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Filtered by Technical Features — 116 articles

Chander S Jeena

24 June 2026

2 min read

Scientists Create Octopus-Inspired Material

Scientists at Stanford University have developed a shape-shifting material that can dynamically change both colour and surface texture, mimicking the camouflage abilities of cephalopods such as octopuses and cuttlefish. Published in Nature, this breakthrough could enable advanced optical security, adaptive displays, soft robotics, and next-generation anti-counterfeiting technologies.

Technical Features

Chander S Jeena

24 June 2026

2 min read

UCLA Breakthrough in 3D Imaging: 28 Layers, One Shot

Researchers at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering have developed a novel light-programmed system capable of projecting high-resolution three-dimensional images across 28 depth layers simultaneously, marking a significant advance in holographic display technology. Published in Light: Science & Applications, the research introduces a hybrid digital-optical architecture that combines deep learning with diffractive optics to generate volumetric images in a single exposure.

Technical Features

Chander S Jeena

24 June 2026

2 min read

Light as the Key: KAIST Creates New Hologram Technology for Future Security

Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have created a new hologram technology that uses light’s own properties as an encryption key, posing a far greater challenge for those looking to counterfeit security features.

Free Technical Features Free

Chander S Jeena

24 June 2026

3 min read

KINEGRAM® Around the World

For many years, KURZ has led in demonstrating how advanced optical security technologies integrate into banknotes. Through a series of creative sample banknotes and showcases, the company has illustrated the potential of security threads, registered stripes, stripe-over-window features, applied patch labels, and security patches.

Optical Security Technical Features

Chander S Jeena

21 May 2026

3 min read

Seaborough’s LUMICRYPT™ Engineers Unique Luminescent Fingerprints

Security printing has always borrowed optical phenomena from physics and chemistry, and few are as useful as luminescence.

Technical Features

Chander S Jeena

15 April 2026

2 min read

Beyond Pigments: Idvac’s Vacuum Process Redefines Red Security Holograms

Idvac is a private company based at Manchester Science Park in the UK, founded in 2004 to develop new processes and products for holographic, packaging, and solar window films. It has now developed an innovative process that introduces enhanced design features for security holograms and optical films.

Technical Features

Chander S Jeena

15 April 2026

2 min read

Rewritable Holograms Could Open a New Chapter In Optical Security

Since their use on credit cards in the 1980s, holograms have been associated with optical security. Their distinctive rainbow colour shifting on banknotes, passports, payment cards and branded packaging, offer a quick visual confirmation that an item is genuine.

Technical Features

Chander S Jeena

17 March 2026

3 min read

Demax Launches Thin Single Layer Motion for Banknotes and ID

Over the past few years, light-field imaging has been considered one of the more promising directions for next-generation document security features. By reproducing not only the intensity of light but also its direction, a light-field structure can create convincing 3D imagery that changes naturally when the viewing angle shifts. For the holder of a passport, banknote or ID card, the result is an effect that is both visually striking and immediately verifiable by the naked eye.

Technical Features

Chander S Jeena

16 Dec. 2025

2 min read

Authentix Launches Breakthrough Nano-Optic Plasmonic Feature

At the High Security Printing (HSP) Asia 2025 conference in Kuala Lumpur this month, Authentix unveiled PICO secure™, described as the world’s first nano-optic, plasmonic optical variable device (OVD) for polycarbonate identity documents. The feature – says Authentix – delivers always-on structural colour and movement, drawing on its award-winning nano-optic technology.

Nano-Optics Technical Features

Chander S Jeena

20 Nov. 2025

3 min read

Duke University’s AI-Powered Microscope Speeds Up Imaging and Data Processing

A project at Duke University has demonstrated how commercial AI models could accelerate microscopic examination of 2D materials and analysis of the results.

Technical Features

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Chander S Jeena

20 Nov. 2025

2 min read

Photonics21 Urges Bold Commitment to Advance Europe’s Photonics Sector

The European Technology Platform Photonics21 and some of Europe’s largest companies – including Bosch, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Nokia Bell Labs, Zeiss, Trumpf, and EssilorLuxottica – have united to urge the European Commission to prioritise photonics in the upcoming EU Framework Programme (FP10).

Technical Features

Guri Dhillon

20 Nov. 2025

3 min read

UV Resin Shrinkage and the Science of Curing Wavelengths

In the September issue of Holography & Optical Technology News™, Guri Dhillon wrote about why UV resin is widely used in security holograms, diffractive optical elements (DOEs), and high-resolution embossing applications. In this article, he examines how the curing wavelength influences dimensional stability and discusses formulation and process strategies that allow optical and micro-structured surfaces to be replicated with sub-micron precision.

Technical Features

Francis Tuffy

23 Oct. 2025

3 min read

Full-Parallax Authentication

The demand for high-security document features has driven research into optical technologies capable of producing effects that are both visually striking and extremely difficult to counterfeit.

Technical Features

Francis Tuffy

23 Sept. 2025

3 min read

Photonic Crystals in Anticounterfeiting

Photonic crystals (PCs) are optical nanostructures that affect the propagation of light by the periodic variation in their refractive index. As counterfeiting techniques become ever more sophisticated, PCs offer physically unclonable functions (PUFs) due to their defect-sensitive optical behaviour and structural colours that cannot be reproduced accurately by traditional printing or scanning techniques.

Technical Features

Guri Dhillon

23 Sept. 2025

2 min read

Why Use UV Resin for Hologram Casting?

UV resin is the preferred material for hologram casting because of its high precision, fast curing, and excellent optical properties. Here’s why UV resin is widely used in security holograms, diffractive optical elements (DOEs), and high-resolution embossing applications.

Technical Features

Chander S Jeena

23 Sept. 2025

2 min read

Optoelectronics Brings Smartphone Holograms a Step Closer

A new advance in optoelectronics from the University of St Andrews could accelerate the arrival of holographic technology in consumer devices, including smartphones, wearables, and entertainment platforms.

Technical Features

Chander S Jeena

23 Sept. 2025

2 min read

EPFL Finds Way to Capture Every Twist of Polarised Light

According to researchers at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland, polarisation is key for future technologies, ranging from quantum computers to secure communication and holographic displays.

Technical Features

Dr Stephen Furst

13 July 2025

2 min read

Seamless Drum Moulds with Nano and Microscale Structures

New technology from US-based startup SMS, called ‘Nanocoining’, is helping to bring nano- and microscale patterns to the industrial scale. The technology creates seamless cylindrical drum moulds for roll-to-roll nanoimprint processes with a patterning rate of up to 2 square inches (2,500mm2) per second – more than 500 times faster than typical electron-beam tools.

Technical Features

Chander S Jeena

27 March 2025

3 min read

Optical Security Features Continue on Banknotes

In the January and February 2025 issues of Holography & Optical Technology News™, we covered banknotes featuring optical innovations from Argentina, Mauritius, Romania, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, Kenya, China, the Falklands, and Belize.

Currency Optical Security Technical Features

27 March 2025

2 min read

Holograms Enhance Efficiency and Precision in 3D Printing

Researchers from EPFL’s Laboratory of Applied Photonic Devices, led by Christophe Moser, in collaboration with Jesper Glückstad’s team at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), have revealed a breakthrough in 3D printing.

3D Printing AR & VR Technical Features

Latest News

Scientists Create Octopus-Inspired Material

UCLA Breakthrough in 3D Imaging: 28 Layers, One Shot

Light as the Key: KAIST Creates New Hologram Technology for Future Security

KINEGRAM® Around the World

Seaborough’s LUMICRYPT™ Engineers Unique Luminescent Fingerprints

Beyond Pigments: Idvac’s Vacuum Process Redefines Red Security Holograms

Rewritable Holograms Could Open a New Chapter In Optical Security

Demax Launches Thin Single Layer Motion for Banknotes and ID

Authentix Launches Breakthrough Nano-Optic Plasmonic Feature

Duke University’s AI-Powered Microscope Speeds Up Imaging and Data Processing

Photonics21 Urges Bold Commitment to Advance Europe’s Photonics Sector

UV Resin Shrinkage and the Science of Curing Wavelengths

Full-Parallax Authentication

Photonic Crystals in Anticounterfeiting

Why Use UV Resin for Hologram Casting?

Optoelectronics Brings Smartphone Holograms a Step Closer

EPFL Finds Way to Capture Every Twist of Polarised Light

Seamless Drum Moulds with Nano and Microscale Structures

Optical Security Features Continue on Banknotes

Holograms Enhance Efficiency and Precision in 3D Printing

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