Decorative foil, method for producing a decorative foil and method for decorating a target substrate

Abstract

The invention relates to a decorative foil (1), in particular a cold stamping foil or hot stamping foil, for decorating a target substrate (40), comprising a carrier foil (10) and an overall lacquer layer (20) that can be removed from the carrier foil (10), wherein the carrier foil (10) has a thickness in the range of 1.0 µm to 10.0 µm, in particular of 3.0 µm to 10 µm, preferably of 3.0 µm to 6 µm, wherein the overall lacquer layer (20) has a thickness in the range of 0.4 µm to 0.95 µm, in particular of 0.5 µm to 0.9 µm, in particular of 0.5 µm to 0.7 µm.

Description

[0001]

[0002] LEONHARD KURZ Stiftung & Co. KG, Schwabacher Str. 482, 90763 Fürth,

[0003] Germany

[0004] Decorative film, method for producing a decorative film and method for decorating a target substrate

[0005] The invention relates to a decorative foil, in particular hot stamping foil and / or cold stamping foil, a method for producing a decorative foil and a method for decorating a target substrate with a decorative foil.

[0006] It is known to use decorative foils to apply a coating layer to, for example, security documents such as passports, credit cards, or banknotes. Hot stamping foils and / or cold stamping foils are used for this purpose. In this process, the coating layer of the decorative foil is transferred from a carrier film to a target substrate, and then the carrier film is removed. During this transfer of the coating layer from a carrier film to a target substrate, the coating layer is torn along a boundary line that defines the area of ​​the coating layer to be transferred. This area can be defined, in particular, by an adhesive layer applied to the target substrate, which bonds the coating layer to the substrate. The adhesive layer is often only partially applied and can, for example, be designed with a pattern.Ideally, the entire paint layer should crack at the outer edge of the adhesive layer. However, depending on the properties, structure, and composition of the decorative film, undefined cracks in the entire paint layer can occur far from the outer edge of the adhesive layer, resulting in an uneven decoration of the target substrate.

[0007] For example, German patent DE 102019132787 A1 discloses a cold stamping foil with a carrier thickness of 3.0 pm to 10 pm and a total lacquer layer thickness of 1.0 pm to 2.5 pm. While this combination of total lacquer layer thickness and carrier foil thickness improves the definition and opacity of the decoration compared to conventional foils with a carrier thickness of 12 pm from the prior art, it also results in so-called over-decoration. In this over-decoration, an adhesive dot is decorated with a larger area of ​​the total lacquer layer than the adhesive dot itself. The area of ​​the total lacquer layer transferred to the adhesive dot is therefore larger than the area of ​​the adhesive dot. Ideally, an adhesive dot should be decorated exactly according to its area. In this ideal state, the area of ​​the applied total lacquer layer corresponds to the area of ​​the adhesive dot.Over-decoration thus ensures that certain details of the embossed pattern cannot be decorated with sharp edges according to the adhesive dots, and that certain details of the embossed pattern may no longer be visible to the viewer due to the over-decoration, as adjacent and spaced-apart adhesive dots visually overlap for the viewer after decoration.

[0008] The invention is based on the objective of providing an improved decorative film, an improved method for producing a decorative film, and an improved method for decorating a target substrate, in which over-decoration is reduced or even avoided.

[0009] This problem is solved by a decorative foil, in particular a cold stamping foil or a hot stamping foil, for decorating a target substrate, comprising a carrier foil and a total lacquer layer removable from the carrier foil, wherein the carrier foil has a thickness in the range of 1.0 pm to 10.0 pm, in particular from 3.0 pm to 10 pm, preferably from 3.0 pm to 6 pm, and wherein the total lacquer layer has a thickness in the range of 0.4 pm to 0.95 pm, in particular from 0.5 pm to 0.9 pm, in particular from 0.5 pm to 0.7 pm.

[0010] This problem is further solved by a method for producing a decorative film, in particular according to one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the method comprises the following steps, which are carried out in particular in the following sequence: a) providing a carrier film, wherein the carrier film has a thickness in the range of 1.0 pm to 10.0 pm, in particular from 3.0 pm to 10 pm, preferably from 3.0 pm to 6 pm; b) applying a total lacquer layer at least partially or completely to at least one surface of the carrier film, wherein the total lacquer layer has a thickness in the range of 0.4 pm to 0.95 pm, in particular from 0.5 pm to 0.9 pm, in particular from 0.5 pm to 0.7 pm.

[0011] Furthermore, this problem is solved by a method for decorating a target substrate, wherein the method comprises the following steps, which are carried out in particular in the following order: d) providing a decorative film according to one of claims 1 to 20; e) providing a target substrate; f) applying the decorative film to the target substrate.

[0012] Surprisingly, tests have shown that with the present invention, by combining the thickness of the carrier film in the range of 1.0 pm to 10.0 pm, in particular from 3.0 pm to 10.0 pm, preferably from 3.0 pm to 6.0 pm, and a thickness of the total lacquer layer of 0.4 pm to 0.95 pm, in particular from 0.5 pm to 0.9 pm, in particular from 0.5 pm to 0.7 pm, an extremely clean appearance of the total lacquer layer or decoration on an adhesive image of a target substrate is advantageously achieved, with no or only minor over-decorations occurring, which are preferably not perceptible to a viewer without aids.

[0013] This effect is due, firstly, to the reduction of the distance between the separation plane between the overall paint layer and the carrier film and an imaginary central plane of the decorative film, the so-called "neutral fiber" of the decorative film (i.e., the composite of carrier film and overall paint layer). This results in lower forces acting when separating the carrier film from the overall paint layer. Secondly, because the overall paint layer is "thinner" compared to the prior art, lower forces act within the individual layers of the overall paint layer. These two reductions in force promote the clean application of the decorative film and ensure no or only minimal over-decoration.

[0014] Register accuracy refers specifically to the positional accuracy of two or more elements and / or layers relative to each other. This includes, for example, the precise positioning of decorations and other features or layers applied to the target substrate, such as prints, fold lines, or crease lines. Ideally, the register accuracy should fall within a predefined tolerance and be as low as possible. Simultaneously, the register accuracy of multiple elements and / or layers relative to each other is a crucial feature for increasing process reliability. Precise positioning can be achieved, in particular, using sensory, preferably optically detectable, register marks.These registration marks or registration marks can either represent special separate elements, areas, or layers, or they can themselves be part of the elements, areas, or layers to be positioned.

[0015] Overdecoration occurs when an adhesive dot is decorated with a larger area of ​​the total lacquer layer than the dot itself. The area of ​​the total lacquer layer transferred to the adhesive dot is therefore larger than the area of ​​the adhesive dot. Ideally, an adhesive dot should be decorated exactly according to its area. In this ideal state, the area of ​​the total lacquer layer transferred to the adhesive dot corresponds to the area of ​​the adhesive dot. Overdecoration thus means that certain details of the embossed pattern cannot be decorated with sharp edges corresponding to the adhesive dots, and that certain details of the embossed pattern may no longer be visible to the viewer due to the overdecoration, as adjacent and spaced adhesive dots visually overlap after decoration.

[0016] The neutral fiber is an imaginary center plane of the decorative film, where the decorative film comprises the carrier film and the entire lacquer layer. The neutral fiber runs along this imaginary center plane or center line of the decorative film. The neutral fiber is the fiber whose length does not change when twisted and / or bent; that is, practically no tensile or compressive stresses act on the neutral fiber, especially during the application of the decorative film to a target substrate.

[0017] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0018] In particular, the carrier film comprises a material or a material combination selected from: PET, PMMA, PC, PE, PVC, PS, ABS, PU, ​​PBS, PLA, PAN, glass. Preferably, the carrier film is supplied as roll stock. In particular, the web of the carrier film has a width of 20 cm to 300 cm, preferably 50 cm to 250 cm.

[0019] It is specifically stipulated that the overall paint layer must include at least one release agent layer and / or at least one protective coating layer and / or at least one decorative layer and / or at least one primer layer and / or at least one adhesive layer and / or at least one color layer. The aforementioned layers may also occur multiple times within the overall paint layer structure. For example, it is possible that the overall paint layer structure includes two protective coating layers. This also applies to all other layers mentioned above.

[0020] Preferably, the at least one release layer may comprise a material or a material combination selected from: waxes, silicones, polyurethanes and / or polymers, preferably acrylates, acrylate copolymer, polyesters, polyester copolymers, polystyrenes, polystyrene copolymers, polycarbonates, polycarbonate copolymers.

[0021] It is also possible that the at least one release layer has a thickness in the range of 0.001 pm to 0.50 pm, preferably from 0.006 pm to 0.01 pm. The release layer serves as a separating layer between the carrier film and the overall lacquer layer and thus as a defined "predetermined breaking layer" of the decorative film. During the separation of the overall lacquer layer from the carrier film, the release layer can remain at least partially on the carrier film and / or at least partially on the overall lacquer layer.

[0022] In particular, it is possible that at least one release layer is transparent and / or translucent and / or opaque and / or colored and / or at least partially colored and / or crystal clear. It is possible that the at least one protective coating layer comprises a material or a combination of materials selected from: polymers, in particular acrylates, acrylate copolymers, polyesters, polyester copolymers, polystyrenes, polystyrene copolymers, polycarbonates, polycarbonate copolymers and / or SMA copolymers (SMA = styrene-maleic anhydride), nitrocellulose.

[0023] To achieve high opacity, it is particularly advantageous if the layers of the overall coating consist of long-chain, especially high-molecular-weight, polymers. However, to achieve a clean, uniform finish, it is preferable if the layers of the overall coating consist of short-chain, especially low-molecular-weight, polymers. To combine both advantages, it is particularly recommended that the polymers, especially acrylates, acrylate copolymers, polyesters, polyester copolymers, polycarbonates, polycarbonate copolymers, polystyrenes, polystyrene copolymers and / or SMA copolymers, nitrocellulose and / or combinations thereof, of the overall coating have a molar mass in the range of 1000 g / mol to 100,000 g / mol, preferably from 3000 g / mol to 35,000 g / mol.

[0024] Opacity is a measure of the number of defects on a target substrate decorated with a continuous, solid surface. With 100% opacity, no defects or holes appear within this solid surface on the decorated target substrate. The defects can be microscopic, i.e., indistinguishable to the human eye, or macroscopic, i.e., resolvable to the human eye. High opacity of the decoration is achieved, in particular, by a low and homogeneous peel force when separating the entire coating layer from the carrier film. Preferably, the at least one protective coating layer has a thickness in the range of 0.02 pm to 0.8 pm, particularly from 0.03 pm to 0.6 pm, and more preferably from 0.03 pm to 0.54 pm.

[0025] The protective coating layer primarily protects the entire coating layer on a target substrate from mechanical and / or chemical stress. This protective coating layer thus safeguards sensitive layers, such as the decorative layer, especially the metal layer, from external environmental influences. Therefore, the protective coating layer prevents the decorative layers from detaching, at least partially.

[0026] It is preferably possible that at least one protective coating layer is transparent and / or translucent and / or opaque and / or colored and / or at least partially colored and / or crystal clear. It is particularly advantageous if the protective coating layer is transparent. In this case, the underlying decorative layer can be perceived by the viewer without any visual impairment. For example, a colored protective coating layer can be used to complement or enhance an optical effect created by the underlying decorative layer.

[0027] It is also possible that at least one decorative layer has at least one layer that generates an optically variable effect.

[0028] In particular, it is provided that at least one decorative layer has at least one replicating lacquer layer with a surface structure molded into the at least one replicating lacquer layer, in particular selected from: diffractive surface structure, refractive surface structure, lens structure, matte structure, blaze grid. Diffractive and / or refractive relief structures, which are formed in particular in a transparent lacquer layer or replicating lacquer layer, can achieve different optical effects, so-called optically variable effects, depending on the viewing angle, such as holograms, three-dimensional representations with viewing-angle-dependent kinematic effects, etc.

[0029] To improve the visibility of relief structures, these are usually arranged adjacent to a highly reflective metallic layer and / or adjacent to a dielectric HRI layer (HRI = High Refractive Index) with a comparatively high to very high refractive index, particularly made of a metal oxide. Preferably, such a highly reflective layer and / or a dielectric HRI layer (HRI = High Refractive Index) with a comparatively high to very high refractive index is formed over the entire surface or in a patterned form.

[0030] Preferably, the at least one decorative layer may have at least one reflective layer, in particular at least one reflective layer shaped in a pattern representing initial information. The reflective layer may preferably be provided or applied over the entire surface.

[0031] Preferably, the at least one reflective layer comprises at least one metal layer and / or at least one dielectric layer.

[0032] Preferably, the at least one metal layer comprises a material or a combination of materials selected from: aluminium, silver, gold, copper, nickel, chromium, indium and / or an alloy comprising at least two of these metals.

[0033] In particular, it is possible that the at least one dielectric layer comprises a material or a material combination selected from: metal oxide, polymer, lacquer and / or HRI material, in particular MgO, TiOn, Al2O3, ZnO, ZnS and / or SiOn, wherein the variable n is preferably in the range of greater than or equal to 0 to less than or equal to 3.

[0034] It is specifically intended that at least one decorative layer also includes an HRI material (HRI = High Refractive Index) that is particularly transparent to radiation for at least some parts of the spectrum in the UV range, such as CdSe, CeTe, Ge, HfC , PbTe, Si, Te, TiCI or ZnTe.

[0035] Preferably, the at least one decorative layer has a thickness in the range of 8 nm to 500 nm, more preferably from 8 nm to 60 nm, and particularly preferably from 10 nm to 30 nm. To achieve the desired high UV transmittance of the decorative film when using a UV adhesive as a cold adhesive, even with a decorative layer in the form of a metal layer, it is particularly preferred if the metal layer has a thickness of only 8 nm to 60 nm, more preferably from 10 nm to 30 nm. This achieves good visibility and decorative effect of the metal layer in combination with high transmittance for UV radiation, particularly with an optical density (OD) of approximately 1.2 to 1.5.

[0036] To achieve sufficient curing of a UV adhesive, the decorative film must have a UV transmittance of 5% to 70%, and specifically 10% to 40%, in the wavelength range of 250 nm to 400 nm. This enables particularly rapid and, above all, sufficient curing of a cold adhesive based on a UV-curing adhesive on the target substrate, further improving the adhesion of the entire coating layer to the target substrate. Only with a sufficiently high irradiation level will the UV-curing adhesive fully crosslink and harden, achieving high adhesive strength and reliably preventing the coating layers from detaching from the target substrate. The determining factor for the UV transmittance of a decorative film is the layer with the lowest UV transmittance of all the existing layers.

[0037] It is also preferably possible that at least one decorative layer of the at least one decorative layer has at least one patterned color layer in the form of a second piece of information.

[0038] In particular, at least one decorative layer of the at least one decorative layer has at least one thin-film layer element for generating a viewing angle-dependent color shift effect.

[0039] Furthermore, it is also preferably provided that the at least one decorative layer is designed with optically variable pigments, luminescent substances, magnetic or electrically conductive substances, a colored lacquer layer, a thin film stack with viewing angle-dependent interference color effect, a liquid crystal layer, or a combination of the aforementioned layers comprising metallic layers, dielectric layers, etc.

[0040] Preferably, the at least one decorative layer can comprise several individual layers. These preferably include all the aforementioned layers, such as one or more metal layers, one or more dielectric layers, one or more color layers, one or more replication lacquer layers, and / or one or more thin-film layers.

[0041] It is preferably provided that the at least one primer layer has a thickness in the range of 0.01 pm to 0.5 pm, particularly preferably from 0.05 pm to 0.2 pm, and especially preferably from 0.05 pm to 0.09 pm.

[0042] In particular, at least one primer layer is transparent and / or translucent and / or opaque and / or colored and / or at least partially colored and / or crystal clear. Especially when at least one primer layer is at least partially colored or colored, the contrast to the target substrate is enhanced, resulting in a particularly high-quality optical impression or effect.

[0043] It is further preferably provided that the at least one primer layer has a surface roughness in the range of 100 nm to 200 nm, preferably from 120 nm to 160 nm. The surface roughness is determined, among other things, by the application method and the formulation of the primer layer. It has been found that a lower surface roughness, but surprisingly also a higher surface roughness of the primer layer, leads to a reduction in the achievable adhesion between a cold adhesive and the transfer layer or the total paint layer. The surface roughness of the primer layer was determined by interference microscopy.

[0044] Furthermore, it is possible, for example, for the overall paint layer to comprise several primer layers that differ in their chemical and / or physical properties, thus ensuring optimal adhesion to the adjacent layers. For instance, it is possible to achieve optimal adhesion on one side towards at least one decorative layer and on the other side towards at least one adhesive layer.

[0045] Particularly strong adhesion is achieved between the total coating layer and the target substrate. When using a conventionally drying cold adhesive, the adhesion test was successful after just a few minutes, while with a UV adhesive, the test was successful immediately after irradiation with UV light. Over 90% of the total coating layer remained on the target substrate. A test sample in the form of a target substrate with the total coating layer applied to it was placed in a ZwickRoell GmbH & Co. KG Z005 material testing machine. A 13 to 16 cm long strip of Tesa brand Tesa tape, type 4104, with a width of 19 mm, was applied to the test sample, so that approximately 5 to 7 cm of the tape extended beyond the edge of the target substrate.The adhesive tape was then pressed down three to four times with the thumb and finally peeled off the test sample at a 90° angle and a speed of 500 mm / min. The test was considered passed if 90% of the total paint layer remained on the target substrate.

[0046] It is preferably provided that the at least one adhesive layer is designed as an adhesive pattern and at least partially or completely covers the other layers of the overall coating. If the decorative foil is designed as a hot stamping foil, the at least one adhesive layer is particularly part of the overall coating and preferably fully formed or applied. Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible that a thermoplastic adhesive layer is not part of the overall coating and is preferably partially formed or applied as an adhesive pattern, particularly on the target substrate. If the decorative foil is designed as a cold stamping foil, the at least one adhesive layer is not part of the overall coating and is preferably partially formed or applied as an adhesive pattern, particularly on the target substrate.

[0047] In particular, it is provided that the adhesive image comprises at least one of the following design elements or a combination thereof: alphanumeric character, lettering, symbol, microtext, image, photograph, logo, portrait, pictogram, pattern, in particular continuous pattern, grid, in particular periodic grid, amplitude-modulated grid, dot grid, line grid, motif. It is also preferably possible that at least one adhesive layer is formed from a hot-melt adhesive and / or a thermoplastic adhesive and / or a cold-curing adhesive and / or a radiation-curable adhesive, in particular an adhesive curable by electromagnetic radiation and / or electron radiation and / or by UV radiation, and / or an oxidatively curing adhesive. The adhesive layer can be formed from a low-migration adhesive (LMI and / or MGA adhesive, LMI = low migration, MGA = low migration).

[0048] Preferably, it is provided that when decorating a target substrate, a target value deviation of the total paint layer decorated on the target substrate, relative to an adhesive image applied to the target substrate, lies in a range of -40% to +40%, in particular from -10% to +40%, preferably from 0% to +30%, particularly preferably from 0% to +20%, and more preferably from 0% to +10%.

[0049] Furthermore, it may also be possible that, when decorating a target substrate, a target value deviation of the total paint layer decorated on the target substrate, relative to an adhesive pattern applied to the target substrate, wherein the adhesive pattern is selected from at least one of the grid fields 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% and / or 100%, lies in a range of -40% to +40%, in particular from -10% to +40%, preferably from 0% to +30%, particularly preferably from 0% to +20%, and more preferably from 0% to +10%.

[0050] The target value deviation is a relative measure used to determine the area coverage of an adhesive dot or image. The adhesive dot or image itself serves as the target value. Ideally, the area of ​​the adhesive dot or image should be 100% covered with the total coating. In this case, the target value deviation is 0%. If the coverage of the total coating on the adhesive dot or image is less than the area of ​​the adhesive dot or image itself, the target value deviation is negative. This is also referred to as under-decoration. If the coverage of the total coating on the adhesive dot or image is greater than the area of ​​the adhesive dot or image itself, the target value deviation is positive. This is also referred to as over-decoration. Generally, under-decoration should be avoided, as it is more visually noticeable to the viewer.Over-decoration, on the other hand, is harder for the viewer to detect with the naked eye. Only when the deviation from the target value exceeds approximately 40% does the so-called "smearing" occur. In this case, certain details may no longer be recognizable by the decoration, as, for example, adjacent adhesive dots are so heavily over-decorated that they are perceived by the viewer as a single, large, decorated adhesive dot.

[0051] The target value deviations were determined in comparative tests, which are described in detail in connection with Figures 9 to 11.

[0052] The specified deviations from the target values ​​represent a significant improvement over the prior art, as over-decoration either does not occur at all or only to an acceptable degree, which is not visually perceptible to the observer. This improvement in the deviation from the target value is attributable to the combination of the thickness of the carrier film in a range of 1.0 pm to 10.0 pm, particularly from 3.0 pm to 10 pm, preferably from 3.0 pm to 6 pm, and the thickness of the total lacquer layer in a range of 0.4 pm to 0.95 pm, particularly from 0.5 pm to 0.9 pm, preferably from 0.5 pm to 0.7 pm.These two parameters ensure that, firstly, the distance between the separation plane between the overall paint layer and the carrier film and the imaginary center plane of the decorative film, the so-called "neutral fiber," is reduced, thus resulting in lower forces when the carrier film is removed from the overall paint layer. Secondly, due to the "thin" overall paint layer, lower forces act within the individual layers of the overall paint layer when the carrier film is removed. These two reduced forces result in a clean and sharply defined decoration.

[0053] In particular, it is preferably provided that the total paint layer in step b) has at least a release layer and / or at least a protective paint layer and / or at least a decorative layer and / or at least a primer layer and / or at least an adhesive layer and / or at least a paint layer.

[0054] Preferably, in step b), the at least one release layer and / or the at least one protective coating layer and / or the at least one decorative layer and / or the at least one primer layer and / or the at least one adhesive layer and / or the at least one color layer is applied by a process, individually or in combination, selected from: gravure printing, screen printing, letterpress printing, pad printing, inkjet printing, xerographic processes, offset printing, flexographic printing, casting techniques. If the at least one decorative layer is designed as a metal layer, it can also be applied by evaporation in a vacuum and / or sputtering and / or CVD (chemical vapor deposition) and / or PVD (physical vapor deposition).Provided that at least one decorative layer is formed as a metal pigment layer, it can also be applied using methods selected individually or in combination from: gravure printing, screen printing, letterpress printing, pad printing, inkjet printing, offset printing, flexographic printing, casting techniques.

[0055] In particular, it may also be provided that step b) further includes the following step and / or that the following step is carried out after step b): c) Applying at least one adhesive layer in such a way that the at least one adhesive layer is designed as an adhesive pattern and covers the total paint layer at least partially or completely.

[0056] It is also possible that in step c) at least one adhesive layer is applied as a hot melt adhesive, a thermoplastic adhesive, a cold adhesive, a radiation-curable adhesive, in particular an adhesive curable by means of electromagnetic radiation and / or electron radiation and / or by means of UV radiation, or an oxidatively curing adhesive and / or a low-migration adhesive.

[0057] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the adhesive image in step c) comprises at least one of the following design elements or a combination of the following design elements: Alphanumeric character, character, symbol, microtext, image, photo, logo, portrait, pictogram, pattern, in particular continuous pattern, grid, in particular periodic grid, amplitude-modulated grid, dot grid, line grid, motif.

[0058] It may also be provided that the following step is carried out before step f): g) applying at least one adhesive layer to the decorative film in such a way that the at least one adhesive layer is applied as an adhesive image, and / or applying at least one adhesive layer to the target substrate in such a way that the at least one adhesive layer is applied as an adhesive image.

[0059] In particular, it is provided that the adhesive image in step g) includes at least one of the following design elements or a combination of the following design elements: alphanumeric character, character, symbol, microtext, image, photo, logo, portrait, pictogram, pattern, in particular continuous pattern, grid, in particular periodic grid, amplitude-modulated grid, dot grid, line grid, motif.

[0060] It is also possible that the at least one adhesive layer in step g) is formed from a hot-melt adhesive, a thermoplastic adhesive, a cold-curing adhesive, a radiation-curable adhesive, in particular an adhesive curable by electromagnetic radiation and / or electron radiation and / or by UV radiation, and / or an oxidatively curing adhesive. The adhesive layer may be formed from a low-migration adhesive.

[0061] Preferably, in step g) the at least one adhesive layer is applied using a method selected individually or in combination from: gravure printing, screen printing, letterpress printing, pad printing, inkjet printing, xerographic processes, offset printing, flexographic printing, casting techniques.

[0062] Furthermore, it is possible that the adhesive image is decorated by the overall paint layer and / or that the area surrounding the adhesive image is not decorated by the overall paint layer.

[0063] In particular, it is provided that after step f), the following step is carried out: h) peeling off the carrier film from the overall lacquer layer, wherein the peeling angle between the carrier film and the overall lacquer layer is in a range of 0° to 120°, preferably from 0° to 90°. When the carrier film is peeled off, the overall lacquer layer remains on the target substrate in the areas where the adhesive image is applied, and in the areas where the adhesive image is not applied, the overall lacquer layer remains on the carrier film. Ideally, the overall lacquer layer breaks at the edges of the adhesive image, resulting in a clean decoration of the adhesive image. It may also be possible that at least one color layer is applied to at least one surface of the overall lacquer layer after step h), such that the adhesive force between the at least one color layer and the overall lacquer layer is at least 25 cN, preferably at least 30 cN.

[0064] Furthermore, it is possible that a target value deviation of the decoration of the total lacquer layer with respect to the adhesive image lies in a range of -40% to +40%, in particular from -10% to +40%, preferably from 0% to +30%, particularly preferably from 0% to +20%, and more preferably from 0% to +10%.

[0065] In particular, it is provided that the target value deviation of the decoration of the overall paint layer with respect to the adhesive pattern, wherein the adhesive pattern is selected from at least one of the grid fields 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% and / or 100%, lies in a range of -40% to +40%, in particular from -10% to +40%, preferably from 0% to +30%, particularly preferably from 0% to +20%, and more preferably from 0% to +10%.

[0066] In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained with the aid of the enclosed figures, which are not to scale.

[0067] Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of a decorative foil;

[0068] Fig. 2 shows another sectional view of a decorative foil;

[0069] Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of a target substrate, with at least one adhesive layer applied to the target substrate; Fig. 4 shows a sectional view of a decorated target substrate;

[0070] Fig. 5 shows another sectional view of a decorated target substrate;

[0071] Fig. 6 shows a schematic representation of a method for producing a decorative foil;

[0072] Fig. 7 shows a schematic representation of a method for decorating a target substrate;

[0073] Fig. 8 shows a schematic representation of a method for decorating a target substrate;

[0074] Fig. 9 shows a diagram of the target value deviation based on the adhesive pattern for 4.5 pm carrier film thickness and different total paint layer thicknesses;

[0075] Fig. 10 shows a diagram of the target value deviation related to the adhesive pattern for 6 pm carrier film thickness and different total paint layer thicknesses;

[0076] Fig. 11 shows a diagram of the target value deviation based on the adhesive pattern for 10 pm carrier film thickness and different total paint layer thicknesses.

[0077] The figures illustrate different embodiments of the invention. Identical or similarly functioning components are designated with the same reference symbols. Where the embodiments shown in the figures have similarities, these similarities are not described repeatedly to avoid repetition. The respective differences between the embodiments are described in relation to the figures. It is understood that, within the scope of protection of the claims, a person skilled in the art may modify individual embodiments or combine individual features of these embodiments.

[0078] Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of a decorative foil 1, in particular a cold stamping foil or hot stamping foil, for decorating a target substrate 40, comprising a carrier foil 10 and a composite lacquer layer 20 removable from the carrier foil 10, wherein the carrier foil 10 has a thickness in the range of 1.0 pm to 10.0 pm, in particular from 3.0 pm to 10 pm, preferably from 3.0 pm to 6.0 pm, and wherein the composite lacquer layer 20 has a thickness in the range of 0.4 pm to 0.95 pm, in particular from 0.5 pm to 0.9 pm, and in particular from 0.5 pm to 0.7 pm. In an advantageous embodiment, the carrier foil 10 of the decorative foil 1 has a thickness in the range of 3.0 pm to 10 pm. It is also advantageous that the carrier foil 10 of the decorative foil 1 has a thickness in the range of 3.0 pm to 6 pm.By selecting the thickness of the carrier film 10 in the range of 1.0 pm to 10.0 pm, in particular from 3.0 pm to 10.0 pm, preferably from 3.0 pm to 6.0 pm, in combination with a thickness of the total lacquer layer 20 of 0.4 pm to 0.95 pm, in particular from 0.5 pm to 0.9 pm, in particular from 0.5 pm to 0.7 pm, an extremely clean appearance is advantageously achieved on an adhesive image 30 of a target substrate 40, with only minor over-decorations occurring, which are preferably not perceptible to an observer without aids.

[0079] This effect is due, firstly, to the fact that the distance X between a separation plane T between the total coating layer 20 and the carrier film 10 and an imaginary center plane of the decorative film 1, the so-called "neutral fiber" F of the decorative film 1, i.e., the composite of carrier film 10 and total coating layer 20, is reduced, thus resulting in lower forces acting on it. Secondly, due to the "thinner" total coating layer 20 compared to the prior art, lower forces act within the individual layers of the total coating layer 20. These two reductions in forces promote clean imprinting.

[0080] Preferably, the carrier film 10 comprises a material or a material combination selected from: PET, PMMA, PC, PE, PVC, PS, ABS, PU, ​​PBS, PLA, PAN, glass.

[0081] In the decorative film 1 shown in Fig. 1, the overall lacquer layer 20 comprises a release layer 21, a protective lacquer layer 22, a decorative layer 23, and a primer layer 24. However, it is also possible that the overall lacquer layer 20 includes a color layer and / or an adhesive layer 25. Furthermore, it is also possible that one or more of the aforementioned layers are included more frequently, for example, two, three, or four times, in the overall lacquer layer 20.

[0082] In the decorative foil 1 shown in Fig. 1, all layers of the total lacquer layer 20 are formed across the entire surface. However, one or more layers of the total lacquer layer 20 may be patterned, such that these layers comprise at least one of the following design elements or a combination thereof: alphanumeric character, lettering, symbol, microtext, image, photograph, logo, portrait, pictogram, pattern, in particular continuous pattern, grid, in particular periodic grid, amplitude-modulated grid, dot grid, line grid, motif. The individual layers may then preferably also be arranged in register with respect to each other.

[0083] In Fig. 2, the decorative foil 1 is shown with the same structure as shown in Fig. 1, except that an adhesive layer 25 is formed as an adhesive pattern 30 and at least partially covers the overall lacquer layer 20. It is also possible that the adhesive layer 25 completely covers the overall lacquer layer 20.

[0084] In the case of a cold stamping foil, for example, at least one adhesive layer 25 is applied immediately before the application of the decorative foil 1 to a target substrate 40, either to the decorative foil 1 or to the target substrate 40, in particular by means of a process, individually or in combination selected from: gravure printing, screen printing, letterpress printing, pad printing, inkjet printing, xerographic processes, offset printing, flexographic printing, casting techniques.

[0085] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the target substrate 40, wherein a surface with at least one adhesive layer 25 in the form of an adhesive pattern 30 is applied. Here, preferably, a surface of the target substrate 40 is at least partially covered by the at least one adhesive layer 25.

[0086] For this embodiment, a decorated target substrate 40 is shown in a sectional view in Fig. 4. In particular, at least one adhesive layer 25 in the form of an adhesive image 30 is applied to the target substrate 40, such that preferably a surface of the target substrate 40 is at least partially covered. Furthermore, the decorated target substrate 40 according to Fig. 4 comprises, in the areas where the at least one adhesive layer 25 is applied, a total lacquer layer 20 of the decorative film 1, wherein the carrier film 10 has already been removed from the decorative film 1. Preferably, it can also be provided that the carrier film 10 remains on the decorative film 1.

[0087] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the release layer 21 is transferred to the target substrate 40 and does not remain, or only partially remains, on the carrier film 10. In this case, the release layer 21 is preferably part of the transferred total coating layer 20. In an alternative embodiment not shown in detail, it is also possible that the release layer 21 remains on the peeled-off carrier film 10 or that only very small areas of the release layer 21 are transferred to the target substrate 40. In this case, the release layer 21 is preferably not part of the transferred total coating layer 20.

[0088] Furthermore, the total lacquer layer 20 according to Fig. 4 comprises a peel layer 21, a protective lacquer layer 22, a decorative layer 23 and a primer layer 24.

[0089] Figure 5 shows a further decorated target substrate 40 in cross-sectional view. In the embodiment according to Figure 5, the at least one adhesive layer 25 completely covers a surface of the target substrate 40. This means that the total coating layer 20 is transferred to the target substrate 40 over its entire surface. Furthermore, the total coating layer 20 according to Figure 5 comprises a release layer 21, a protective coating layer 22, a decorative layer 23, and a primer layer 24.

[0090] Figure 6 shows a schematic representation of a method for producing a decorative film 1, wherein the method comprises the following steps, which are carried out in particular in the following sequence: a) providing a carrier film 10, wherein the carrier film 10 has a thickness in the range of 1.0 pm to 10.0 pm, in particular from 3.0 pm to 10 pm, preferably from 3.0 pm to 6 pm; b) applying a total lacquer layer 20 at least partially or completely to at least one surface of the carrier film 10, wherein the total lacquer layer 20 has a thickness in the range of 0.4 pm to 0.95 pm, in particular from 0.5 pm to 0.9 pm, in particular from 0.5 pm to 0.7 pm.

[0091] Preferably, the total lacquer layer 20 in step b) comprises at least a peelable layer 21 and / or at least a protective lacquer layer 22 and / or at least a decorative layer 23 and / or at least a primer layer 24 and / or at least an adhesive layer 25 and / or at least a paint layer.

[0092] It may be provided that in step b) at least one release layer 21 and / or at least one protective varnish layer 22 and / or at least one decorative layer 23 and / or at least one primer layer 24 and / or at least one adhesive layer 25 and / or at least one color layer is applied by means of a process, individually or in combination, selected from: gravure printing, screen printing, letterpress printing, pad printing, inkjet printing, xerographic processes, offset printing, flexographic printing, casting techniques.

[0093] It is also possible that step b) further includes the following step and / or that the following step is carried out after step b): c) Applying at least one adhesive layer 25 such that the at least one adhesive layer 25 is designed as an adhesive pattern 30 and at least partially or completely covers the other layers of the total paint layer 20.

[0094] It is also possible, in particular, that in step c) the at least one adhesive layer 25 is applied as a hot-melt adhesive, a thermoplastic adhesive, a cold-curing adhesive, a radiation-curable adhesive, in particular an adhesive curable by electromagnetic radiation and / or electron radiation and / or by UV radiation, or an oxidatively curing adhesive. The adhesive layer 25 can be made of a low-migration adhesive.

[0095] Preferably, the adhesive image 30 comprises at least one of the following design elements or a combination of the following design elements: alphanumeric character, character, symbol, microtext, image, photo, logo, portrait, pictogram, pattern, in particular continuous pattern, grid, in particular periodic grid, amplitude-modulated grid, dot grid, line grid, motif.

[0096] Figure 7 schematically illustrates a method for decorating a target substrate 40, wherein the method comprises the following steps, which are carried out in particular in the following order: d) providing a decorative film 1; e) providing a target substrate 40; f) applying the decorative film 1 to the target substrate 40.

[0097] The application in step f) is preferably carried out by cold stamping. At least one adhesive layer 25 in the form of an adhesive image 30, as shown in Fig. 2 or Fig. 3, is applied either to the decorative foil 1 or to the target substrate 40. The decorative foil 1 is then pressed against the target substrate 40 in a stamping unit of a stamping device. The at least one adhesive layer 25 is then cured, preferably by UV radiation, and the carrier film 10 is removed.

[0098] As schematically shown in Fig. 8, it is particularly provided that the following step is carried out before step f): g) applying at least one adhesive layer 25 to the decorative film 1 such that the at least one adhesive layer 25 is applied as an adhesive image 30, and / or applying at least one adhesive layer 25 to the target substrate 40 such that the at least one adhesive layer 25 is applied as an adhesive image 30.

[0099] Preferably, the at least one adhesive layer 25 in step g) is formed from a hot-melt adhesive, a thermoplastic adhesive, a cold-curing adhesive, a radiation-curable adhesive, in particular an adhesive curable by electromagnetic radiation and / or electron radiation and / or by UV radiation, and / or an oxidatively curing adhesive. The adhesive layer 25 can be formed from a low-migration adhesive.

[0100] Furthermore, it is possible that in step g) at least one adhesive layer 25 is applied by means of a process selected individually or in combination from: gravure printing, screen printing, letterpress printing, pad printing, inkjet printing, xerographic processes, offset printing, flexographic printing, casting techniques.

[0101] Preferably, the adhesive image 30 is decorated by the total lacquer layer 20 and / or the area surrounding the adhesive image 30 is not decorated by the total lacquer layer 20.

[0102] Alternatively, the decorative foil 1 can also be designed as a hot stamping foil. In this case, the decorative foil 1 already has at least one adhesive layer 25, preferably a thermoplastic adhesive, on an outer surface. Using a heated stamping die, the decorative foil 1 is then pressed onto the target substrate 40 in the shape of the die. The adhesive of the at least one adhesive layer 25 is thermally activated by the stamping die, and finally, the decorative foil 1 is applied to the target substrate 40 following the shape and contour of the stamping die. When the decorative foil 1 is designed as a hot stamping foil, it is also possible that a thermoplastic adhesive layer is not part of the overall lacquer layer 20 and is preferably formed or applied partially as an adhesive image, in particular on the target substrate 40.

[0103] In particular, it is provided that after step f), the following step is carried out: h) peeling the carrier film 10 from the overall lacquer layer 20, wherein the peeling angle between the carrier film 10 and the overall lacquer layer 20 lies in a range of 0° to 120°, preferably from 0° to 90°. It can also be provided that the overall lacquer layer 20 is overprinted after application to the target substrate 40, for example with a color layer, in order to enhance the generated optical effect or, for example, to apply colored motifs in addition to the film decoration. In particular, it can be provided that at least one color layer is applied to at least one surface of the overall lacquer layer 20 after step h), such that the adhesive force between the at least one color layer and the overall lacquer layer 20 is at least 25 cN, preferably at least 30 cN.Such adhesive forces ensure that the paint layer has sufficient adhesion to the overall paint layer 20 and cannot be easily removed.

[0104] Figure 9 shows the target value deviation with respect to adhesive pattern 30 for a carrier film thickness of 4.5 pm and different total lacquer layer thicknesses in a diagram. Similarly, Figure 10 shows the target value deviation for a carrier film thickness of 6 pm and Figure 11 for a carrier film thickness of 10 pm.

[0105] The same total lacquer layer thicknesses were selected for each diagram, namely 0.5 pm, 0.7 pm, 1.2 pm, and 2.1 pm. The total lacquer layer thicknesses of 0.5 pm and 0.7 pm correspond to those of a decorative foil 1 according to the invention and are represented by a solid line. The total lacquer layer thicknesses of 1.2 pm and 2.1 pm represent comparative tests and are shown with dashed lines.

[0106] For the production of the test films, a release layer 21, two protective lacquer layers 22, a decorative layer 23 in the form of a metal layer, and a primer layer 24 were applied to the various carrier films 10 (4.5 pm, 6 pm, and 10 pm) in the order mentioned. The metal layer is a 20 nm thick aluminum layer in all test films. The release layer 21 also has a constant thickness of 0.006 pm for all test films.

[0107] To achieve the various total paint layer thicknesses of 0.5 pm, 0.7 pm, 1.2 pm, and 2.1 pm, the thicknesses of the protective coating layers 22 and the primer layer 24 were each adjusted proportionally to the respective thickness of the total paint layer 20. Values ​​between 0.05 pm and 0.26 pm were chosen for the primer layer thickness, specifically 0.05 pm for a total paint layer thickness of 0.5 pm, 0.09 pm for a total paint layer thickness of 0.7 pm, 0.17 pm for a total paint layer thickness of 1.2 pm, and 0.26 pm for a total paint layer thickness of 2.1 pm.

[0108] Subsequently, at least one adhesive layer 25, in the form of an adhesive image 30, was applied to the target substrate 40 in the printing unit of a ManRoland 700 offset printing press (Manroland B700A_B1_201, manufactured in 2014, serial number 33709 B) using a Vinfoil Optima Foiling Unit (Vinfoil Optimal SF110MF, serial number VF088) in sheetfed offset printing at a rate of 8000 sheets / hour. The adhesive image 30 consists of several adjacent halftone fields. Halftone fields with coverage of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100% were used, where 100% corresponds to a solid area. For example, in the 10% grid cell, a defined area is covered with adhesive dots such that 10% of the defined area is covered with adhesive dots. This applies analogously to the other grid cells.

[0109] Afterwards, in the embossing plant, the entire lacquer layer 20 without the release layer 21 was transferred via a winding and unwinding unit.

[0110] The cleanliness and opacity of the design or decoration are typically assessed visually by a human observer using a thread counter. However, since this is a purely subjective perception, the cleanliness and opacity of the design or decoration were quantified for better evaluation. For this purpose, a target substrate 40, covered only with adhesive image 30, was first scanned at high resolution as a reference value. The adhesive of the adhesive image appears gray in the scan. Ideally, all adhesive dots of adhesive image 30 should be exactly or congruently with the total lacquer layer 20 of the decorative film 1. Adhesive image 30 itself thus serves as the "target value." Furthermore, all target substrates 40 decorated with the different decorative films were also scanned at high resolution. Due to the reflection of the metal layer used, the decorated areas appear "black" in the scan.Using scientific image analysis software, the actual area coverage of the total lacquer layer 20 on the target substrate 40 was determined in comparison to the reference, namely the printed adhesive image 30. First, the covered area of ​​the pure adhesive image 30 on the target substrate 40 was determined by selecting the adhesive dots using tonal separation. Subsequently, the area of ​​the total lacquer layer 20 applied to the target substrate 40 was determined using tonal separation, and the deviation from the target value compared to the pure adhesive image 30 was calculated. A positive deviation from the target value indicates over-decoration, and a negative deviation indicates under-decoration. In under-decoration, an adhesive dot is not completely covered with the total lacquer layer 20. In over-decoration, on the other hand, an adhesive dot is covered with a larger area of ​​the total lacquer layer 20 than the adhesive dot itself is in size.The determined target value deviations were then plotted accordingly over the grid fields in the diagrams according to Figs. 9 to 11.

[0111] In the diagrams shown in Figures 9 to 11, the target value forms the x-

[0112] axis. That is, the target value corresponds to one axis for all grid cells.

[0113] Target deviation of 0%. The target deviation is plotted on the y-axis in %. Generally speaking, the closer the curve is to the x-axis, the more precise the decoration.

[0114] As mentioned above, Figure 9 shows the curves of the target value deviation for various total lacquer layer thicknesses, each with a constant carrier film thickness of 4.5 pm. The two dashed lines represent the comparison tests and show a target value deviation of more than +20% for all grid cells. This results in over-decoration. In particular, over-decoration with a target value deviation of more than 30% occurs in grid cells 10% to 60%. In grid cell 80%, over-decoration with a target value deviation of more than 60% occurs for a total lacquer layer thickness of 2.5 pm. The viewer would perceive a "smearing" of the motif or the adhesive pattern, and the contours would no longer be clearly identifiable. The two solid lines show the total lacquer layer thicknesses of 0.5 pm and 0.7 pm according to the invention.Here, across all grid cells, lower target value deviations are achieved compared to the control tests. For grid cells 70% to 100%, the two curves run very close to the x-axis. Target value deviations of less than +10% occur in this range. The target value deviation is also significantly lower for grid cells 10% to 60% compared to the control tests.

[0115] As mentioned above, Figure 10 shows the curves of the target value deviation for various total lacquer layer thicknesses, each with a constant carrier film thickness of 6 pm. The two dashed lines represent the comparative tests and show a target value deviation of more than +20% for the 20% to 60% grid areas. For the total lacquer layer thickness of 2.5 pm, the target value deviation for the 10% to 90% grid areas is even in the range of +40% to +60%. Over-decoration occurs there, leading to a smearing of the adhesive image 30. For the total lacquer layer thicknesses of 0.5 pm and 0.7 pm according to the invention, the target value deviation for all grid areas is always less than +20%. In the 70% to 100% grid areas, an almost ideal result is achieved.

[0116] As mentioned above, Figure 11 shows the curves of the target value deviation for various total coating thicknesses, each with a constant carrier film thickness of 10 pm. The two dashed lines represent the comparative tests and show a target value deviation of more than +20% for the 20% to 90% grid cells. For the 10% grid cell, underdecoration occurs for all total coating thicknesses (negative target value deviation). For the total coating thicknesses of 0.5 pm and 0.7 pm (solid line), underdecoration occurs in the 10% and 20% grid cells, respectively. However, for the 30% to 100% grid cells, the two curves with total coating thicknesses of 0.5 pm and 0.7 pm run almost along the x-axis. Therefore, it can be said that the target value is achieved almost ideally in these cases.

[0117] As shown in the diagrams in Figures 9 to 11, a cleaner embossing and better opacity can be achieved with the decorative foil 1 according to the invention. Significantly less over-decoration occurs, and for the most part, the target value is almost perfectly reproduced. Thus, with the decorative foil 1 according to the invention, very fine details as well as solid surfaces can be decorated with sharp edges and cleanly using one and the same decorative foil 1. An observer perceives a high-quality embossing result without smearing on target substrates 40 decorated with the decorative foil 1 according to the invention.

[0118] The improved quality of the decorative film 1 according to the invention is due, among other things, to the thinner overall paint layer thickness and the lower forces occurring between the individual layers of the overall paint layer 20 when the carrier film 10 is removed from the overall paint layer 20. In particular, it is provided that, when decorating a target substrate 40, the deviation of the overall paint layer 20 decorated on the target substrate 40 from an adhesive image 30 applied to the target substrate 40 is in a range of -40% to +40%, particularly -10% to +40%, preferably 0% to +30%, most preferably 0% to +20%, and more preferably 0% to +10%.

[0119] It is also possible that when decorating a target substrate 40, a deviation from the target value of the substrate decorated on the target substrate 40 may occur.

[0120] Total lacquer layer 20 based on an adhesive pattern 30 applied to the target substrate 40, wherein the adhesive pattern 30 is selected from at least one of the grid fields 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% and / or 100%, in a range of -40% to +40%, in particular from -10% to +40%, preferably from 0% to +30%, particularly preferably from 0% to +20%, further preferably from 0% to +10%.

[0121] Reference symbol list

[0122] 1 decorative foil

[0123] 10 carrier film

[0124] 20 Total paint layer

[0125] 21. Delamination layer

[0126] 22 Protective coating layer

[0127] 23 decorative layer

[0128] 24 primer coats

[0129] 25 adhesive layers

[0130] 30 sticker images

[0131] 40 Target substrate

[0132] F “Neutral fiber”

[0133] T Separation plane

[0134] X Distance between “Neutral Fiber” F and

[0135] Separation plane X

Claims

LEONHARD KURZ Stiftung & Co. KG, Schwabacher Str. 482, 90763 Fürth, Germany; