PRINTED MATTER, BOOKLET, COMBINATION OF LIGHT SOURCE AND PRINTED MATTER, AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING AUTHENTICITY OF PRINTED MATTER

Abstract

 [Object] To be able to change the shape of a colored picture layer simply by causing a light source that emits excitation light to move closer to and away from a printed matter.
[Solution] A printed matter 10 includes a substrate 11, a colored picture layer 30 provided on the substrate 11, and a luminous printed layer 20 provided on the colored picture layer 30 and composed of a luminous body. The colored picture layer 30 includes a thick-colored body region 30b in the center and a peripheral edge region 30a whose color density decreases from the body region 30b toward a peripheral edge 30c.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a printed matter including a substrate and a luminous printed layer containing a luminous body and a combination of a light source and a printed matter.

Background Art

[0002] A printed matter, such as securities, that requires security includes a substrate and a luminous printed layer provided on the substrate through the use of a luminous body, and has a structure that prevents forgery or alteration or discriminates between a counterfeit product and a genuine product. Further, in general, a colored picture layer may be formed on the substrate separately from the luminous printed layer.

[0003] As a method for determining the authenticity of a printed matter given such a luminous printed layer, a method by which a printed matter is irradiated with electromagnetic waves or radiation such as excitation light containing energy capable of exciting a luminous body and sensing is done with a read device or machine such as a sensor is commonly used.

[0004] In a case where a luminous body is a visible luminous body, there is also a method for authenticating the emission of light with a human eye by using a simple light source such as a black light as an excitation source. In such a case, for convenience in surely authenticating a printed matter, it is preferable that the shape, size, number, or shading of a picture or pictures of a colored picture layer provided on a substrate together with a luminous printed layer be visually recognized with changes made by causing excitation light emitted by the black light to move closer to and away from the printed matter.

Citation List

Patent Literature

[0005] 

PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (Translation of PCT Application) No. 2011-514937

PTL 2: Japanese Patent No. 5610121

Summary of Invention

Technical Problem

[0006]  The present disclosure was made in view of visually identifying the emission of light through the use of a commonly available light source such as a black light, and has as an object to provide a printed matter that can be visually recognized with changes easily and surely made in shape, size, number, or shading of a picture or pictures of a colored picture layer simply by moving a light source closer to and away from the printed matter and a combination of a light source and a printed matter.

Solution to Problem

[0007] The present disclosure is directed to a printed matter that is irradiated with excitation light from a light source, the printed matter including: a substrate; a luminous printed layer, provided on the substrate, that contains a luminous body; and a colored picture layer, provided on the substrate, that contains a pigment or a dye, wherein the luminous printed layer and the colored picture layer overlap each other, the colored picture layer has a body region and a peripheral edge region, and a color density of the colored picture layer of the peripheral edge region gradually decreases toward a peripheral edge of the colored picture layer.

[0008] The present disclosure is directed to a printed matter that is irradiated with excitation light from a light source, the printed matter including: a substrate containing a luminous body; and a colored picture layer, provided on the substrate, that contains a pigment or a dye, wherein the colored picture layer has a body region and a peripheral edge region, and a color density of the colored picture layer of the peripheral edge region gradually decreases toward a peripheral edge of the colored picture layer.

[0009] The present disclosure is directed to the printed matter, wherein the colored picture layer is formed by halftone-dot printing, and in the peripheral edge region, a halftone-dot density of the colored picture layer gradually decreases toward the peripheral edge.

[0010] The present disclosure is directed to the printed matter, wherein the colored picture layer includes a plurality of minute printing elements or fine printing elements, and in the peripheral edge region, a density of the minute printing elements or fine printing elements of the colored picture layer gradually decreases toward the peripheral edge.

[0011] The present disclosure is directed to the printed matter, wherein the colored picture layer forms a letter or a figure, and the peripheral edge region is formed along an outer edge of the letter or the figure.

[0012] The present disclosure is directed to the printed matter, wherein the colored picture layer forms a letter or a figure, and the peripheral edge region is formed along an inner edge of the letter or the figure.

[0013] The present disclosure is directed to a printed matter that is irradiated with excitation light from a light source, the printed matter including: a substrate; a luminous printed layer, provided on the substrate, that contains a luminous body; and a colored picture layer, provided on the substrate, that contains a pigment or a dye, wherein the luminous printed layer and the colored picture layer overlap each other, the colored picture layer includes a series of a plurality of colored picture portions placed one after another, and a color density of the plurality of colored picture portions continuously gradually decreases from a colored picture portion on one side toward a colored picture portion on the other side.

[0014] The present disclosure is directed to a printed matter that is irradiated with excitation light from a light source, the printed matter including: a substrate containing a luminous body; and a colored picture layer, provided on the substrate, that contains a pigment or a dye, wherein the colored picture layer includes a series of a plurality of colored picture portions placed one after another, and a color density of the plurality of colored picture portions continuously gradually decreases from a colored picture portion on one side toward a picture portion on the other side.

[0015] The present disclosure is directed to a printed matter that is irradiated with excitation light from a light source, the printed matter including: a substrate; a luminous printed layer, provided on the substrate, that contains a luminous body; and a colored picture layer, provided on the substrate, that contains a pigment or a dye, wherein the luminous printed layer and the colored picture layer overlap each other, and the colored picture layer forms a color pattern including a plurality of minute printing elements or fine printing elements having different shapes.

[0016] The present disclosure is directed to a printed matter that is irradiated with excitation light from a light source, the printed matter including: a substrate containing a luminous body; and a colored picture layer, provided on the substrate, that contains a pigment or a dye, wherein the colored picture layer forms a color pattern including a plurality of minute printing elements or fine printing elements having different shapes.

[0017] The present disclosure is directed to the printed matter, further comprising an overcoat layer, provided on the substrate, that covers at least the colored picture layer.

[0018] A booklet includes the printed matter described above.

[0019] A combination of a light source and a printed matter includes the printed matter described above and the light source that emits the excitation light.

[0020] A method for determining authenticity of a printed matter with the combination of a light source and a printed matter described above includes the steps of irradiating a surface of the printed matter with the excitation light from the light source and determining the authenticity of the printed matter by visually recognizing the printed matter with changes made in shape, size, number, or shading of an outwardly-appearing picture or pictures of the colored picture layer by moving the light source closer to and away from the printed matter.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0021] The present disclosure makes it possible to visually recognize the shape, size, number, or shading of a picture or pictures of the colored picture layer with changes easily and surely made simply by moving the light source closer to and away from the printed matter.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0022] 

[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a luminous printed layer and a colored picture layer of a printed matter according to the present embodiment.

[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a plan view showing a printed matter constituting a certification card according to the present embodiment.

[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a side view of the printed matter shown in Fig. 2.

[Fig. 4A] Fig. 4A is a diagram showing the action of a printed matter according to the present embodiment.

[Fig. 4B] Fig. 4B is a diagram showing the action of the printed matter according to the present embodiment.

[Fig. 4C] Fig. 4C is a cross-sectional view of the printed matter shown in Figs. 4A and 4B.

[Fig. 4D] Fig. 4D is a diagram showing the action of a printed matter according to a comparative example.

[Fig. 4E] Fig. 4E is a diagram showing the action of the printed matter according to the comparative example.

[Fig. 4F] Fig. 4F is a cross-sectional view of the printed matter shown in Figs. 4D and 4E.

[Fig. 5A] Fig. 5A is a diagram showing a booklet according to an applied example of the present embodiment.

[Fig. 5B] Fig. 5B is a diagram showing a state where the booklet shown in Fig. 5A is irradiated with excitation light.

[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a printed matter according to a modification.

[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a printed matter according to a modification.

[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a printed matter according to a modification.

[Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a printed matter according to a modification.

[Fig. 10] Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a printed matter according to a modification.

[Fig. 11A] Fig. 11A is a diagram showing a printed matter according to a modification.

[Fig. 11B] Fig. 11B is a diagram showing a printed matter according to another modification.

[Fig. 11C] Fig. 11C is a diagram showing a printed matter according to another modification.

[Fig. 12] Fig. 12 is a plan view showing a printed matter constituting a gift certificate.

[Fig. 13] Fig. 13 is a side view of the printed matter shown in Fig. 12.

[Fig. 14A] Fig. 14A is a diagram showing a printed matter according to an additional modification.

[Fig. 14B] Fig. 14B is a cross-sectional view of the printed matter shown in Fig. 14A.

[Fig. 15A] Fig. 15A is a cross-sectional view showing a printed matter according to an additional modification.

[Fig. 15B] Fig. 15B is a cross-sectional view showing a printed matter according to an additional modification.

Description of Embodiments

<Present Embodiment>

[0023] In the following, a printed matter and a combination of a light source and a printed matter according to the present embodiment are described with reference to the drawings.

[0024] First, a printed matter 10 according to the present embodiment is described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3. The printed matter 10 can be used as a security material for a booklet or a card. The printed matter 10 per se may be a booklet such as a passport, a data page of a passport, a gift certificate, or a bill, or may be contained in a layer of an ID, a ticket, or a card (contact or non-contact integrated-circuit (IC) card). As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the printed matter 10 is irradiated, for example, with ultraviolet light (UV light) with a center wavelength of 365 nm from a light source 25 such as a UV discharge tube constituting a black light. The UV light emitted by the light source functions as excitation light that excites a luminous body of the after-mentioned luminous printed layer 20 to emit light. It should be noted that the light source 25 may be a UV-LED light source.

[0025] First, the present embodiment illustrates a case where the printed matter 10 constitutes a card such as a certification card. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, such a printed matter 10 constituting a certification card includes a substrate 11 made of synthetic resin, an ordinary printed layer 12 provided on the substrate 11 and composed of letters, numbers, or other characters, a colored picture layer 30 provided on the substrate 11, a luminous printed layer 20 provided so as to entirely cover the colored picture layer 30, and an overcoat layer 13 covering the ordinary printed layer 12, the colored picture layer 30, and the luminous printed layer 20, which are provided on the substrate 11. Note here that Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the printed matter 10 and Fig. 3 is a side view showing the printed matter 10.

[0026] Of them, the substrate 11 is made of polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), amorphous polyester (PET-G), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or polypropylene (PP). Alternatively, the substrate 11 may be a paper substrate.

[0027] Further, the overcoat layer 13 is made of polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), amorphous polyester (PET-G), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or polypropylene (PP).

[0028] Further, the ordinary printed layer 12 and the colored picture layer 30 are formed with normal print ink containing a common pigment or dye. As a printing method, a printing method, such as offset printing, silk screen printing, or inkjet printing, that allows printing on the substrate is selected as appropriate. The hues of the ordinary printed layer 12 and the colored picture layer 30 under visible light are chromatic colors, and do not have transparency. Any color or ink that can be printed by the printing method may be used. It should be noted that the colored picture layer 30 will be further described later.

[0029] Further, the luminous printed layer 20 is obtained by doing printing so as to entirely cover the colored picture layer 30 with a luminous body that emits light upon irradiation with excitation light. In a case where the luminous printed layer 20 is printed all over the colored picture layer 30, the hue of the luminous printed layer 20 may be either colorless or colorless and transparent, may be the body color of a pigment, or may be the chromatic color of color pigments mixed or a chromatic color having transparency. The luminous printed layer 20 of the printed matter needs to be without incongruity in color and appearance with the hue of the colored picture layer 30. Further, if the tint of color pigments mixed is deep, the luminous color of the luminous body is absorbed, with the result that it becomes hard to visually recognize a change in the luminous color; therefore, it is preferable that the chromatic color of a color pigment be light. Note, however, that since there are many types of ink or color pigment available in the world and there are more than several hundred types of ink and color pigment, a preferred form or composition ratio changes accordingly depending on the type of ink or pigment.

[0030] In the present embodiment, a usable example of a luminous body that constitutes the luminous body of the luminous printed layer 20 is a blue luminous body (such as BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇:Eu), a green luminous body (such as SrAl₂0₄:Eu,Dy, Sr₄Al₁₄0₂₅:Eu,Dy, ZnO, Zn₂GeO₄:Mn), a red luminous body (such as YVO₄:Bi,Eu, Y₂O₂S:Eu), or a while luminous body (such as a blue, green, and red mixed luminous body "Y₂O₂S:Eu, Zn₂GeO₄:Mn, BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇:Eu").

[0031] In the present embodiment, the luminous printed layer 20 is formed by printing with luminous body ink containing the aforementioned luminous body. As a printing method, a printing method, such as offset printing, silk screen printing, or inkjet printing, that allows printing on the substrate is selected as appropriate.

[0032] As a method for applying the luminous body ink onto the colored picture layer 30 of the substrate 11, for example, by printing or coating, a publicly-known printing method may be used. A method, for example, for printing such as intaglio printing, anastatic printing, offset printing, screen printing, gravure printing, flexo printing, and inkjet printing or coating. The luminous body ink may be applied onto the colored picture layer 30 of the substrate 11 by a combination of these printing methods.

[0033] Note here that the luminous body ink further contains, for example, aqueous varnish, solvent varnish, oxidative polymerizable varnish, radiation curable varnish, radiation curable and oxidative polymerizable hybrid varnish in addition to the luminous body.

[0034] Further, the luminous body ink contains various types of varnish as mentioned earlier, and has its viscosity or other properties adjusted so that the various types of varnish may be mixed up. In terms of luminescence intensity, it is preferable that the blending ratio of the luminous body be higher than or equal to 1 mass%, more preferably higher than or equal to 3 mass%, or even more preferably higher than or equal to 5 mass%, although the blending ratio varies depending on how the luminous printed layer 20 is formed. Meanwhile, in terms of ease of formation an ink layer, it is preferable that the blending ratio be lower than or equal to 60 mass% , more preferably lower than or equal to 50 mass%, or even more preferably lower than or equal to 40 mass%.

[0035] The luminous body ink is produced by sufficiently dispersing the luminous body in the varnish with a three-roll mill, a ball mill, a bead mill, or other mills. It should be noted that a kneading method and an appropriate viscosity are selected as appropriate depending on how the luminous body ink is applied.

[0036] The luminous body ink may be formed into ink or paste by mixing another color material or functional material to such an extent as not to prevent emission of light, and is applied onto the colored picture layer 30 provided in advance onto the substrate 11. That is, the ordinary printed layer 12 and the colored picture layer 30, which are formed in advance with normal print ink and form a printed picture, are provided on the substrate 11, and the luminous body ink is applied onto the colored picture layer 30 of the substrate 11 to form the luminous printed layer 20.

