bit RGB format is used as the sub-color image (48) including the cherry blossom petals shown in FIG. 34, the image resolution is 1,200 dpi, and the image size is 1,535 ×. It was set to 1,535 Pixel. Note that the sub-color image (48) may be converted into a region averaged image composed of a multi-valued color image by the above-described region averaging process in Step 2 as necessary.

  Next, the tone curve of Step 16 is changed. For example, when the sub-color image (48) is in 24-bit RGB format, the density value of each RGB channel is represented by a gray level of 0 to 255. Therefore, the gray curve of about 128 to 255 is changed by changing the tone curve of Step 16. It is desirable to make it a level.

(Post-processing flow)
A post-processing flow in generating the sub color pattern (43) will be described. In Step 20, the base image (47) of the sub color image mask is applied to the sub color image (48) whose tone curve has been changed. FIG. 35 shows a sub color image (49) obtained by applying the base image (47) of the sub color image mask to the sub color image (48).

  Furthermore, in Step 21, the colored line pattern (10) obtained in Step 8 or Step 14, the first multi-value color image (26) and the second multi-value color image (27) generated in Step 7 are combined. The colored line pattern having the sub color pattern (43) as shown in FIG. 36 is synthesized by synthesizing the base image of the colored line pattern (10) thus formed and the sub color image (49) obtained in Step 20. The base image (10 ″) is completed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Color special latent image pattern formation body 2 Base material 3 Face image 4 Personal information 5 Booklet number 6 Color special latent image pattern 7 Latent image pattern 8 Convex pattern 9 Convex line 10, 10 ', 10 "Colored line pattern 11 , 11 'Colored image line 12 Relief part 13, 13' Camouflage element 14, 14 'Latent image element 15 Base color image 18 Background part 19 Area averaged image 20 Horizontal blurring processed image 21 First multi-valued monochrome image 22 Second Multi-value monochrome image 23 1-1 binary image 24 1-2 binary image 25 convex pattern base image 26 first multi-value color image 27 second multi-value color image 28 color space 29 Third multi-value monochrome image 30 First tone curve 31 Multi-value monochrome positive image 32 Second tone curve 33 Multi-value monochrome negative image 34 2-1 binary image 35 2-2 binary image 36 Second binary image 37 3-1 binary image 38 3-2 binary image 39 3rd binary image 40 positive element 41 negative element 42 color special latent image pattern 43 sub color pattern 44 sub color image line 45 4-1 Binary image 46 4-2 binary image 47 Sub-color image mask base image 48 Sub-color image 49 Sub-color image A to which the base image of the sub-color image mask is applied First pattern file B Second Pattern file C Color display area H Convex line height h Number of vertical pixels v Number of horizontal pixels K Pattern file K1 Third pattern file K2 Fourth pattern file K3 Fifth pattern file K4 Sixth pattern file K5 Seventh pattern file K6 Eighth pattern file L1 First observation angle L2 Second observation angle M Monotone display area M1 Input means M1a Color image input means M b Information input means M2 Editing means M2a Preprocessed image generation means M2b Line pattern generation means M2c Convex pattern generation means M3 Output means M4 Display means M5 Communication interface M6 Database P Pitch Q1 Upper slit Q2 Lower slit S1 Direction T1 Convex line Center line T2 center line W1 of colored image line W1 line width of convex image line W2 line width of colored image line W3 non-image line width Z between color image lines distance of phase shift

Claims (14)

A convex image line having a first color that is the same color as the base material and having a relief shape corresponding to the continuous tone of the base color image is formed along at least a part of the base material along the first direction. Convex patterns arranged in a line at a predetermined pitch,
On the convex pattern, a latent image element and a camouflage element are adjacent to each other, and a colored image line configured as one image line is aligned at the same pitch as the convex image line along the first direction. A colored line pattern arranged in a line is formed,
The latent image element is:
i) having an achromatic second color composed of a process color different from the substrate and the first color and a colored third color corresponding to the color of the base color image; or ii) the base A fifth color of a spot color corresponding to a color of the base color image different from the material and the first color;
In the case of i), the camouflage element has a fourth color that is the second color or a process color that is complementary to the third color. In the case of ii), the camouflage element has the fifth color. The color has a sixth color consisting of complementary colors,
The mixed color of the third color and the fourth color or the mixed color of the fifth color and the sixth color is an achromatic color,
The convex image line and the colored image line are at least partially overlapped, and a latent image pattern is formed by a plurality of the latent image elements arranged,
When viewed from directly above the surface of the base material, the colored line pattern is visually recognized as the uniform second color. A color special latent image pattern forming body characterized in that it is shielded by an image line and the latent image pattern is visible with the same full-color gradation as that of the base color image. The color special latent image pattern formed body further has a sub color pattern different from the latent image pattern,
The sub-color pattern has a line shape so that a sub-color image line having a seventh color different from that of the base material does not overlap the latent image element at the same pitch as the convex image line in the first direction. Formed into
When viewed from directly above the substrate surface, the sub-color pattern formed in the colored line pattern is visually recognized. When observed from an oblique direction with respect to the substrate surface, the camouflage element and the sub-color pattern 2. The color special latent image pattern forming body according to claim 1, wherein a color image line is shielded by the convex image line, and the latent image pattern is visible with the same full-color gradation as the base color image.   3. The color special latent image pattern formed body according to claim 2, wherein the seventh color is a process color or a special color. On at least a part of the base material, a convex pattern in which convex lines of the same color as the base material are arranged in a line at a predetermined pitch along the first direction, and on the convex pattern Colored image lines composed of a latent image element and a camouflage element, which are different in color from the convex line and have a complementary color relationship, are arranged in a line at the same pitch as the convex line along the first direction. A method for producing a color special latent image pattern in which a colored line pattern is formed, and a latent image pattern composed of the latent image elements can be visually recognized only at an oblique observation angle with respect to the substrate surface,
A base color image setting step of producing or acquiring a base color image of the latent image pattern from the outside;
An area averaging step for dividing the base color image into a plurality of areas, averaging the density for each area, and generating an area averaged image;
A first multi-value monochrome image obtained by converting the region averaged image into a multi-value monochrome image for the convex pattern, and a second multi-value monochrome image obtained by reversing the gradation of the first multi-value monochrome image. A multi-value monochrome image generation process to be created;
Two different pattern files for the convex pattern are created, and are applied to the first multi-value monochrome image and the second multi-value monochrome image, respectively, and a positive 1-1 binary image and A first binary image generation step of creating a negative 1-2 binary image;
A convex pattern generating step of combining the positive elements constituting the 1-1 binary image and the negative elements constituting the 1-2 binary image so as to be adjacent to each other;
Base value indicating the density value of each pixel of the image after the region averaging step for a camouflage element for invisibility of the latent image pattern when observed from directly above the substrate surface The first multi-value color information 1-1 in which the color information is tone-reversed and the first multi-value color information 1-2 in which the hue is inverted are produced, averaged to a density value of 50%, and synthesized. A first multi-value color image having one multi-value color information is generated, and for the latent image element, base multi-value color information indicating a density value of each pixel of the image after the region averaging process is generated; The second multi-value color information having the lightness inverted is prepared, and the second multi-value color information is obtained by averaging and synthesizing the basic multi-value color information and the density value of 50%. A multi-value color image generation process for generating a multi-value color image;
A first multi-value color including the latent image element by applying a slit mask arranged in the first direction to each of the first multi-value color image and the second multi-value color image. A masking step of generating a second multi-valued color image comprising the image and the camouflage element;
A colored line pattern generation step of combining the latent image element constituting the first multi-value color image and the camouflage element constituting the second multi-value color image so as to be adjacent to each other. A method for producing a color special latent image pattern. The method for producing the color special latent image pattern includes a method for producing a sub color pattern different from the latent image pattern,
The method for producing the sub-color pattern is a method in which an image that is the basis of the sub-color pattern is produced or acquired from the outside, and a tone curve is applied to the image that is the basis of the sub-color pattern before generating the sub-color base image. Processing steps;
A fourth multi-value monochrome image obtained by converting the region averaged image into a multi-value monochrome image to generate a sub-color image mask, and a fifth multi-value obtained by reversing the gradation of the fourth multi-value monochrome image. A multi-value monochrome image generation process for producing a monochrome image;
Two different pattern files for the sub-color image mask are created, and a fourth binary image obtained by applying the upper color pattern file of the sub-color image mask to the fourth multi-value monochrome image; A fourth binary image generating step of generating a 4-2 binary image adapted to the lower pattern file of the sub color image mask;
A sub color image mask generating step of generating the sub color image mask by combining the 4-1 binary image and the 4-2 binary image;
