RELIEF™
Oberthur Fiduciaire (France)
1. Feature + Supplier Header
RELIEF™ is a 3D security thread (and foil element) developed and manufactured by Oberthur Fiduciaire, produced at the company's paper mill in the Netherlands.
2. Type
Colour shift / 3D optical effect — fully printed security thread, patch, stripe, or window foil. Effect types: Colour shift, 3D effect, MR-magnetics (optional).
3. Overview
RELIEF™ is a next-generation security thread from Oberthur Fiduciaire that delivers a striking trompe l'oeil of visual tactility — the appearance of a three-dimensionally textured, embossed surface on a perfectly flat, smooth substrate. It is classified as a Level 1 security element, designed for rapid public authentication without specialist tools. The feature combines an intense colour shift with a dynamic 3D finish, and is available as a window thread, patch, stripe, or foil cut for application at the paper mill. Because RELIEF™ is a fully printed thread requiring no metallisation or demetallisation, it offers both a reduced environmental footprint and compatibility with existing banknote production processes.
The technology was discovered accidentally during an R&D laboratory trial, when an engineer observed that a 3D image of her fingerprint had become visible in printed liquid crystal samples she had touched while her finger was wet. This serendipitous discovery led to a sustained process of trial and error to understand, stabilise, and reproduce the effect at production scale.
4. Technology & Effects
RELIEF™ threads are produced by manipulating and layering the localised alignment of liquid crystal inks on plastic carriers. By precisely controlling the visual appearance of the inks, Oberthur Fiduciaire technicians generate effects with unique optical intensity. The result is comparable in visual behaviour to a 3D hologram: areas of the design appear shaded or raised in relief, while other areas appear bright, creating a colour-shifting interplay of light and shadow that simulates depth and texture.
The methodology broadens the angle of visibility of the colour shift effect relative to traditional liquid crystal threads. Liquid crystal need not be applied to the entire surface of the thread, patch, or stripe, giving additional design freedom. When configured with a transparent window, RELIEF™ appears transparent against light, while against a dark background the 3D colour shift effect resolves with a pronounced visual pop. When viewed from both sides of the note, areas that appear to protrude from the front appear recessed from the reverse, reinforcing the embossing illusion.
The technology produces sharper detail than physical embossing, achieving precise visual tactility on a flat surface without any variation in substrate thickness.
Effect type taxonomy: Colour shift, 3D effect. Optional additions: MR-magnetics, Secure 3D Cleartext.
5. Form Factors & Application
- Security thread: widths from 3 mm; visual effects scalable up to 6 mm width
- Patch or stripe: applicable with or without a transparent window
- Foil: cuttable for windowed application, produced at Oberthur Fiduciaire's Netherlands paper mill
- Can be printed over; compatible with varnishing without visual degradation
- Conventional thread features (cleartext, magnetism) can be incorporated into the element structure
6. Security Levels
- Level 1 (public): Immediate visual authentication via colour shift and 3D trompe l'oeil effect, recognisable without tools at speed
- Level 2 (trade): Optional machine-readable magnetic properties
- Level 3 (forensic): Proprietary liquid crystal alignment methodology and specific raw materials combination; no metallisation required for multi-level security
- Name
- RELIEF™
- Category
- Security Feature
- Effect Types
- 3D effect Colour shift
- Company
- Product Page
- View on Supplier Site
- Linked Features
- 2 security features