Methods of forming sheeting with a composite image that floats and sheeting with a composite image that floats

Abstract

Microlens sheetings with composite images are disclosed, in which the composite image floats above or below the sheeting, or both. The composite image may be two-dimensional or three-dimensional. Methods for providing such an imaged sheeting are also disclosed.

1 . A method of forming a composite image on a microlens sheeting, comprising the steps of:
 providing a sheeting having an array of microlenses and a material layer adjacent the array of microlenses;   providing a first donor substrate adjacent the material layer of the sheeting, wherein the first donor substrate is radiation sensitive;   providing a radiation source; and   transferring at least a portion of the first donor substrate to the sheeting using the radiation source to form individual, partially complete images on the material layer associated with each of a plurality of the microlenses, whereby the sheeting exhibits a composite image, provided by the individual images, that appears to the unaided eye to float above or below the sheeting, or both.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first donor substrate comprises a colorant. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the composite image exhibits a color similar to the colorant in the first donor substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of:
 positioning the sheeting and the first donor substrate in close proximity to each other prior to the transferring step. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing a vacuum source; and   using the vacuum source during the positioning step to position the sheeting and the first donor substrate in close proximity to each other, prior to the transferring step.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of:
 providing a gap between the sheeting and the first donor substrate prior to the transferring step. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the gap is provided by microstructures. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual images are formed by multiple patterned exposures of the radiation source, with the sheeting and first donor film being at different positions relative to the radiation source during each exposure. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is repeated to provide more than one composite image on the sheeting. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composite image is a two-dimensional image. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composite image is a three-dimensional image. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the material layer and microlenses are made from the same material. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the material layer comprises a polyester and the microlenses comprise an acrylate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation source provides radiation with a wavelength of between 200 nm and 11 um. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 removing the first donor layer; 
 providing a second donor layer adjacent the material layer of the sheeting, wherein the second donor substrate is radiation sensitive; and 
 repeating the transferring step with the second donor layer. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second donor layer comprises a colorant different from the colorant of the first donor layer. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the composite image exhibits colors similar to the colorants in the first donor substrate and the second donor substrate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the composite image exhibits a color similar to a mixture of the colorants in the first donor substrate and the second donor substrate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the composite image exhibits a multicolored composite image. 
     
     
         20 . The sheeting made by the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         21 . The sheeting of  claim 20 , wherein the sheeting further comprises an adhesive layer for applying the sheeting to a substrate. 
     
     
         22 . The sheeting of  claim 21 , wherein the sheeting is adhered to a substrate. 
     
     
         23 . The article of  claim 22 , wherein the substrate is a document, a sign, an identification card, a container, currency, a display, a credit card, or wherein the sheeting is used for advertising, decoration, authentication, or identification purposes. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composite image also appears to the unaided eye to be at least in part in the plane of the sheeting.