Method of making a retro-reflective beaded material

A process for making a retro-reflective material which comprises uniformly distributing in a mono-layer over an area on the surface of a generally planar matrix of embossable plastics material, a plurality of substantialy spherical beads prepared from a transparent or translucent material having a refractive index in the range of 1.7 to 2.0 to form a beaded area on the surface of the matrix, pressing said beads into said beaded area until said bends become partially embedded in the surface of said matrix with exposed portions of the beads defining lenses, and embossing said beaded area so that axes of at least some of said lenses lie at varying angles with respect to the general plane of said plastics matrix.