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Patent of the Month

In April 2023’s edition of the International Hologram Manufacturers’ Association (IHMA) patent newsletter more than 80 patents are listed, among them a method for anti-counterfeiting printed material from the National Printing Bureau (Japan).

The objective of the patent is to provide an anti-counterfeiting printed material capable of achieving gray scales in excess of 75% with respect to a visible image formed from a photo luminescent ink. The printed material exhibits a high image change effect, even when high quality paper is used as a substrate, and also exhibits high resistance to counterfeiting.

The patent claims that the invention provides a printed image having a different colour to that of the base material on at least one portion, wherein the printed image includes a second image having a light-dark flip flop property formed at an area ratio of 20% or greater using an ink that is the same colour as, or transparent to, that part of the base material.