Apparatuses and processes for producing optical effects layers

A process for producing an optical effect layer (OEL) on a substrate, said optical effect layer (OEL) exhibiting a dynamic movement upon tilting the substrate and one or more indicia, said process comprising the steps of:

• a) applying onto a substrate surface a coating composition comprising i) platelet-shaped magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles and ii) a binder material so as to form a coating layer on said substrate, said coating composition being in a first state,
• b) forming an assembly comprising the substrate carrying the coating layer and an apparatus for producing an optical effect layer (OEL) comprising magnetically oriented platelet-shaped magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles on a substrate, said optical effect layer (OEL) comprising at least a first area exhibiting a 3D effect in the form of one or more indicia and at least a second area exhibiting a dynamic movement upon tilting, wherein at least one of said first area and at least one of said second area are adjacent, said apparatus being configured for receiving the substrate in an orientation substantially parallel to a first plane and above the first plane and being suitable to be used in combination with a second magnetic-field-generating device allowing at least a part of the particles to be to bi-axially oriented and comprising:
• aa) a soft magnetic plate carrying one or more indicia in the form of one or more indentations and/or one or more voids and/or one or more protrusions, said soft magnetic plate having a top plate surface,
• ab) a magnetic-field-generating device-comprising at least one dipole magnet and having a top device surface,
• wherein the soft magnetic plate is placed on top of the magnetic-field-generating device, and
• wherein the top plate surface is smaller than the top device surface,
• c) moving the assembly comprising the substrate (x50) carrying the coating layer and the apparatus obtained under step b) through an inhomogeneous magnetic field of a static second magnetic-field-generating device so as to bi-axially orient at least a part of the platelet-shaped magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles, and
• d) hardening the coating composition to a second state so as to fix the platelet-shaped magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles in their adopted positions and orientations,
• wherein the optical effect layer (OEL) comprises at least a first area exhibiting a 3D effect in the form of one or more indicia and at least a second area exhibiting a dynamic movement upon tilting, wherein at least one of said first area and at least one of said second area are adjacent.