Method for decorating surfaces, in particular for decorating outer packaging, wherein the method comprises the following steps: providing a transfer band comprising a band-shaped carrier foil and a decorative layer, wherein the decorative layer has a plurality of similar optically variable decorative elements (25, 251 to 255), which are arranged in first surface regions (21, 211 to 215), separated from each other and spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the transfer band, and wherein the decorative layer has second surface regions (22, 221 to 225) separated from each other and spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the transfer band, in which the decorative layer has one or several customisable layers for providing respectively different machine-readable optical markings (26, 261 to 265), transferring respectively a first surface region (21, 211 to 215) or a partial region of a first surface region (21, 211 to 215) and a second surface region (22, 221 to 225) or a partial region of a second surface region (22, 221 to 225) of the decorative layer onto a surface to be decorated, wherein the one or several customisable layers of the respective second surface region (22, 221 to 225) are customised before or during the transfer, such that a customised machine-readable optical marker (26, 261 to 265) is transferred from the transfer band onto the surface to be decorated alongside one of the optically variable decorative elements (25, 251 to 255), wherein the transfer band is pressed against the surface to be decorated in the second surface region (22, 221) during the transfer by means of an embossing tool, characterised in that the transfer band comprises a release layer arranged between the decorative layer and the carrier foil, that the surface of the decorative layer set against the release layer in the second surface region (22, 221) or in the surface region of the surface to be decorated corresponding to the second surface region is provided with a patterned adhesive layer for customisation, wherein the shaping of the patterned adhesive layer corresponds to the shaping of the customised machine-readable optical marker, that in the partial regions in which the patterned adhesive layer is arranged between the decorative layer and the surface to be decorated, the customisable layers remain on the surface to be decorated when pulled away, and in the remaining partial regions of the second surface region (22,221), the customisable layers remain on the transfer band, and are separated from the partial regions remaining on the surface to be decorated when pulled away, that different relief structures are moulded in a replication layer of the decorative layer in the first surface regions on the one hand and in the second surface regions on the other. providing a transfer band comprising a band-shaped carrier foil and a decorative layer, wherein the decorative layer has a plurality of similar optically variable decorative elements (25, 251 to 255), which are arranged in first surface regions (21, 211 to 215), separated from each other and spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the transfer band, and wherein the decorative layer has second surface regions (22, 221 to 225) separated from each other and spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the transfer band, in which the decorative layer has one or several customisable layers for providing respectively different machine-readable optical markings (26, 261 to 265), transferring respectively a first surface region (21, 211 to 215) or a partial region of a first surface region (21, 211 to 215) and a second surface region (22, 221 to 225) or a partial region of a second surface region (22, 221 to 225) of the decorative layer onto a surface to be decorated, wherein the one or several customisable layers of the respective second surface region (22, 221 to 225) are customised before or during the transfer, such that a customised machine-readable optical marker (26, 261 to 265) is transferred from the transfer band onto the surface to be decorated alongside one of the optically variable decorative elements (25, 251 to 255), wherein the transfer band is pressed against the surface to be decorated in the second surface region (22, 221) during the transfer by means of an embossing tool, characterised in that the transfer band comprises a release layer arranged between the decorative layer and the carrier foil, that the surface of the decorative layer set against the release layer in the second surface region (22, 221) or in the surface region of the surface to be decorated corresponding to the second surface region is provided with a patterned adhesive layer for customisation, wherein the shaping of the patterned adhesive layer corresponds to the shaping of the customised machine-readable optical marker, that in the partial regions in which the patterned adhesive layer is arranged between the decorative layer and the surface to be decorated, the customisable layers remain on the surface to be decorated when pulled away, and in the remaining partial regions of the second surface region (22,221), the customisable layers remain on the transfer band, and are separated from the partial regions remaining on the surface to be decorated when pulled away, that different relief structures are moulded in a replication layer of the decorative layer in the first surface regions on the one hand and in the second surface regions on the other.