Patent ID: 8875628

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a data carrier having a visually perceptible marking in the form of patterns, letters, numbers or images, the method comprising steps of a) choosing a predefined laser radiation spectrum, b) applying a radiation absorbing layer to a substrate, the radiation absorbing layer comprising a metallic effect ink, c) imprinting the radiation absorbing layer with a partially transmissive layer, thereby providing the substrate with a coating comprising the radiation absorbing layer and the partially transmissive layer, the imprinting comprising applying the partially transmissive layer by means of intaglio printing wherein an embossing is produced in the coating in the partially transmissive layer, the imprinting further causing pressing of the substrate with the pressure of an intaglio printing technique and thereby creating a bond of the partially transmissive layer with the substrate via a region of the radiation absorbing layer; and d) impinging the coating with laser radiation of the predefined laser radiation spectrum to produce the visually perceptible marking in at least the radiation absorbing layer; wherein the partially transmissive layer is at least partially transmissive to laser radiation, and the bond created by the pressing of the coating allows the visually perceptive marking to be produced in the radiation absorbing layer without destroying the partially transmissive layer.