Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP) and Sony PCL Inc. (Sony PCL,) are pleased to announce the start of made to order production of a new Lippmann hologram for security uses, which is capable of storing dynamic picture images, including animation and live-action created with stereogram technology. The newly developed hologram has the capacity to store in excess of 100 image frames on a single hologram, and because it is extremely difficult to counterfeit, is effective in helping to discriminate between genuine and counterfeit goods via uses including certification seals on genuine products.

Liveaction film as viewed via the newly developed hologram. By changing the viewing angle the images appear to continually change.

[Background]
Violations of intellectual property rights are becoming increasingly serious on global level, due to the production and sale of counterfeit goods which breach design rights and trademarks, and pirated products that infringe on copyrights. In the case of counterfeit goods, in particular, the manufacturing technology of the criminal groups which engage in the illicit production of these goods has made significant advances, and they are now capable of manufacturing goods which are extremely difficult to tell apart from the genuine article. It therefore comes as no surprise that there have been calls for the development of more highly sophisticated technology in the fight against counterfeit goods, and in helping discriminate between genuine and fake goods.

[Product Summary]
Unlike existing mainstream embossed holograms, which record images in physical relief on the surface of the material, the newly developed hologram is a Lippmann hologram, which stores images by recording interference patterns in photo-sensitive layers produced by laser.
Lippmann holograms are extremely difficult to counterfeit, as it is difficult to obtain the photo-sensitive materials used, as Lippmann holograms are capable of producing unique image expressions not possible with other hologram formats, and as they require specialized manufacturing technology. DNP and Sony PCL have made it even more difficult to illicitly reproduce the holograms by providing them with the capacity to record in excess of 100 image frames on a single hologram via the unique application of line order recording technology, which has made it possible to record dynamic images, including flying logos and animation. As dynamic images make it is easy to spot counterfeit goods the newly developed hologram is perfect for security uses, including activities where it is necessary to discriminate between genuine articles and fakes. DNP and Sony PCL are in a position to be able to supply the new hologram in various shapes and formats in answer to specific needs, including instances where the product takes the format of seals, heat-transfer foils and tamper-evident seals .

Each parallax image displayed on the LCD is horizontally compressed into a vertical slit by a cylindrical lens. The beam of the slit and the reference beam form an interference pattern, which is then recorded on the photo-sensitive material on the glass substrate. The hundreds of vertical slits, placed sequentially side-by-side, form the larger hologram.

DNP commenced development of hologram products in 1972, and has since successfully manufactured and marketed numerous hologram materials. Since establishing a mass production system of Lippmann holograms for security uses in 2001, DNP has forged ahead with the market development of it. By adapting the newly developed hologram, which can store in excess of 100 image frames on a single hologram, to DNP mass production processes, it is now possible to realize previously unseen moving image expressions, and achieve anti-counterfeiting goods with more highly developed security. With this new hologram DNP aims for the further expansion of hologram use in the security market.

Sony Corporation commenced application research into holograms in 1989, and has engaged in image recording technology. By combining this hologram technology with contents manufacturing technology, and the high precision master manufacturing technology nurtured through the development of CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Ray Discs, Sony PCL aims to develop a market where holograms are positioned as a new visual image product. In particular, as the newly developed hologram is capable of storing in excess of 100 image frames on a single hologram, it is possible to give expression to the kind of delicate movements not possible with existing hologram formats, and Sony PCL aims to expand uses to a variety of areas beginning with the security market.

The new hologram has undergone approximately 18 months of field tests, and DNP and Sony PCL have moved into full scale operations after successfully confirming the effectiveness of the new hologram as an anti-counterfeiting measure.

As a result of the collaborative efforts of Sony PCL, with its stereogram technology based hologram master manufacturing technology and DNP, which boasts high definition hologram manufacturing technology and facilities, our two companies aim to produce evenly more highly sophisticated holograms for security uses, while further expanding the overall market.

Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd.   Communication Business Systems Center