Metallization process for protecting documents of value

A process for preventing the counterfeiting of a valuable document comprising the steps of:

• depositing, on a reusable transfer agent, a film of metallic particles of the order of magnitude of substantially less than 1000 Angstroms in thickness;
• coating portions of a valuable document substrate with varnish at predetermined locations;
• laminating said valuable document substrate and said transfer agent together before said varnish is cured so that said metallic particles are embedded in said varnish at said predetermined locations;
• curing said varnish;
• separating said transfer agent from said valuable document substrate whereby said valuable document substrate is provided at said predetermined locations with said film of metallic particles, which film permits some light transmission, appears continuous and smooth, and exhibits a specular metallic finish;
• and simultaneously printing and embossing said valuable document substrate, said printing being applied to locations other than said predetermined locations and said embossing being applied only at said predetermined locations so as to form a latent image in said film of metallic particles in said predetermined locations, said latent image being clearly visible from a first angle of view and being essentially invisible from a second angle of view and said latent image being formed without the use of ink.