How do they print holo-like thngs on consumer products?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Nehmo
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Nehmo

I don't suppose a printer peripherals NG is the best place to ask this,
but how do they print the hologram-like pattern you see on the Colgate
toothpaste box? (Other products have this too.) It's a shinny surface
which changes color with the angle viewed.

I probably couldn't duplicate this on a small scale, but I'm still
curious how it's done.
 
I probably couldn't duplicate this on a small scale, but I'm still
curious how it's done.
Click to expand...

There might have been an artical about the subject in National
Geographic... the one with the hologram eagle on it. The issue escapes
me, but lucky for me we have the net.

"Skull Issue (Nov'85) Eagle Issue (Mar'84) Centennial Halogram Issue
(Dec'88)" -http://members.tripod.com/~Phil_Malarek/index-4.html

I can't honestly remember if they discussed the technology or if they
just put a spiffy eagle on the front of the 1984 issue.... but I do
remember it was the first time I saw a hologram sticker.
 
I don't suppose a printer peripherals NG is the best place to ask this,
but how do they print the hologram-like pattern you see on the Colgate
toothpaste box? (Other products have this too.) It's a shinny surface
which changes color with the angle viewed.

I probably couldn't duplicate this on a small scale, but I'm still
curious how it's done.
Click to expand...

With laser etching, something that an average customer won't be able
to get at all. IIRC it works by laser splitting in 2 beams and having
it strike each other to create patterns on the foil.
 
This process is done by creating very tiny lines in the surface to
create defraction reflections. The surface needs to be reflective to
begin with, and the lines break white light up into the color spectrum
similar to how a prism does. Different frequency lines create different
defraction interaction and so different colors are reflected.

The small hologram can be created with a laser or by a very fine
pressing similar to how a CD is pressed.

Art
 
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