Method for decorating surfaces, in particular for decorating outer packaging, wherein the method comprises the following steps: providing a transfer tape comprising a tape-shaped carrier film and a decorative sheet, wherein the decorative sheet has a plurality of homogeneous, optically variable decorative elements (25, 251 to 255) which are arranged in first surface regions (21, 211 to 215) that are separated from one another and spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the transfer tape, and wherein the decorative sheet has second surface regions (22, 221 to 225) that are separated from one another and spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the transfer tape, in which the decorative sheet has one or more individualisable layers for providing respectively different machine-readable optical markings (26, 261 to 265), respectively transferring a first surface region (21, 211 to 215) or a portion of a first surface region (21, 211 to 215) and a second surface region (22, 221 to 225) or a portion of a second surface region (22, 221 to 225) of the decorative sheet onto a surface to be decorated, wherein the one or more individualisable layers of the respective second surface region (22, 221 to 225) are individualised before or during the transfer, such that, in addition to one of the optically variable decorative elements (25, 251 to 255), an individualised machine-readable optical marking (26, 261 to 265) is transferred from the transfer tape onto the surface to be decorated, characterised in that the transfer tape comprises a release layer arranged between the decorative sheet and the carrier film, the surface of the decorative sheet opposite the release layer is provided with an adhesive layer over the entire surface in the second surface regions (22, 222), a pattern-like deactivation layer is applied to the adhesive layer in the second surface region (22, 222) for the individualisation, wherein the shaping of the deactivation layer corresponds to the shaping of the individualised machine-readable optical marking (25, 252) in negative form, when transferring, the transfer tape is pressed against the surface to be decorated in the second surface region (22, 222) by means of a stamping tool, during removal, in the portions in which the pattern-like deactivation layer is not arranged between the adhesive layer and the surface to be decorated, the individualisable layers remain on the surface to be decorated, and in the remaining portions of the second surface regions (22, 222), in which the deactivation layer is not provided, the individualisable layers remain on the transfer tape and, during removal, are separated from the portions on the surface to be decorated. providing a transfer tape comprising a tape-shaped carrier film and a decorative sheet, wherein the decorative sheet has a plurality of homogeneous, optically variable decorative elements (25, 251 to 255) which are arranged in first surface regions (21, 211 to 215) that are separated from one another and spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the transfer tape, and wherein the decorative sheet has second surface regions (22, 221 to 225) that are separated from one another and spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the transfer tape, in which the decorative sheet has one or more individualisable layers for providing respectively different machine-readable optical markings (26, 261 to 265), respectively transferring a first surface region (21, 211 to 215) or a portion of a first surface region (21, 211 to 215) and a second surface region (22, 221 to 225) or a portion of a second surface region (22, 221 to 225) of the decorative sheet onto a surface to be decorated, wherein the one or more individualisable layers of the respective second surface region (22, 221 to 225) are individualised before or during the transfer, such that, in addition to one of the optically variable decorative elements (25, 251 to 255), an individualised machine-readable optical marking (26, 261 to 265) is transferred from the transfer tape onto the surface to be decorated, characterised in that the transfer tape comprises a release layer arranged between the decorative sheet and the carrier film, the surface of the decorative sheet opposite the release layer is provided with an adhesive layer over the entire surface in the second surface regions (22, 222), a pattern-like deactivation layer is applied to the adhesive layer in the second surface region (22, 222) for the individualisation, wherein the shaping of the deactivation layer corresponds to the shaping of the individualised machine-readable optical marking (25, 252) in negative form, when transferring, the transfer tape is pressed against the surface to be decorated in the second surface region (22, 222) by means of a stamping tool, during removal, in the portions in which the pattern-like deactivation layer is not arranged between the adhesive layer and the surface to be decorated, the individualisable layers remain on the surface to be decorated, and in the remaining portions of the second surface regions (22, 222), in which the deactivation layer is not provided, the individualisable layers remain on the transfer tape and, during removal, are separated from the portions on the surface to be decorated.