Applying the sub color image mask to the sub color base image to generate the sub color image mask; and
The color special latent image pattern according to claim 4, further comprising a step of synthesizing the colored line pattern and the sub-color image to generate the colored line pattern having the sub-color pattern. Manufacturing method.   6. The method for producing a color special latent image pattern according to claim 4, further comprising a saturation adjusting step for increasing the saturation of the base color image before the region averaging step.   A horizontal blur processing step for performing blur processing for making the boundary of each region inconspicuous with respect to the horizontal direction of the substrate surface with respect to the region averaged image after the region averaging step is provided. The method for producing a color special latent image pattern according to any one of claims 4 to 6.   In the multi-value color image generating step, the image that is the basis of the 1-2 multi-value color information and the 2-1 multi-value color information whose hue is inverted with respect to the 1-1 multi-value color information, 8. The method for producing a color special latent image pattern according to claim 7, wherein the image is a region averaged image or a horizontal blurred image generated in the horizontal blurred image processing step.   A convex pattern forming step for forming on the base material based on the data of the convex pattern prepared by the method for producing a color special latent image pattern according to claim 4, and on the base material A colored special latent image pattern forming method comprising: a colored line pattern forming step of forming on the formed convex pattern based on the data of the colored line pattern. On at least a part of the base material, a convex pattern in which convex lines of the same color as the base material are arranged in a line at a predetermined pitch along the first direction, and on the convex pattern Colored image lines composed of a latent image element and a camouflage element, which are different in color from the convex line and have a complementary color relationship, are arranged in a line at the same pitch as the convex line along the first direction. A method for producing a color special latent image pattern in which a colored line pattern is formed, and a latent image pattern composed of the latent image elements can be visually recognized only at an oblique observation angle with respect to the substrate surface,
A base color image setting step of producing or acquiring a base color image of the latent image pattern from the outside;
An area averaging step for dividing the base color image into a plurality of areas, averaging the density for each area, and generating an area averaged image;
A first multi-value monochrome image obtained by converting the region averaged image into a multi-value monochrome image for the convex pattern, and a second multi-value monochrome image obtained by reversing the gradation of the first multi-value monochrome image. A multi-value monochrome image generation process to be created;
Two different pattern files for the convex pattern are created, and are applied to the first multi-value monochrome image and the second multi-value monochrome image, respectively, and a positive 1-1 binary image and A first binary image generation step of creating a negative 1-2 binary image;
A first composition step of a binary image for compositing so that a positive element constituting the 1-1 binary image and a negative element constituting the 1-2 binary image are adjacent to each other; ,
A color gamut extraction step of generating a third multi-value monochrome image obtained by extracting a specific color gamut from the image after the region averaging step;
A multi-value monochrome tone conversion step for generating a multi-value monochrome positive image and a multi-value monochrome negative image obtained by converting tone by applying tone curves having different density values to the third multi-value monochrome image When,
By applying a lower pattern file to the multi-value monochrome positive image and the multi-value monochrome negative image, 2-1 and 3-1 binary images are generated, and the multi-value monochrome positive image and the multi-value monochrome positive image A special color binary image generating step of generating the 2-2 and 3-2 binary images by applying the upper pattern file to the multi-value monochrome negative image;
A second synthesis step of a binary image that synthesizes the 2-1 binary image and the 2-2 binary image to generate a second binary image;
A third combining step of the binary image for generating the third binary image by combining the 3-1 binary image and the 3-2 binary image;
A method for producing a color special latent image pattern, comprising: a step for generating a colored line pattern for a special color by synthesizing the second binary image and the third binary image to generate a colored line pattern for the special color . The color special latent image pattern production method further comprises a sub color pattern production method,
The sub-color pattern manufacturing method is a pre-processing for generating or acquiring an image that is a base of the sub-color pattern from the outside, and generating a sub-color base image by applying a tone curve to the image that is the base of the sub-color Process,
A fourth multi-value monochrome image obtained by converting the region averaged image into a multi-value monochrome image to generate a sub-color image mask, and a fifth multi-value obtained by reversing the gradation of the fourth multi-value monochrome image. A multi-value monochrome image generation process for producing a monochrome image;
Two different pattern files for the sub-color image mask are created, and a fourth binary image obtained by applying the upper color pattern file of the sub-color image mask to the fourth multi-value monochrome image; A fourth binary image generating step of generating a 4-2 binary image adapted to the lower pattern file of the sub color image mask;
A sub color image mask generating step of generating the sub color image mask by combining the 4-1 binary image and the 4-2 binary image;
Applying the sub color image mask to the sub color base image to generate the sub color image mask; and
A color line pattern generation step for a special color that combines the color line pattern for the special color and the sub color image, and generates a color line pattern for the special color having the sub color pattern, The method for producing a color special latent image pattern according to claim 10.   The method for producing a color special latent image pattern according to claim 10 or 11, further comprising a saturation adjustment step of increasing the saturation of the base color image before the region averaging step.   A horizontal blur processing step for performing blur processing for making the boundary of each region inconspicuous with respect to the horizontal direction of the substrate surface with respect to the region averaged image after the region averaging step is provided. 13. The method for producing a color special latent image pattern according to any one of claims 10 to 12.   A convex pattern forming step for forming on the base material based on the convex pattern data prepared by the method for producing a color special latent image pattern according to claim 10, and formed on the base material A method for producing a color special latent image pattern forming body, comprising: a step for forming a colored line pattern for a special color formed on a convex pattern based on data of a colored line pattern for a special color.

Images