Injection-moulding process for the generation of virtual three-dimensional patterns in mouldings, where - an injection mould is provided which has injection mould parts A and B which can be separated from one another and which in each case have an inside surface A' and B' and together form an internal cavity, and where, with the injection mould opened, - a preform which has a two- or three-dimensional shape and an outside surface is fixed to the inside surface A' of injection mould part A in such a way that the outside surface of the preform faces the cavity, where this outside surface has, at least on a part-area thereof, bumps and/or pits which together form a three-dimensional pattern, - a thermoplastic film which has been pigmented with flake-form effect pigments is introduced into the internal cavity, - the injection mould is closed, - a transparent thermoplastic melt is introduced into the internal cavity between the thermoplastic film and the surface B' of injection mould part B, where the thermoplastic film forms a strongly adherent and positive connection to at least that part of the outside surface of the pre-form that contains the three-dimensional pattern and at the same time to the thermoplastic melt, and - where the flake-form effect pigments replicate and optically enhance the three-dimensional pattern located on the outside surface of the preform on or in the thermoplastic film, - the injection mould is heated or cooled and subsequently - the resultant moulding, which has an outside surface of a transparent thermoplastic and exhibits on at least part of this outside surface a virtual three-dimensional pattern formed by the flake-form effect pigments, is demoulded or removed. - an injection mould is provided which has injection mould parts A and B which can be separated from one another and which in each case have an inside surface A' and B' and together form an internal cavity, and where, with the injection mould opened, - a preform which has a two- or three-dimensional shape and an outside surface is fixed to the inside surface A' of injection mould part A in such a way that the outside surface of the preform faces the cavity, where this outside surface has, at least on a part-area thereof, bumps and/or pits which together form a three-dimensional pattern, - a thermoplastic film which has been pigmented with flake-form effect pigments is introduced into the internal cavity, - the injection mould is closed, - a transparent thermoplastic melt is introduced into the internal cavity between the thermoplastic film and the surface B' of injection mould part B, where the thermoplastic film forms a strongly adherent and positive connection to at least that part of the outside surface of the pre-form that contains the three-dimensional pattern and at the same time to the thermoplastic melt, and - where the flake-form effect pigments replicate and optically enhance the three-dimensional pattern located on the outside surface of the preform on or in the thermoplastic film, - the injection mould is heated or cooled and subsequently - the resultant moulding, which has an outside surface of a transparent thermoplastic and exhibits on at least part of this outside surface a virtual three-dimensional pattern formed by the flake-form effect pigments, is demoulded or removed.