Optical security innovations continued to win global recognition. Recent award ceremonies across the currency, identity, and packaging sectors have highlighted how these innovations continue to protect these. In this article, Holography & Optical Technology News™ (HOT News) reviews several of the award-winning developments.

If you’re a Pokémon fan, you’ve probably heard that ‘Pokémon TCG: Journey Together’ has been released recently and is now available at the Pokémon Centre (the official website), local card shops, and select retailers in themed boxes, bundles, and booster packs.

At the recent High Security Printing™ (HSP) EMEA conference in Basel (3-5 February), Georgios Tziovaras, Global Business Development Manager at Covestro Specialty Films, highlighted the crucial role of holography and advanced optical technologies in modern identity documents.

The Chinese Lunar New Year 2025 began on 29 January, marking the start of the Year of the Snake. While people and organisations celebrate this in various ways, Holography & Optical Technology News® focuses on a few innovative industry developments welcoming the year of the snake.

In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Juliet asks, ‘What’s in a name?’. Her words suggest that names are merely labels, holding little significance in defining the essence of a thing. Yet, names can profoundly shape perceptions, signal identity, and set expectations. With this in mind, I want to update you about a pivotal moment for Holography News® (HN), which is adopting a new name: Holography & Optical Technology News® (HOT News).

Calendars continue to thrive in the digital age, with organisations valuing them as expressions of individuality, mindfulness aids, and storytelling platforms. Whether physical, digital, or hybrid, calendars remain essential to how we experience time.

In last month’s edition of Holography News®, we explored how bio-inspired security threads, showcased at the Global Currency Forum in Oman, are translating the visual complexity of butterflies, chameleons, oceans, and meadows into security print features. From Louisenthal’s micro-mirror innovations to Kurz’s meadow-inspired threads, industry leaders demonstrated how themes from nature are creating new opportunities in optical security.

As sustainability takes centre stage in boardroom discussions, industry stakeholders are implementing innovative eco-friendly initiatives. This article highlights some of the key developments shaping the path towards a greener future.

XRD Nano (XRD), a technology company based in the UK, is driving breakthrough innovations in the world of UV replication, focusing on nano and microstructures. Its solutions are being recognised globally, particularly in holographic packaging, transfer films, brand protection labels, shrink sleeves, security documents, and functional films. This article explores the key innovations from XRD that are transforming these industries.

In last month’s issue of Holography News™, we covered Japan’s new banknote series, all three notes in which feature holographic portraits.