Methods of manufacturing image element arrays for security devices

A method of manufacturing an image element array for an optically variable security device, comprising:

• providing a production tool having a surface pattern of ink-receptive elements spaced by areas which are not ink-receptive, the ink-receptive elements defining image elements of the desired image element array;
• applying a multi-coloured first image formed of a plurality of inks to only the ink-receptive elements of the surface pattern and not to the areas in between;
• transferring only portions of the multi-coloured first image corresponding to the image elements of the desired image element array from the production tool to a substrate, by bringing the plurality of inks on the surface pattern into contact with the substrate or with a transfer assembly which then contacts the substrate, whereby an image element array is formed on the substrate;
• wherein the surface pattern on the production tool is configured such that, when a viewing element array is overlapped with the image element array, each viewing element within a first region of the image element array directs light from a respective one of the image elements or from a respective one of gaps between the image elements in dependence on a viewing angle, whereby depending on the viewing angle the viewing element array in the first region directs light from either the array of image elements or from the gaps therebetween, such that upon changing the viewing angle, the first image is displayed by the image elements across the first region of the image element array at a first range of viewing angles and not at a second range of viewing angles, and
• wherein the surface pattern comprises either:
• a surface relief structure of elevations and depressions, the elevations forming the ink-receptive elements and the depressions forming the areas which are not ink-receptive;
• or
• an arrangement of hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts of the surface of the production tool, the hydrophobic parts forming the ink-receptive elements and the hydrophilic parts forming the areas which are not ink-receptive.