Colour laser marking methods of security document precursors

Abstract

A method of color laser marking a security document precursor including, in order, at least: a) a polymeric foil; b) at least one colorless color forming layer for generating a color different from black containing at least an infrared absorber, a color forming compound and a polymeric binder; and c) either a lasermarkable polymeric support or a lasermarkable layer for generating a black color; comprising the steps of: (1) laser marking a color different from black in the colorless color forming layer with an infrared laser used in continuous wave mode; and (2) laser marking a black color by carbonization in the lasermarkable polymeric support or the lasermarkable layer with the same infrared laser used in a pulsed mode; and wherein at least one of the polymeric foil and the lasermarkable polymeric support is transparent for the infrared light of the infrared laser.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.