Security Layer 

• The Opening - THE NEW GENERATION OF ORLOV’S EFFECTS

• Opportunities - TARGETED SECURITY COMPLEX

• Cash circulation - “BARS” IS NOTED FOR ITS INTELLECT AND EFFICIENCY

• Tendencies - NO LIMITS TO PERFECTION

• Know-how - DOUBLE IMPACT

• Know-how - HOLOGRAM PLUS OVI

• Know-how - NOT ONLY WITH ALUMINIUM

• Technologies - PAPER WILL BE LABELED WITH PROTEIN

• Technologies - NOT ONLY HOLES

DOUBLE IMPACT

The idea of a bigram is simple outwardly.

The new development of the specialists of “Specialized Enterprise “Holography” (Ukraine, Kiev) has become a real sensation of the recent “HoloExpo-2008” International Conference.

Experienced holographists were amazed at what a beautiful, logical and outwardly simple solution was found by the young Ukrainian specialists to make not only more colorific, but also a more secure hologram. Vladislav SIABER, one of the authors of the new holographic element, described the bigram peculiarities to The Watermark.

— First of all, please explain what the bigram is and what its differences from the previous holograms are.

— It is first of all necessary to define what key characteristics help us to identify an optical element as a hologram. First of all, we can singularize such a feature as three-dimensionality of the image. Secondly, the kinetic effects — we change the visual angle, and the image on the hologram moves and sparkles with all the spectral colours. Such effects can be obtained by using digital methods of forming holographic elements. The classical analogous technology of hologram recording is the most suitable for obtaining a three-dimensional image. Combined holographic elements, the fragments of which are recorded with the help of a few technologies, have been widely put into practice.

At the same time, the fact that the kinetic effects are always localized within the hologram surface remains unchanged. We have overcome this limitation in our development — the kinetic effects are created in the elements located within the volume of the hologram, at different depths. To achieve this goal, we modified the recording scheme somewhat: during the iris hologram creation, instead of static objects we included the previously recorded digital holograms with kinetic effects into the recording scheme. To put it more simply, we recorded a hologram from a hologram.

If you look at the hologram with the view of Saint-Petersburg created by “Specialized Enterprise “Holography”, the play of water is the traditional digital technology, the Peter and Paul Fortress and the sky in the background are the classic iris technology, and the fireworks filling the space between the sky and the bridge are the new combined element, which we called a bigram.

— Why did you choose such a name — a bigram?

— Because it is a hologram within a hologram, or a double hologram.

— How did the idea of the bigram creation appear?

— Our colleague Ignat Pogan suggested the idea of recording one hologram within another, and I said, “Ignat, let’s do it!” He calculated and recorded the digital part, we carried out a few tests, and later on we recorded the first hologram and brought the product up to marketable state.

— As a result, there were two of you who created the bigram?

— There were four of us. The colleagues came to our aid, both in the concept refinement and in solving the technological nuances which appeared during the process.

— Was it a technically complicated task? Or the idea was enough?

— The idea required comparatively many efforts for its implementation. We had to use an original mathematical apparatus for the bigram kinetic elements calculation; the analogous recording scheme underwent modification as well.

Besides, this hologram requires a certain design. A successful design can emphasize the bigram peculiarities, but an “incorrect” one may practically reduce them to nothing. Therefore much work was done here as well. It was such a complex approach — a combination of technical and design ideas.

— Is special equipment necessary for the bigram creation?

— A digital hologram recording unit and an analogous hologram recording unit are necessary. And using the creative approach, these units may be applied to a fuller extent than usually.

—  Is the new hologram  more complicated  than the ordinary one?

— Yes, the hologram has become more complica­ted. This fact alone provides additional security aga­inst counterfeiting.

— Do you already have the bigram marketing plans?

— We have already carried out a few projects using the bigram. A bigram itself does not limit the sphere of application of holographic elements. That may be both goods protection and promotional items.
Our company’s strategy is to provide the customers with our most up-to-date developments. Thus, the products of “Specialized Enterprise “Holography” receive their inimitable “signature”. Our products are recognized and valued.

— What has more value in realization — the bigram decorativeness or its security properties?

— Both. The hologram structure sophistication leads to its counterfeiting complication. The new optical effects increase the hologram recognizability. It looks interesting, and it is difficult to counterfeit the bigram by traditional means — the fake will be noticed at once. The consumer will always win using the bigram, no matter whether he values its security or aesthetic characteristics.

— Are there bigram equivalents in the world?

— We try to keep a close watch on new developments of our colleagues all over the world. It might seem that the solution we applied is of the category of simple things, though its realization requires certain efforts. Perhaps, it was due to this reason that it has not been dealt with yet. It looks like we were the first ones to do it.

— Will the bigram be more expensive than the ordinary hologram?

— It is true that, on the one hand, the bigram introduction requires additional time and material expenses at the hologram development stage. On the other hand, we are not aiming at the most expensive hologram recording. Our aim is to create holographic elements easily identifiable visually and maximally secure. The bigram excellently fits in this concept. Therefore the hologram development expenses (and it is only one stage of the production process) will not affect the hologram price.

— Are you satisfied with the results?

— The hologram came into being in the throes. When we started the realization, there seemed to be plenty of time, but there appeared technical difficulties, and we had to correct, recalculate and readjust; therefore when everything came to hand I was very satisfied. Besides, it turned out to be beautiful.

Tatyana Balueva