Toppan Shines a Light on Security

Toppan – a global leader in communication, security, packaging, décor materials and electronics – has launched Illumigram™, a new security hologram in which three- dimensional images appear in response to strong light, such as a smartphone’s flashlight.

According to the company, whilst holograms are widely used as a mark of a product’s authenticity, the criteria for making a judgement when checking the hologram with the naked eye can be vague and depend in large part on the person making the assessment. This has given rise to the need to inform those purchasing products on how to check the hologram and/or special filters or apps to verify it, which presents challenges for implementation.

Illumigram requires neither. The images appear blurred under normal visible light conditions, such as fluorescent light, only coming into focus under an intense light (point source) such as the flashlight on the smartphone. If the light source is moved, the three-dimensional images that appear move accordingly, enabling more intuitive verification by the user.

Commenting on the launch, the company said: ‘Illumigram is highly user-friendly in that it requires no dedicated device, and assessment is possible using the naked eye because the optical effect can be produced by simply using a smartphone’s flashlight. We will continue to develop new hologram products that take advantage of our electron beam fine patterning and other manufacturing technologies as we aim to contribute to a safe and secure society by providing countermeasures to imitation goods.’

Toppan is targeting pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, luxury brand goods, machinery and parts, licensed goods and tickets/vouchers for the new feature.