A security thread or stripe comprising a substrate and: i) a first optically variable layer imparting a first different color impression at different viewing angles and being made of an optically variable composition comprising a plurality of optically variable pigments; ii) a second optically variable layer imparting a second different color impression at different viewing angles and being made of an optically variable composition comprising a plurality of optically variable pigments; iii) a first color constant layer having a color matching the color impression of the first or second optically variable layer at a first viewing angle and being made of a color constant composition comprising a binder and a plurality of inorganic pigments, organic pigments or mixtures thereof; iv) a second color constant layer having a color matching the color impression of the first or second optically variable layer at a second viewing angle and being made of a color constant composition comprising a binder and a plurality of inorganic pigments, organic pigments or mixtures thereof; and v) one or more material-free regions on the substrate being free from the first optically variable layer, the second optically variable layer, the first color constant layer, the second color constant layer and any non-transparent material, wherein the first different color impression is different from the second different color impression, wherein the first optically variable layer and the second optically variable layer either comprise one or more gaps in the form of indicia or consist of indicia made of the optically variable compositions, and wherein the first optically variable layer, the second optically variable layer, the first color constant layer, the second color constant layer and the one or more material-free regions are jointly visible from one side of the security thread or stripe. i) a first optically variable layer imparting a first different color impression at different viewing angles and being made of an optically variable composition comprising a plurality of optically variable pigments; ii) a second optically variable layer imparting a second different color impression at different viewing angles and being made of an optically variable composition comprising a plurality of optically variable pigments; iii) a first color constant layer having a color matching the color impression of the first or second optically variable layer at a first viewing angle and being made of a color constant composition comprising a binder and a plurality of inorganic pigments, organic pigments or mixtures thereof; iv) a second color constant layer having a color matching the color impression of the first or second optically variable layer at a second viewing angle and being made of a color constant composition comprising a binder and a plurality of inorganic pigments, organic pigments or mixtures thereof; and v) one or more material-free regions on the substrate being free from the first optically variable layer, the second optically variable layer, the first color constant layer, the second color constant layer and any non-transparent material, wherein the first different color impression is different from the second different color impression, wherein the first optically variable layer and the second optically variable layer either comprise one or more gaps in the form of indicia or consist of indicia made of the optically variable compositions, and wherein the first optically variable layer, the second optically variable layer, the first color constant layer, the second color constant layer and the one or more material-free regions are jointly visible from one side of the security thread or stripe. wherein the first different color impression is different from the second different color impression, wherein the first optically variable layer and the second optically variable layer either comprise one or more gaps in the form of indicia or consist of indicia made of the optically variable compositions, and wherein the first optically variable layer, the second optically variable layer, the first color constant layer, the second color constant layer and the one or more material-free regions are jointly visible from one side of the security thread or stripe.