Printed security feature
A printed security feature for a security document including a substrate, the security feature comprising: a first functional effect ink printed on a first surface of the substrate, and a second functional effect ink printed on the first and/or a second surface of the substrate, at least partially overlapping the first functional effect ink, wherein the first and the second functional effect inks in combination create an imagery feature which resembles an appearance of a security thread.
1 . A printed security feature for a security document, said security document including a transparent or translucent substrate of polymeric material, the security feature comprising:
a first functional effect ink printed directly onto a first surface of the substrate, and
a second functional effect ink printed directly onto the first and/or a second surface of the substrate, at least partially overlapping the first functional effect ink,
wherein the first and the second functional effect inks in combination create an imagery appearance of a security thread that is an elongate strip having a length that is greater than its width and extends between a first edge and a second edge of the security document,
wherein at least one of the first functional effect ink and the second functional effect ink includes a colour switching ink, which displays a variable colour appearance when a viewing condition and/or a viewing angle changes, or
wherein at least one of the first functional effect ink and the second functional effect ink includes an ink comprising metallic ink particles, which create a metallic appearance; or
wherein the first and second functional effect inks include fluorescent, luminescent, phosphorescent inks, photochromic, thermochromic, hydrochromic, or peizochromic inks.
2 . The printed security feature according to claim 1 , wherein the first functional effect ink is printed as a solid strip, and the second functional effect ink is printed as patterns.
3 . The printed security feature according to claim 2 , wherein the second functional effect ink is printed within boundaries of the solid strip formed by the first functional effect ink, that is, the patterns are printed such that they substantially overlap with the strip formed by the first functional effect ink, or wherein the second functional effect ink is printed such that it extends beyond boundaries of the solid strip formed by the first functional effect ink, wherein portions of the second functional effect ink which extend beyond the boundaries of the solid strip are configured as a shadow image visible in transmission.
4 . The printed security feature according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first functional effect ink and the second functional effect ink includes a colour switching ink, which displays a variable colour appearance when a viewing condition and/or a viewing angle changes, or wherein at least one of the first functional effect ink and the second functional effect ink includes an ink comprising metallic ink particles, which create a metallic appearance.
5 . The printed security feature according to claim 1 , further comprising a non-functional effect ink printed on the substrate in one or more ink layers, and on one or both surfaces of the substrate, wherein non-functional effect ink is printed to coat a major area of the first and second surfaces of the substrate, to produce a printing surface for subsequent security features applied to the substrate, and further wherein the non-functional effect ink is omitted in one or more regions where the first and the second functional effect ink have already been applied, wherein within the one or more regions, the security feature displays a glossy surface appearance, and effects of the first and second functional effect inks are perceivable to an observer through the one or more regions where the non-functional effect ink is omitted, wherein outside the one or more regions, the security feature displays a matt appearance, and effects of the first and second functional effect inks are partially concealed by the non-functional effect ink, and wherein the glossy appearance and the matt appearance of the security feature are more easily distinguishable from each other at oblique viewings, and when the security feature is viewed in reflection; wherein the glossy appearance and the matt appearance of the security feature are less distinguishable from each other at non-oblique viewing angles, or when the security feature is viewed in transmission.
6 . The printed security feature according to claim 5 , wherein the first functional effect ink and the second functional effect inks are both printed on the first surface of the substrate, and the non-functional effect ink is also applied on the first surface of the substrate.
7 . The printed security feature according to claim 5 , wherein the non-functional effect ink is applied in one or more ink coating layers, to form a shadow image visible from the second surface of the substrate, wherein the shadow image is observable in reflection, but becomes less observable in transmission, and further wherein the shadow image is formed as a negative shadow image, that is, the non-functional effect ink is omitted in accordance with a design of the shadow image, or the shadow image is formed as a positive shadow image, that is, the non-functional effect ink is printed such that more ink is deposited in areas where the positive shadow image is formed.
8 . The printed security feature according to claim 5 , wherein the substrate is a transparent or translucent substrate made from a polymeric material, or wherein the security document is a polymeric banknote substrate.
9 . The printed security feature according to claim 5 , wherein the first and second functional effect ink, and the non-functional effect ink are all applied in an in-line printing process.
10 . The printed security feature according to claim 1 , wherein the security feature extends a partial distance between the first edge and the second edge, or an entire distance between the first edge and the second edge of the security document, wherein the first and the second edges are parallel.
11 . The security feature of claim 1 , wherein the security feature is configured to provide a shadow image that is visible in transmission or reflection.
12 . The security feature of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first functional effect ink and the second functional effect ink is configured to provide a shadow image that is visible in transmission or reflection.
13 . A printed security feature for a security document, said security document including a transparent or translucent substrate of polymeric material, the security feature comprising:
a first functional effect ink printed directly onto a first surface of the substrate;
a second functional effect ink printed directly onto the first and/or a second surface of the substrate, at least partially overlapping the first functional effect ink, and
a non-functional effect ink printed in one or more ink layers to create a shadow image which is observable in reflection or transmission,
wherein the first and the second functional effect inks in combination create an imagery appearance of a security thread that is an elongate strip having a length that is greater than its width and extends between a first edge and a second edge of the security document,
wherein at least one of the first functional effect ink and the second functional effect ink includes a colour switching ink, which displays a variable colour appearance when a viewing condition and/or a viewing angle changes, or
wherein at least one of the first functional effect ink and the second functional effect ink includes an ink comprising metallic ink particles, which create a metallic appearance or
wherein the first and second functional effect inks include fluorescent, luminescent, phosphorescent inks, photochromic, thermochromic, hydrochromic, or peizochromic inks.
14 . The security feature of claim 13 , wherein the first and second functional effect inks in combination create an imagery appearance of a security thread.
15 . The security feature of claim 14 , wherein the security feature is of an elongate configuration which extends a partial distance between a first end and a second edge of the security document that are parallel, or an entire distance between the first and the second edge of the security document, wherein the first and the second edges are parallel.
16 . The security feature of claim 13 , wherein the security feature is a security thread that is configured such that it displays a glossy, or a brighter visual appearance in some regions, and a less glossy, or a duller visual appearance in other regions, and is at least partially embedded in the substate.
17 . The security feature of claim 13 , wherein the first functional effect ink is printed as a solid strip, and the second functional effect ink is printed as patterns.
18 . The security feature of claim 17 , wherein second functional effect ink is printed such that it appears as a second shadow image visible in transmission and visible from both sides of the security document.
19 . The security feature of claim 13 , wherein the non-functional effect ink is also printed on the substrate in one or more ink layers, and on one or both surfaces of the substrate, and the non-functional effect ink is omitted in one or more regions where the first and the second functional effect ink have already been applied.
20 . The security feature of claim 19 , wherein within the one or more regions, the security feature displays a glossy surface appearance, and effects of the first and second functional effect inks are perceivable to an observer through the one or more regions where the non-functional effect ink is omitted; wherein outside the one or more regions, the security feature displays a matt appearance, and effects of the first and second functional effect inks are partially concealed by the non-functional effect ink, and wherein the glossy appearance and the matt appearance of the security feature are more easily distinguishable from each other at oblique viewings, and when the security feature is viewed in reflection; wherein the glossy appearance and the matt appearance of the security feature are less distinguishable from each other at other viewing angles, such as from non-oblique viewings, or when the security feature is viewed in transmission.
21 . The security feature of claim 13 , wherein the shadow image is formed as a negative shadow image, that is, the non-functional effect ink is omitted in accordance with a design of the shadow image; or the shadow image is formed as a positive shadow image, that is, the non-functional effect ink is printed such that more ink is deposited in areas where the positive shadow image is formed.