Playing Cards

A playing card comprising:

• a base layer that bears a front surface and a back surface;
• and
• a substantially planar holographic optical element that is operatively configured to form a holographic image, said holographic optical element disposed at or towards a surface that is selected from said front and back surfaces;
• said card characterised in that:
• said holographic optical element is of a type that is substantially transparent and manufactured to substantially prevent said holographic image from being viewed in a first range of directions with respect to said selected surface and to substantially enable said holographic image to be viewed from a second range of directions that are outside of said first range.

A method of making a playing card comprising a holographic image, said method characterised by comprising the steps of:

• selecting a conventional playing card as a base layer;
• selecting a substantially transparent holographic optical element;
• selecting a required holographic image;
• constructing said substantially transparent holographic optical element with said required holographic image, said optical element manufactured to substantially prevent said holographic image from being viewed in a first range of directions with respect to the plane of said base layer and to substantially enable said holographic image to be viewed from a second range of directions that are outside of said first range;
• selecting the surface of said selected base layer with which to associate said substantially transparent holographic optical element;
• and
• selecting an adhesive and using said adhesive to affix said substantially transparent holographic optical element to said base layer.