[0037] Next, the colored picture layer 30 provided on the substrate 11 is further described with reference to Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the colored picture layer 30 is provided on the substrate 11 through the use of print ink, and on the colored picture layer 30, the luminous printed layer 20 is provided through the use of luminous body ink so as to entirely cover the colored picture layer 30.

[0038] In the present embodiment, the colored picture layer 30 has a star shape having a peripheral edge region 30a located at a peripheral edge and a region other than the peripheral edge region 30a, specifically a body region 30b located in the center. Of them, the colored picture layer 30 of the peripheral edge region 30a has its color density gradually decreasing toward a peripheral edge 30c of the colored picture layer 30, and the colored picture layer 30 is disposed so that its density is in a state of gradation in the peripheral edge region 30a.

[0039] Further, the luminous printed layer 20 too has a star shape that is similar to that of the colored picture layer 30. Further, in a case where the colored picture layer 30 is formed by halftone-dot printing, the body region 30a has a halftone-dot density of, for example, 100%. Further, the peripheral edge region 30a has its halftone-dot density gradually decreasing from the body region 30b toward the peripheral edge 30c, and the colored picture layer 30 is disposed so that its density is in a state of gradation in the peripheral edge region 30a. Specifically, the peripheral edge region 30a of the colored picture layer 30 has its halftone-dot density decreasing, for example, from 100% to 0% from the body region 30b toward the peripheral edge 30c. This causes the peripheral edge region 30a of the colored picture layer 30 to exhibit outward blurring of colors. Further, the formation of the colored picture layer 30 by halftone-dot printing makes it possible to easily and simply achieve an ordinary state of gradation. Incidentally, the peripheral edge region 30a of the colored picture layer 30 has its halftone-dot density decreasing, for example, from 100% to 0% from the body region 30b toward the peripheral edge 30c, and in this case, the halftone-dot density may vary from 100%, 99%, 98%, and 97% to 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, and 0% in decrements of 1%. Alternatively, the halftone-dot density may vary in decrements of 0.1% or 0.001%, and there is no need to place upper or lower limits on the decrements.

[0040] Alternatively, the colored picture layer 30 may be printed not by halftone-dot printing but by using minute printing elements such as micro letters and minute symbols, letters, and figures or fine printing elements such as parallel lines, wavy lines, or dashed lines, and in this case, the body region 30b of the colored picture layer 30 has its minute printing element or fine printing element density of, for example, 100%. Further, the peripheral edge region 30a has its minute printing element or fine printing element density gradually decreasing from the body region 30b toward the peripheral edge 30c, and the colored picture layer 30 is disposed so that its density is in a state of gradation in the peripheral edge region 30a. Specifically, the peripheral edge region 30a of the colored picture layer 30 has its minute printing element or fine printing element density decreasing, for example, from 100% to 0% from the body region 30b toward the peripheral edge 30c. This causes the peripheral edge region 30a of the colored picture layer 30 to exhibit outward blurring of colors. It should be noted that in the present embodiment, the density of minute printing elements such as micro letters and minute symbols, letters, and figures is determined by the thicknesses, sizes, shapes, and density of arrangement of these minute printing elements. On the other hand, the density of fine printing elements such as parallel lines, wavy lines, or dashed lines is determined by the line thicknesses and density of arrangement of these fine printing elements. Further, in a case where the colored picture layer 30 is printed by using fine printing elements, disposing the colored picture layer 30 in a state of gradation makes it possible to expect a higher anticounterfeit effect in addition to the anticounterfeit effect of printing of the fine printing elements per se.

[0041] In this way, the colored picture layer 30 has a peripheral edge region 30a whose color density gradually decreases toward a peripheral edge 30c, and the colored picture layer 30 is disposed so that its density is in a state of gradation in the peripheral edge region 30a. In the present embodiment, in a case where the light source 25 is moved closer to and away from the printed matter 10, e.g. when the light source 25 is moved closer to the printed matter 10, the luminous printed layer 20 on the colored picture layer 30 emits intense light, with the result that the luminous printed layer 20 comes to clearly appear outward. In this case, the luminous printed layer 20 comes to clearly appear outward, and to the extent that the luminous printed layer 20 clearly appears outward, the peripheral edge region 30a of the colored picture layer 30 comes to faintly appear outward, so that the peripheral edge region 30a becomes partially missing at the peripheral edge 30c. In this case, the colored picture layer 30 allows observation of a picture of the body region 30b per se and a picture of the luminous printed layer 20 per se.

[0042] On the other hand, when the light source 25 is moved away from the printed matter 10, the luminous printed layer 20 on the colored picture layer 30 emits a weak light, so that the luminous printed layer 20 comes to faintly appear outward. In this case, the luminous printed layer 20 comes to faintly appear outward, and to the extent that the luminous printed layer 20 faintly appears, the peripheral edge region 30a of the colored picture layer 30 comes to intensely appear outward, so that the peripheral edge region 30a comes to fully appear outward.

[0043]  Next, the action of the present embodiment composed of such components is described with reference to Figs. 4A to 4F.

[0044] First, as shown in Figs. 4A to 4C, the aforementioned printed matter 10 is prepared, and an inspector irradiates the printed matter 10 with UV light from the light source 25. In this case, the printed matter 10 is irradiated with UV light with a center wavelength of 365 nm from the light source 25. Next, the inspector moves the light source 25 closer to and away from the printed matter 10.

[0045] As mentioned above, the colored picture layer 30 has a peripheral edge region 30a whose color density gradually decreases toward a peripheral edge 30c, and the colored picture layer 30 is disposed so that its density is in a state of gradation in the peripheral edge region 30a.

[0046] For this reason, moving the light source 25 closer to the printed matter 10 causes the luminous printed layer 20 on the colored picture layer 30 to emit intense light, with the result that the luminous printed layer 20 comes clearly appear outward (see Fig. 4A). In this case, the luminous printed layer 20 comes to clearly appear outward, and to the extent that the luminous printed layer 20 clearly appears, the peripheral edge region 30a of the colored picture layer 30 comes to faintly appear outward, so that the peripheral edge region 30a becomes partially missing at the peripheral edge 30c. As a result of this, the star-shaped colored picture layer 30 becomes smaller overall in shape. It should be noted that the shape of the luminous printed layer 20 does not change in particular. Note here that Fig. 4C is a cross-sectional view of the printed matter 10 shown in Fig. 4A.

[0047] On the other hand, moving the light source 25 away from the printed matter 10 causes the luminous printed layer 20 on the colored picture layer 30 to emit a weak light, so that the luminous printed layer 20 comes to faintly appear outward (see Fig. 4B). In this case, the luminous printed layer 20 comes to faintly appear outward, and to the extent that the luminous printed layer 20 faintly appears, the peripheral edge region 30a of the colored picture layer 30 comes to intensely appear outward, so that the peripheral edge region 30a comes to fully appear outward. As a result of this, the star-shaped colored picture layer 30 becomes larger overall in shape. It should be noted that the shape of the luminous printed layer 20 does not change in particular.

