The International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA), which 20 years ago launched the Hologram Image Register (HIR) – often described as the ‘jewel in the crown’ for the trade body – has recently expanded the register to incorporate all optically v variable security images. The result is the Security Image Register (SIR), the only database of its kind for the security community, which safeguards copyright and helps deter attempt to copy security images, inadvertently or otherwise.

Holography, long admired for its ability to capture and replay large amounts of optical information, is now breaking new ground in neuroscience, promising fresh insights into brain function and communication.

Reconnaissance International has announced that the 2024 Holography Conference Online (THCO) will be held on 12-13 November. The call for papers is now open and delegates are invited to submit a proposal to present by 13 September 2024.

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a full-colour 3D display method that utilises a smartphone screen rather than a laser to create holographic images. With further development, the new method can be used for augmented reality displays.

Few overt security devices have been deployed as widely and successfully as security holograms – or DOVIDs (Diffractive Optically Variable Image Devices), to be more precise and inclusive.

Researchers at KTU (Kaunas University of Technology) Institute of Material Science in Lithuania have developed a new method to produce holographic security labels combining dot-matrix and e-beam.

From 1 May to 30 June, visitors to the ‘Vintage Lasers and Holograms’ exhibition in Tempe, Arizona will have the opportunity to delve into the evolution of lasers, and the role they played in the academic and commercial evolution of holography.

The International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA) has announced a new chair and board members as it expands its operations.

In this most recent roundup of the use of holography in various healthcare settings (see also HN April 2021, July 2022, and September 2022), we report on two current innovations in the field of patient care.

Idvac Ltd, based in Manchester, UK, has introduced an innovative method for creating bespoke gold colour metallised films, completely free from pigments, inks, or dyes.

Holography has long tantalised scientists and engineers with its promise of creating immersive, lifelike 3D representations of real scenes.

As the number of stars and celebrities whose holopresence has been posthumously captured continues to increase, Holography News® reports on two famous performers that have recently been immortalised in light. And one that is on the brink.

In June 2022, after the closure of Hologram Industries Research GmbH, a new company – Phoenix Holographix GmbH – was formed close to Munich, Germany.

Smart Engines, an AI developer, has unveiled an enhanced version of its AI system designed to detect forged documents, with a particular emphasis on holographic protection. The new technology allows for the rapid extraction of data from passports and ID cards while simultaneously verifying their authenticity. What sets this system apart is its ability to perform document verification in real-time video streams.

The International Hologram Manufacturer’s Association (IHMA) is stepping up its presence in China in a move to boost growth and promote the technology’s benefits to brand owners, government authorities and sector suppliers.

A team of scientists from Nanjing University and Tianjin University in China, and the National University of Singapore, have developed a novel method for controlling the polarisation of light using liquid crystal (LC) holography.

US-based Crane NXT, whose subsidiaries include Crane Currency, Crane Authentication and Crane Payment Innovations, has announced it has signed a definitive agreement with Investcorp Technology Partners to acquire OpSec Security for $270 million in cash, subject to customary adjustments.

A team of researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) in South Korea, led by Prof Junsuk Rho and PhD candidate Joohoon Kim, have announced a major breakthrough in the development of angle-dependent holographic displays that could redefine human interaction with digital information. The technology allows holograms to display multiple images based on the observer’s viewing angle.

Following the launch of the International Hologram Manufacturers Association’s expanded Security Image Register (SIR) in January, a proposal was made to extend membership criteria and amend the IHMA articles of association to encompass all security OVD (optical variable device) suppliers. This has now been unanimously adopted.

Vinyl records have experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years, fuelled by a renewed appreciation of analogue sound quality and tangible music experiences. Amidst this resurgence, IQ Structures has unveiled an innovation in vinyl record production: IQ Vinyl.

Supplier of hot-stamping machinery, Gietz, has announced it has invested strategic venture capital in the Netherlands-based Vinfoil in order to strengthen the long- term stability of the company and its product portfolio.

Uflex is India’s largest multinational working in flexible packaging materials. It is a global polymer science company with a turnover of $1.7 billion, and is one of India’s leading providers of holographic solutions used in brand protection, brand enhancement and anti-counterfeiting across a range of industries.

The Optical & Digital Document Security™ Conference (ODDS) 2024, set to take place in Lisbon, Portugal 8-10 April, promises an in depth look into the latest advancements in optical and digital document security.

Professor Emeritus at the University of Rochester, Brian J Thompson, passed away on 27 January 2024 at the age of 91.

Following the expansion of the secure registry of holographic images and its relaunch as the Security Image Register (SIR) last month, the IHMA has announced it will be holding a webinar focusing on the SIR and its benefits for suppliers and their customers on 17 April.

Each year, the CES conference in Las Vegas unveils cutting-edge holographic technologies, and CES 2024 was no exception. The exhibition, which is probably the most influential tech event of the year, took place 9-12 January, in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Centre.

In a ground-breaking departure from conventional fingerprint analysis, recent research introduces a shift in thinking through the collaboration between Penn State and Prof Partha Banerjee of the University of Dayton.

Lighting has long been acknowledged as a key element in shaping the atmosphere of any event, and recent advances in technology have brought innovative approaches to transform spaces into captivating 3D experiences.

The People’s Bank of China (PBC) has issued a 20 yuan commemorative legal tender banknote to celebrate 2024’s Lunar Year of the Long (Chinese Dragon), which began on 10 February. 100 million notes have been printed, with purchasers limited to 20 notes each.

In a previous article covering the use of holography in teaching and education (see The Holographic Classroom, HN June 2023), we followed the technology’s early applications in representing 3D objects to its integration into mixed reality. In this article, we delve deeper into one particular application, AI holographic avatars in the lecture theatre.

Filtrona Tapes has released Supastrip Prism, a new range of holographic tear tapes designed to enhance packaging security and draw attention on the shelf.

Cambridge-based 3D tech start-up VividQ has announced the launch of real holograms projected through high-performance 4K display hardware. The ability to deliver ‘retina resolution’ type computer- generated holograms means that next-generation VR headsets will be able to offer unparalleled levels of immersion and realism to users.

IQ Structures, a research and manufacturing organisation focused on controlled nanostructures, has started using artificial intelligence (AI) to support its creative staff during the design of its DOVIDs (diffractive optically variable image device).

OpSec, provider of holographic foils, IP management and brand protection solutions, and Investcorp Europe Acquisition Corp I, a special purpose acquisition company, have announced a strategic investment from SAKATA INX Corporation in the form of unsecured convertible loan notes issued by OpSec.

In the realm of optical technology, a new process is emerging that uses ultrathin plasmonic metasurfaces, capable of simultaneously enabling full-colour printing and holography on a centimetre scale. These metasurfaces leverage photonic spin– orbit interactions excited by surface plasmon polaritons (SPP), opening the door to a new era of high-security applications and mass-produced optical devices.

In this series of articles using source material from historical and current issues of Holography News® (HN), along with a few other contextual sources, I have so far covered the development of commercial holography for use on banknotes, ID cards, head-up displays and the graphics arts industry. This month, I turn my attention to its use on financial cards.

In this episode of the Holograms on Banknotes series, we report on the latest issues from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), East Caribbean and Tonga.

The optics and optoelectronics giant ZEISS has launched its Multifunctional Smart Glass technology showcasing the equipment and processes for mass production.

In a strategic move aimed at steering Gietz AG towards continued success and innovation, Hansjoerg Gietz, after years of service as Managing Director, has announced the transition of leadership to Marcel Gerber – currently serving as Engineering Director – with effect from 1 January 2024.

Idvac Ltd, based in Manchester, UK, has unveiled a ground-breaking method for fabricating bespoke multispectral colours using a layer- by-layer nano-etching process.

Researchers from the Universities of Cambridge, Oxford and University College London have developed an advanced augmented reality (AR) holographic system that projects 4K video using LiDAR point clouds, specifically designed for automotive head-up displays.

The International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA) has announced changes to its executive board as it invests in strengthening its position as a leading authority on commercial authentication, ID security and packaging augmentation technologies.

Hot from successes in the ‘Best Origination’ and ‘Best in Show’ categories at the recent International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA) awards, Meta Materials is bringing its expertise in advanced materials and nanotechnology to the field of brand protection labelling, with its new product – NANO™ protect.

Developments in new anti-counterfeit technologies will help support the growth of holograms in 2024, according to Dr Paul Dunn, chair of the International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA).