Method of forming an image pattern on a die plate

A method of producing an image pattern onto a die, the die adapted to transfer the image to a light reflective medium comprising the steps of:

• creating a desired image pattern for transfer to a reflective medium;
• providing a plate made of a material susceptible to breakdown by a selected substance;
• coating said plate with a material resistive to said substance;
• engraving portions of said coating on said plate corresponding to selected portions of said image pattern, said engraving exposing portions of said plate susceptible to said substance;
• applying said substance to said exposed portions, said substance attacking said exposed portions of said plate in a manner to present corresponding depressions therein;
• and
• ceasing the attacking action of said substance, said plate presenting a plurality of depressions corresponding to said exposed portions of said plate and raised portions corresponding to portions of said coating remaining on said plate, said depressions and raised portions forming an embossed image pattern on said plate for transfer to a reflective medium.

A method of producing an image pattern onto a die, the die adapted to transfer the image to another medium comprising the steps of:

• providing a desired image pattern;
• providing a plate made of a material susceptible to attack by a chrome material;
• coating said plate with an electrically charged chrome material;
• removing portions of said coating from said plate corresponding to selected portions of said image pattern, said removal exposing portions of said plate underneath said coating;
• placing said plate in a chrome bath, said chrome in said bath having no electrical charge, said bath attacking said exposed plate portions to present a plurality of depressions therein;
• and
• removing said plate from said chrome bath, said plate presenting a plurality of depressions corresponding to said portions of said plate attacked by said chrome with portions of said remaining chrome coating presenting raised portions on said plate, said depressions and raised portions producing undulations forming said image pattern on said plate for transfer to another medium.