[0048]  At this point in time, the inspector checks the shape of the colored picture layer 30 of the printed matter 10 at this point in time by moving the light source 25 closer to and away from the printed matter 10. Then, the inspector can surely determine the authenticity of the printed matter 10 on the basis of a predetermined change in shape of the colored picture layer 30 effected by moving the light source 25 closer to and away from the printed matter 10 and a change in shape of the colored picture layer 30 at the time of inspection.

[0049] Next, a printed matter 10 according to a comparative example is described with reference to Figs. 4D to 4F.

[0050] In the printed matter 10 according to the comparative example, the colored picture layer 30 has a uniform color density as a whole, and the colored picture layer 30 has no peripheral edge region whose color density gradually decreases toward a peripheral edge 30c.

[0051] In Figs. 4D to 4F, other components are substantially identical to those of the present embodiment shown in Figs. 4A to 4C.

[0052] In the comparative example shown in Figs. 4D and 4F, moving the light source 25 closer to the printed matter 10 causes the luminous printed layer 20 to clearly appear, but since the colored picture layer 30 has no peripheral edge region whose color density gradually decreases toward a peripheral edge 30c, the colored picture layer 30 does not become smaller in shape (see Fig. 4D). Note here that Fig. 4F is a cross-sectional view of the printed matter 10 shown in Fig. 4D.

[0053] Further, moving the light source 25 away from the printed matter 10 causes the luminous printed layer 20 to faintly appear, but since the colored picture layer 30 has no peripheral edge region whose color density gradually decreases toward a peripheral edge 30c, the colored picture layer 30 does not become larger in shape (see Fig. 4D).

[0054] Thus, in the comparative example, moving the light source 25 closer to and away from the printed matter 10 effects no change in shape of the colored picture layer 30 of the printed matter 10.

[0055] As noted above, the present embodiment makes it possible to visually recognize the shape of the picture of the colored picture layer 30 with changes easily and surely made simply by moving the light source 25 closer to and away from the printed matter 10.

[0056] Further, in the present embodiment, the printed matter 10 can be used as a security material for a booklet or a card. This allows even a person who does not know luminescence property in advance to visually determine authenticity. Specifically, such a printed matter 10 having personal information has a structure that is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 3, and can be incorporated into a booklet 10A such as a passport (see Figs. 5A and 5B). As shown in Figs. 5A and 5B, the booklet 10A has a data page interposed between a plurality of pages 10a and 10b, and the data page is composed of a printed matter 10 of the present disclosure having personal information. Moreover, the printed matter 10 is irradiated with excitation light from the light source 25, and the light source 25 is moved closer to and away from the printed matter 10. At this point in time, the authenticity of the printed matter 10 can be determined by checking a change in shape of the colored picture layer 30.

<Modifications>

[0057] Next, printed matters according to modifications of the present embodiment are described with reference to Figs. 6 to 13.

[0058] The modification shown in Fig. 6 only differs in configuration of the colored picture layer 30, and other components are substantially identical to those of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3. Those components of the modification shown in Fig. 6 which are identical to those of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3 are given identical signs, and a detailed description of those components is omitted.

[0059] As shown in Fig. 6, the printed matter 10 includes a substrate 11 made of synthetic resin, an ordinary printed layer 12 provided on the substrate 11, a colored picture layer 30 provided on the substrate 11, a luminous printed layer 20 provided so as to entirely cover the colored picture layer 30, and an overcoat layer 13 covering the ordinary printed layer 12, the colored picture layer 30, and the luminous printed layer 20, which are provided on the substrate 11.

[0060] Of them, the colored picture layer 30 includes letters or figures, e.g. the letters "A", "B", and "C". Each of these letters "A", "B", and "C" has a body region 30b having a uniform deep-color density and a peripheral edge region 30a located at a peripheral edge of the body region 30b. In the present embodiment, the body region 30b is a region other than the peripheral edge region.

[0061] Each of the letters "A", "B", and "C" of the colored picture layer 30 is formed by a line having a predetermined width, and has an outer edge 30x facing outward and an inner edge 30y facing inward. In this case, the peripheral edge region 30a of each of the letters "A", "B", and "C" of the colored picture layer 30 is formed along the outer edge 30x and the inner edge 30y.

[0062] Further, in the peripheral edge region 30a of each of the letters "A", "B", and "C" of the colored picture layer 30, the color density of the colored picture layer 30 gradually decreases toward the outer edge 30x or the inner edge 30y, whereby the density form a state of gradation in the peripheral edge region 30a.

[0063] In Fig. 6, each of the letters "A", "B", and "C" of the colored picture layer 30 has a peripheral edge region 30a whose color density gradually decreases toward an outer edge 30x and an inner edge 30y and, the colored picture layer 30 is disposed so that its density is in a state of gradation in the peripheral edge region 30a.

[0064]  For this reason, moving the light source 25 closer to the printed matter 10 causes the luminous printed layer 20 on the colored picture layer 30 to emit intense light, with the result that the luminous printed layer 20 comes to clearly appear outward. In this case, the luminous printed layer 20 comes to clearly appear outward, and to the extent that the luminous printed layer 20 clearly appears, the peripheral edge region 30a of each of the letters "A", "B", and "C" of the colored picture layer 30 comes to faintly appear outward, so that the peripheral edge region 30a becomes partially missing at the outer edge 30x and the inner edge 30y. As a result of this, each of the letters "A", "B", and "C" of the colored picture layer 30 becomes thinner overall in shape. It should be noted that the shape of the luminous printed layer 20 does not change in particular.

[0065] On the other hand, moving the light source 25 away from the printed matter 10 causes the luminous printed layer 20 on the colored picture layer 30 to emit a weak light, so that the luminous printed layer 20 comes to faintly appear outward. In this case, the luminous printed layer 20 comes to faintly appear outward, and to the extent that the luminous printed layer 20 faintly appears, the peripheral edge region 30a each of the letters "A", "B", and "C" of the colored picture layer 30 comes to intensely appear outward, so that the peripheral edge region 30a comes to fully appear outward.

[0066] As a result of this, each of the letters "A", "B", and "C" of the colored picture layer 30 becomes thicker overall in shape. It should be noted that the shape of the luminous printed layer 20 does not change in particular.

[0067] In this way, the present modification makes it possible to visually recognize the size of the picture of the colored picture layer 30 with changes easily and surely made simply by moving the light source 25 closer to and away from the printed matter 10. In this case, at the outer edge 30x of each of the letters "A", "B", and "C", moving the light source 25 closer to the printed matter 10 causes the luminous printed layer 20 to emit intense light, whereby the picture of the colored picture layer 30 becomes thinner at the outer edge 30x. On the other hand, moving the light source 25 away from the printed matter 10 causes the luminous printed layer 20 to emit a weak light, whereby the picture of the colored picture layer 30 becomes thicker at the outer edge 30x and the shape of the outer edge 30x changes. Further, at the inner edge 30y of each of the letters "A", "B", and "C", moving the light source 25 closer to the printed matter 10 causes the luminous printed layer 20 to emit intense light, whereby the picture of the colored picture layer 30 becomes thinner at the inner edge 30y. On the other hand, moving the light source 25 away from the printed matter 10 causes the luminous printed layer 20 to emit a weak light, whereby the picture of the colored picture layer 30 becomes thicker at the inner edge 30y and the shape of the inner edge 30y changes.

[0068] The printed matter according to the modification shown in Fig. 7 only differs in configuration of the colored picture layer 30, and other components are substantially identical to those of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3. Those components of the modification shown in Fig. 7 which are identical to those of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3 are given identical signs, and a detailed description of those components is omitted.

[0069] As shown in Fig. 7, the printed matter 10 includes a substrate 11 made of synthetic resin, an ordinary printed layer 12 provided on the substrate 11, a colored picture layer 30 provided on the substrate 11, a luminous printed layer 20 provided so as to entirely cover the colored picture layer 30, and an overcoat layer 13 covering the ordinary printed layer 12, the colored picture layer 30, and the luminous printed layer 20, which are provided on the substrate 11.

[0070] Further, the colored picture layer 30 is composed of a first colored picture layer 31 representing palm trees and a second colored picture layer 32 having a body region 32b and a peripheral edge region 32a and representing seawater.

[0071] Of them, the first colored picture layer 31 has a uniform high density. Further, the second colored picture layer 32 has a body region 32b having a uniform high density and a peripheral edge region 32a whose color density gradually decreased from the body region 32b toward a peripheral edge 32c. This causes the second colored picture layer 32 to be disposed so that its density is in a state of gradation in the peripheral edge region 32a.

[0072] In Fig. 7, moving the light source 25 closer to the printed matter 10 causes the luminous printed layer 20 on the colored picture layer 30 to emit intense light, with the result that the luminous printed layer 20 clearly appears outward. In this case, since the luminous printed layer 20 clearly appears outward, the peripheral edge region 32a of the second colored picture layer 32 becomes partially missing at the peripheral edge 32c. As a result of this, the seawater represented by the second colored picture layer 32 comes to have a lower level.

[0073] Meanwhile, the shape of the first colored picture layer 31, which represent the palm trees, does not change.

[0074] On the other hand, moving the light source 25 away from the printed matter 10 causes the luminous printed layer 20 on the colored picture layer 30 to emit a weak light, so that the luminous printed layer 20 comes to faintly appear outward. In this case, the luminous printed layer 20 comes to faintly appear outward, and to the extent that the luminous printed layer 20 faintly appears, the peripheral edge region 32a of the second colored picture layer 32 comes to intensely appear outward, so that the peripheral edge region 32a of the second colored picture layer 32 comes to fully appears outward. As a result of this, the seawater represented by the second colored picture layer 32 comes to have a higher level.

[0075] Meanwhile, the shape of the first colored picture layer 31, which represents the palm trees, does not change.

[0076] In this way, the present modification makes it possible to visually recognize the shapes of the pictures of the colored picture layers 31 and 32 with changes easily and surely made simply by moving the light source 25 closer to and away from the printed matter 10.

[0077] The printed matter according to the modification shown in Fig. 8 only differs in configuration of the colored picture layer 30, and other components are substantially identical to those of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3. Those components of the modification shown in Fig. 8 which are identical to those of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3 are given identical signs, and a detailed description of those components is omitted.

[0078] As shown in Fig. 8, the printed matter 10 includes a substrate 11 made of synthetic resin, an ordinary printed layer 12 provided on the substrate 11, a colored picture layer 30 provided on the substrate 11, a luminous printed layer 20 provided so as to entirely cover the colored picture layer 30, and an overcoat layer 13 covering the ordinary printed layer 12, the colored picture layer 30, and the luminous printed layer 20, which are provided on the substrate 11.

[0079] Further, the colored picture layer 30 has a series of a plurality of colored picture portions 33a, 33b, and 33c placed one after another, and the colored picture portions 33a, 33b, and 33c have star shapes that are identical to one another.

[0080] Further, the color density of the plurality of colored picture portions 33a, 33b, and 33c of the colored picture layer 30 continuously gradually decreases from the colored picture portion 33a on one side shown in Fig. 8 (e.g. the right side) toward the colored picture portion 33c on the other side (e.g. the left side). Specifically, the colored picture portion 33a (indicated by solid lines) has a uniform deep-color density, the colored picture portion 33b (indicated by dashed lines) has a uniform intermediate-color density, and the colored picture portion 33c (indicated by chain double-dashed lines) has a uniform light-color density.

[0081] Further, within each of the colored picture portions 33a, 33b, and 33c, the color density does not change, and each of the colored picture portions 33a, 33b, and 33c has a uniform density.

[0082] In Fig. 8, moving the light source 25 closer to the printed matter 10 causes the luminous printed layer 20 on the colored picture layer 30 to emit intense light, with the result that the luminous printed layer 20 clearly appears outward. In this case, since the luminous printed layer 20 clearly appears outward, the colored picture portion 33c, which has a light-color density, and the colored picture portion 33b, which has an intermediate-color density, become missing, so that the only the colored picture portion 33a, which has a deep-color density, comes to appear outward, and as the colored picture layer 30, only the colored picture portion 33a appears outward.

[0083] On the other hand, moving the light source 25 gradually away from the printed matter 10 causes the luminous printed layer 20 on the colored picture layer 30 to be lower in luminescence intensity, so that the outward appearance of the luminous printed layer 20 becomes gradually fainter.

[0084] As the outward appearance of the luminous printed layer 20 becomes gradually fainter, the colored picture portion 33b, which has an intermediate-color density, comes to appear outward. As a result of this, as the colored picture layer 30, both the colored picture portion 33a and the colored picture portion 33b, i.e. a total of two colored picture portions 33a and 33b, appear outward.

[0085] Moving the light source 25 further away from the printed matter 10 causes the luminous printed layer 20 on the colored picture layer 30 to be even lower in luminescence intensity, so that the colored picture portion 33c, which has a light-color density, as well as the colored picture portion 33b, which has an intermediate-color density, comes to appear outward. As a result of this, as the colored picture layer 30, the three colored picture portions 33a, 33b, and 33c come to appear outward.

[0086] In this way, the present modification makes it possible to visually recognize the printed matter 10 with changes in the number of outwardly-appearing colored picture portions 33a, 33b, and 33c of the printed matter 10 by moving the light source 25 closer to and away from the printed matter 10.

[0087] The printed matter according to the modification shown in Fig. 9 only differs in configuration of the colored picture layer 30, and other components are substantially identical to those of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3. Those components of the modification shown in Fig. 9 which are identical to those of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3 are given identical signs, and a detailed description of those components is omitted.

[0088] As shown in Fig. 9, the printed matter 10 includes a substrate 11 made of synthetic resin, an ordinary printed layer 12 provided on the substrate 11, a colored picture layer 30 provided on the substrate 11, a luminous printed layer 20 provided so as to entirely cover the colored picture layer 30, and an overcoat layer 13 covering the ordinary printed layer 12, the colored picture layer 30, and the luminous printed layer 20, which are provided on the substrate 11.

[0089] Further, the colored picture layer 30 has a plurality of colored picture layers 35a and 35b. These colored picture layers 35a and 35b are substantially identical in configuration to each other.

[0090] That is, the colored picture layers 35a and 35b each have a color pattern including a plurality of minute printing elements such as micro letters and minute symbols, letters, and figures having different shapes or a plurality of fine printing elements such as parallel lines, wavy lines, or dashed lines. In the present embodiment, the density of minute printing elements such as micro letters and minute symbols, letters, and figures is determined by the thicknesses, sizes, shapes, and density of arrangement of these minute printing elements. On the other hand, the density of fine printing elements such as parallel lines, wavy lines, or dashed lines is determined by the line thicknesses and density of arrangement of these fine printing elements. In a case where the color pattern of each of the colored picture layers 35a and 35b are composed of fine printing elements and these fine printing elements are constituted, for example, by parallel lines, these parallel lines differ in width and length from one another.

[0091] For this reason, in a case where the luminescence intensity of the luminous printed layer 20 is changed by moving the light source 25 closer to and away from the printed matter 10, parallel lines of different widths and lengths appear outward and become missing accordingly.

[0092] In Fig. 9, moving the light source 25 closer to the printed matter 10 causes the luminous printed layer 20 on the colored picture layer 30 to emit intense light, with the result that the luminous printed layer 20 clearly appears outward. In this case, since the luminous printed layer 20 clearly appears outward, a parallel line of small or medium width and length in each of the colored picture layers 35a and 35b becomes missing, and only a parallel line of large width and length comes to appear outward, so that the colored picture layers 35a and 35b become lower in density.

[0093]  On the other hand, moving the light source 25 gradually away from the printed matter 10 causes the luminous printed layer 20 on the colored picture layer 30 to be lower in luminescence intensity, so that the outward appearance of the luminous printed layer 20 becomes gradually fainter.

[0094] As the outward appearance of the luminous printed layer 20 becomes gradually fainter, the parallel line of medium width and length comes to appear outward. As a result of this, the colored picture layers 35a and 35b become medium in color density.

[0095] Moving the light source 25 further away from the printed matter 10 causes the luminous printed layer 20 on the colored picture layer 30 to be even lower in luminescence intensity, so that the parallel line of small width and length as well as the parallel line of medium width and length as well as the colored picture portion 33b comes to appear outward. As a result of this, the colored picture layers 35a and 35b become higher in color density.

[0096] In this way, the present modification makes it possible to visually recognize the density (shading) of the pictures of the colored picture layers 35a and 35b with changes easily and surely made simply by moving the light source 25 closer to and away from the printed matter 10.

[0097] Further, the widths and lengths of the parallel lines that constitute the color patterns of the colored picture layers 35a and 35b may be adjusted between the colored picture layers 35a and 35b. In this case, moving the light source 25 closer to and away from the printed matter 10 makes it possible, for example, to effect a great change in shading of the color of the colored picture layer 35a and effect a small change in shading of the color of the colored picture layer 35b. Furthermore, although the foregoing modification has illustrated an example in which parallel lines differing in both width and length are used as the parallel lines that constitute the color patterns of the colored picture layers 35a and 35b, this is not intended to imposed any limitation, but parallel lines differing in either width or length may be used.

[0098] It should be noted that although the foregoing embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 5B and the modifications shown in Figs. 6 to 9 have each illustrated an example in which the colored picture layer 30 is provided on the substrate 11 and the luminous printed layer 20 is further provided on the substrate 11 so as to entirely cover the colored picture layer 30, this is not intended to impose any limitation, but the luminous printed layer 20 may be provided on the substrate 11 and the colored picture layer 30 may be provided on the luminous printed layer 20 so as to fall within the range of the luminous printed layer 20 (see Fig. 10).

[0099] It should be noted that although the foregoing embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 5B and the modifications shown in Figs. 6 to 9 have each illustrated an example in which the colored picture layer 30 is provided on the substrate 11 and the luminous printed layer 20 is further provided on the substrate 11 so as to entirely cover the colored picture layer 30, this is not intended to impose any limitation, but a luminous body may be mixed in a substrate 11A. In this case, there is no need to provide a luminous printed layer 20 on the substrate 11A, and a colored picture layer 30 is disposed to fall within an outer edge of the substrate 11A. In this case, usable examples of the substrate 11A include paper such as coated paper, copy paper, paper, and high-quality paper, that contains a whitening agent containing a fluorescent body. Alternatively, in a case where a substrate 11A made of resin is used as the substrate 11A, a fluorescent body can be kneaded into the resin substrate 11A (see Fig. 11A).

[0100]  Incidentally, in a case where as shown in Fig. 11A, paper containing a whitening agent containing a fluorescent body is used as the substrate 11A or in a case where as shown in Fig. 10, the luminous printed layer 20 is formed on the paper first and then the ordinary printed layer 12 and the colored picture layer 30 are formed, the ordinary printed layer 12 and the colored picture layer 30 can be printed with an inkjet or toner printer installed in a home, a convenience store, or other places, as the ordinary printed layer 12 and the colored picture layer 30 are formed with normal print ink as mentioned above. This makes it possible to use a simple printer to easily and simply produce a printed matter 10 constituting a ticket, a certificate, or other documents.

[0101] Further, as another modification, a printed matter 10 may have a laser-light-coloring-agent-containing resin substrate 11B containing a coloring agent that produces a color by laser printing and a luminous printed layer 20 provided on the resin substrate 11B (see Fig. 11B). In Fig. 11B, laser printing causes the coloring agent contained in the resin substrate 11B to produce a color. This makes it possible to cause the coloring agent contained in the substrate 11B to produce a color in the region of the luminous printed layer 20 to form a colored picture layer 30. Such a printed matter 10 having a laser-light-coloring-agent-containing resin substrate 11B constitutes, for example, a certification card or a data page incorporated into a booklet such as a passport.

[0102] Further, an overcoat layer 13 is provided on the substrate 11B so as to cover the luminous printed layer 20. Note, however, that the overcoat layer 13 does not necessarily need to be provided.

[0103] Further, as another modification, a printed matter 10 may have a color-change-substance-containing paper substrate (thermal paper) 11C containing a color-change substance that changes its color upon heating by a thermal head 40 and a luminous printed layer 20 provided on the paper substrate 11C (see Fig. 11C). In Fig. 11C, using the thermal head 40 to heat the color-change substance contained in the paper substrate 11C makes it possible to cause the color-change substance contained in the substrate 11B to change its color within the region of the luminous printed layer 20 to form a colored picture layer 30.

[0104] Further, an overcoat layer 13 is provided on the substrate 11C so as to cover the luminous printed layer 20. Note, however, that the overcoat layer 13 does not necessarily need to be provided.

[0105] Further, although the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3 has illustrated a case where the printed matter 10 constitutes a card such as a certification card, this is not intended to impose any limitation, but as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the printed matter 10 may constitute, for example, a gift certificate. Note here that Fig. 12 is a plan view showing a printed matter 10 and Fig. 13 is a side view of the printed matter 10 shown in Fig. 12.

[0106] Those components of the modification shown in Figs. 12 and 13 which are identical to those of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3 are given identical signs, and a detailed description of those components is omitted.

[0107] As shown in Figs. 12 and 13, such a printed matter 10 constituting a gift certificate includes a substrate 11, an ordinary printed layer 12 provided on the substrate 11, a colored picture layer 30 provided on the substrate 11, and a luminous printed layer 20 provided so as to entirely cover the colored picture layer 30.

[0108] Of them, the substrate 11 is made of polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), amorphous polyester (PET-G), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or polypropylene (PP). Alternatively, the substrate 11 may be a paper substrate.

[0109] Further, the ordinary printed layer 12 and the colored picture layer 30 are formed with normal print ink containing a common pigment or dye. As a printing method, a printing method, such as offset printing, silk screen printing, or inkjet printing, that allows printing on the substrate is selected as appropriate. The hues of the ordinary printed layer 12 and the colored picture layer 30 under visible light are chromatic colors, and do not have transparency. Any color or ink that can be printed by the printing method may be used.

[0110] Further, the luminous printed layer 20 is obtained by doing printing so as to entirely cover the colored picture layer 30 with a luminous body that emits light upon irradiation with excitation light. In a case where the luminous printed layer 20 is printed all over the colored picture layer 30, the hue of the luminous printed layer 20 may be either colorless or colorless and transparent, may be the body color of a pigment, or may be the chromatic color of color pigments mixed or a chromatic color having transparency. The luminous printed layer 20 of the printed matter needs to be without incongruity in color and appearance with the hue of the colored picture layer 30. Further, if the tint of color pigments mixed is deep, the luminous color of the luminous body is absorbed, with the result that it becomes hard to visually recognize a change in the luminous color; therefore, it is preferable that the chromatic color of a color pigment be light. Note, however, that since there are many types of ink or color pigment available in the world and there are more than several hundred types of ink and color pigment, a preferred form or composition ratio changes accordingly depending on the type of ink or pigment.

[0111] As with the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the present modification makes it possible to visually recognize the shape of the picture of the colored picture layer 30 with changes easily and surely made simply by moving the light source 25 closer to and away from the printed matter 10.

[0112] It should be noted that although the modification shown in Figs. 12 and 13 has illustrated an example in which the luminous printed layer 20 is provided on the colored picture layer 30 of the printed matter 10, this is not intended to impose any limitation, but the printed matter 10 may include a substrate 11, a luminous printed layer 20 provided on the substrate 11, and a colored picture layer 30 provided on the luminous printed layer 20 by printing (see Fig. 10). Alternatively, the printed matter 10 may include a substrate 11A into which a luminous body has been kneaded, a colored picture layer 30 provided on the substrate 11A by printing, and an ordinary printed layer 12 provided on the substrate 11A by printing (see Fig. 11A).

<Additional Modification>

[0113] Next, a printed matter according to an additional modification of the present embodiment is described with reference to Figs. 14A and 14B.

[0114] The printed matter according to the additional modification shown in Figs. 14A and 14B only differs in configuration of the colored picture layer 30, and other components are substantially identical to those of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3. Those components of the additional modification shown in Figs. 14A and 14B which are identical to those of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3 are given identical signs, and a detailed description of those components is omitted. Note here that Fig. 14A is a plan view showing an additional modification and Fig. 14B is a cross-sectional view of a printed matter shown in Fig. 14A.

[0115] As shown in Figs. 14A and 14B, the printed matter 10 includes a substrate 11 made of synthetic resin, an ordinary printed layer 12 (see Fig. 3) provided on the substrate 11, a colored picture layer 30 provided on the substrate 11, a luminous printed layer 20 provided so as to entirely cover the colored picture layer 30, and an overcoat layer 13 covering the ordinary printed layer 12, the colored picture layer 30, and the luminous printed layer 20, which are provided on the substrate 11.

[0116] Of them, the colored picture layer 30 has a body region 30b, located in the center, that has a uniform deep-color density and a peripheral edge region 30a, located outside the body region 30b, whose color density gradually decreases toward a peripheral edge 30c. In the present embodiment, the body region 30b is a region other than the peripheral edge region 30a. The body region 30b of the colored picture layer 30 has a circular shape, and the peripheral edge region 30a provided outside the body region 30b has a star shape. Further, as shown in Fig. 14A, the luminous printed layer 20 surrounds the colored picture layer 30 and has a hexagonal shape.

[0117] As mentioned above, the colored picture layer 30 has a peripheral edge region 30a whose color density gradually decreases toward a peripheral edge 30c, and the colored picture layer 30 is disposed so that its density is in a state of gradation in the peripheral edge region 30a.

[0118] For this reason, moving the light source 25 closer to the printed matter 10 causes the luminous printed layer 20 on the colored picture layer 30 to emit intense light. In this case, the body region 30b of the colored picture layer 30, located in the center, that has a circular shape comes to clearly appear outward. That is, to the extent that the luminous printed layer 20 clearly appears, the peripheral edge region 30a of the colored picture layer 30 comes to faintly appear outward, so that the peripheral edge region 30a becomes partially missing at the peripheral edge 30c. As a result of this, the circular shape of the body region 30b of the colored picture layer 30 clearly appears outward.

[0119] On the other hand, moving the light source 25 away from the printed matter 10 causes the luminous printed layer 20 on the colored picture layer 30 to emit a weak light, so that the luminous printed layer 20 comes to faintly appear outward. In this case, to the extent that the luminous printed layer 20 faintly appears, the peripheral edge region 30a of the colored picture layer 30 comes to intensely appear outward, so that the peripheral edge region 30a comes to fully appear outward. As a result of this, the star shape of the peripheral edge region 30a of the colored picture layer 30 clearly appears outward.

[0120] Thus, according to the present modification, the circular shape of the body region 30b of the colored picture layer 30 and the star shape of the peripheral edge region 30a can be easily and surely alternately displayed outward simply by moving the light source 25 closer to and away from the printed matter 10.

<Further Additional Modifications>

[0121] Next, printed matters according to further additional modifications of the present embodiment are described with reference to Figs. 15A and 15B.

[0122] The printed matter according to the modifications shown in Figs. 15A and 15B only differs in configuration of the luminous printed layer 20, and other components are substantially identical to those of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3. Those components of the modifications shown in Figs. 15A and 15B which are identical to those of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3 are given identical signs, and a detailed description of those components is omitted. Note here that Fig. 15A is a cross-sectional view showing an additional modification and Fig. 15B is a cross-sectional view showing another additional modification.

[0123] As shown in Fig. 15A, the printed matter 10 includes a substrate 11 made of synthetic resin, an ordinary printed layer 12 (see Fig. 3) provided on the substrate 11, a colored picture layer 30 provided on the substrate 11, a luminous printed layer 20 provided so as to entirely cover the colored picture layer 30, and an overcoat layer 13 covering the ordinary printed layer 12, the colored picture layer 30, and the luminous printed layer 20, which are provided on the substrate 11.

[0124] Of them, the colored picture layer 30 has a body region 30b, located in the center, that has a uniform deep-color density and a peripheral edge region 30a, located outside the body region 30b, whose color density gradually decreases toward a peripheral edge 30c. In the present embodiment, the body region 30b is a region other than the peripheral edge region 30a. Further, as shown in Fig. 15A, the luminous printed layer 20 covers only the peripheral edge region 30a of the colored picture layer 30.

[0125] As mentioned above, the colored picture layer 30 has a peripheral edge region 30a whose color density gradually decreases toward a peripheral edge 30c, and the colored picture layer 30 is disposed so that its density is in a state of gradation in the peripheral edge region 30a.

[0126] For this reason, moving the light source 25 closer to the printed matter 10 causes the luminous printed layer 20 on the peripheral edge region 30a of the colored picture layer 30 to emit intense light, with the result that the luminous printed layer 20 comes to clearly appear outward. In this case, the luminous printed layer 20 comes to clearly appear outward, and to the extent that the luminous printed layer 20 clearly appears, the peripheral edge region 30a of the colored picture layer 30 comes to faintly appear outward, so that the peripheral edge region 30a becomes partially missing at the peripheral edge 30c. As a result of this, the colored picture layer 30 becomes thinner overall in shape.

[0127] On the other hand, moving the light source 25 away from the printed matter 10 causes the luminous printed layer 20 on the colored picture layer 30 to emit a weak light, so that the luminous printed layer 20 comes to faintly appear outward. In this case, the luminous printed layer 20 comes to faintly appear outward, and to the extent that the luminous printed layer 20 faintly appears, the peripheral edge region 30a of the colored picture layer 30 comes to intensely appear outward, so that the peripheral edge region 30a comes to fully appear outward. The present modification makes it possible to visually recognize the shape of the picture of the colored picture layer 30 with changes easily and surely made simply by moving the light source 25 closer to and away from the printed matter 10. Further, since the luminous printed layer 20 covers only the peripheral edge region 30a of the colored picture layer 30, the amount of ink that is used for fabricating the luminous printed layer 20 can be reduced.

[0128] Although Fig. 15A has illustrated an example in which the luminous printed layer 20 covers only the peripheral edge region 30a of the colored picture layer 30, this is not intended to impose any limitation, but the luminous printed layer 20 may cover the peripheral edge region 30a of the colored picture layer 30 and part of the body region 30b beside the peripheral edge region 30a (see Fig. 15B). Example

[0129] Next, a specific example of the present disclosure is described below.

[0130] The present specific example corresponds to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and Figs. 4A to 4C.

[0131] First, as the substrate 11, paper free of a fluorescent whitening agent was used. Further, as the body region 30b to peripheral edge region 30a of the colored picture layer 30, commercially-available black ink was used, and as the luminous printed layer 20, Y₂O₂S:Eu was used. An offset printing method was used to give a halftone-dot printed matter 10. In this case, the peripheral edge region 30a was subjected to gradation printing with changes in halftone-dot area ratio from 100% to 0%.

[0132] Visual observations were made by irradiating the printed matter 10 with irradiating excitation light with a wavelength of 365 nm from the light source 25.

[0133] With the light source 25 moved closer to the printed matter 10, the color of black of the body region 30b of the colored picture layer 30 and the emission of light by the surrounding luminous printed layer 20 were observed. Meanwhile, with the light source 25 moved away from the printed matter 10, the emission of light from the luminous printed layer 20 became faint, and a blurring black shape including a state of gradation of the body region 30b to peripheral edge region 30a of the colored picture layer 30 was observed. As a result of this, a change in shape of a black printed portion of the colored picture layer 30 was observed.

Reference Signs List

[0134] 

10

printed matter

11, 11A, 11B, 11C

substrate

12

ordinary printed layer

13

overcoat layer

20

luminous printed layer

25

light source

30

colored picture layer

30a

peripheral edge region

30b

body region

30c

peripheral edge

30x

outer edge

30y

inner edge

31

first colored picture layer

32

second colored picture layer

32a

peripheral edge region

32b

body region

33a, 33b, 33c

colored picture portion

35a, 35b

colored picture layer

Claims

1. A printed matter that is irradiated with excitation light from a light source, the printed matter comprising:

a substrate;

a luminous printed layer, provided on the substrate, that contains a luminous body; and

a colored picture layer, provided on the substrate, that contains a pigment or a dye,

wherein

the luminous printed layer and the colored picture layer overlap each other,

the colored picture layer has a body region and a peripheral edge region, and

a color density of the colored picture layer of the peripheral edge region gradually decreases toward a peripheral edge of the colored picture layer.

2. A printed matter that is irradiated with excitation light from a light source, the printed matter comprising:

a substrate containing a luminous body; and

a colored picture layer, provided on the substrate, that contains a pigment or a dye,

wherein

the colored picture layer has a body region and a peripheral edge region, and

a color density of the colored picture layer of the peripheral edge region gradually decreases toward a peripheral edge of the colored picture layer.

3. The printed matter according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein

the colored picture layer is formed by halftone-dot printing, and

in the peripheral edge region, a halftone-dot density of the colored picture layer gradually decreases toward the peripheral edge.

4. The printed matter according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein

the colored picture layer includes a plurality of minute printing elements or fine printing elements, and

in the peripheral edge region, a density of the minute printing elements or fine printing elements of the colored picture layer gradually decreases toward the peripheral edge.

5. The printed matter according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein

the colored picture layer forms a letter or a figure, and

the peripheral edge region is formed along an outer edge of the letter or the figure.

6. The printed matter according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein

the colored picture layer forms a letter or a figure, and

the peripheral edge region is formed along an inner edge of the letter or the figure.

7. A printed matter that is irradiated with excitation light from a light source, the printed matter comprising:

a substrate;

a luminous printed layer, provided on the substrate, that contains a luminous body; and

a colored picture layer, provided on the substrate, that contains a pigment or a dye,

wherein

the luminous printed layer and the colored picture layer overlap each other,

the colored picture layer includes a series of a plurality of colored picture portions placed one after another, and

a color density of the plurality of colored picture portions continuously gradually decreases from a colored picture portion on one side toward a picture portion on the other side.

8. A printed matter that is irradiated with excitation light from a light source, the printed matter comprising:

a substrate containing a luminous body; and

a colored picture layer, provided on the substrate, that contains a pigment or a dye,

wherein

the colored picture layer includes a series of a plurality of colored picture portions placed one after another, and

a color density of the plurality of colored picture portions continuously gradually decreases from a colored picture portion on one side toward a picture portion on the other side.

9. A printed matter that is irradiated with excitation light from a light source, the printed matter comprising:

a substrate;

a luminous printed layer, provided on the substrate, that contains a luminous body; and

a colored picture layer, provided on the substrate, that contains a pigment or a dye,

wherein the colored picture layer forms a color pattern including a plurality of minute printing elements or fine printing elements having different shapes.

10. A printed matter that is irradiated with excitation light from a light source, the printed matter comprising:

a substrate containing a luminous body; and

a colored picture layer, provided on the substrate, that contains a pigment or a dye,

wherein the colored picture layer forms a color pattern including a plurality of minute printing elements or fine printing elements having different shapes.

11. The printed matter according to any of Claims 1 to 10, further comprising an overcoat layer, provided on the substrate, that covers at least the colored picture layer.

12. A booklet comprising the printed matter according to any of Claims 1 to 11.

13. A combination of a light source and a printed matter comprising:

the printed matter according to any of Claims 1 to 11; and

the light source that emits the excitation light.

14. A method for determining authenticity of a printed matter with the combination of a light source and a printed matter according to Claim 13, the method comprising the steps of:

irradiating a surface of the printed matter with the excitation light from the light source; and

determining the authenticity of the printed matter by visually recognizing the printed matter with changes made in shape, size, number, or shading of an outwardly-appearing picture or pictures of the colored picture layer by moving the light source closer to and away from the printed matter.

Drawing