Method of providing an imprinted security feature

Method of forming a security document (1) comprising the steps of:

• providing a plastics substrate (30) having an optical pattern (31), transporting the substrate (30) to a personalization site,
• providing image data of a portrait (32) into a memory (33) of a print controller (34), the print controller being connected to an image applicator (35),
• forming an image by providing an ink layer of color image elements onto the substrate (30) in an image area (Ai) via the image applicator that is connected to the print controller,
• applying a protective layer (4) over the substrate (30) in a liquid or softened state,
• imprinting a lens pattern (5,27) into the protective layer (4) overlying the image in the image area (Ai) while in its liquid or softened state by contacting the protective layer with a transparent and flexible imprint member (16,20) that is provided with the pattern,
• hardening of the protective layer by the transmission of the optical radiation through the transparent imprint member (16,20) while it is contacting the protective layer(4),
• removing the imprint member (16,20) from the protective layer after hardening of the protective layer,
• providing a laser controller (38) and a laser (40) connected to the laser controller,
• providing image data of the portrait to the laser controller (40), and
• scanning the laser beam across the lens structure by the laser controller and providing blackened image elements (26) based on the image data into the substrate (30) below the lens elements through the printed color image elements (3′-3′″) into an underlying layer in a focal plane (8) that is situated at a vertical distance h of between 50 μm and 150 μm from the color image elements.

Method of forming a security document (1) comprising the steps of:

• providing a base layer (2) having a top side (6),
• providing a color image (3) onto an image area (Ai) of the top side (6) by printing color image elements (3′-3′″) of ink having an average transmission of at least 50% in the wavelength range between 400 nm and 700 nm, on the top side (6),
• wherein,
• a lens structure is applied over the colored ink, the lens structure having a predetermined focal plane (8) situated at a distance from the top side (6), and
• laser engraving blackened image elements (7) through the lens structure and through the color image elements (3′-3′″) to form the blackened image elements substantially at or near the focal plane.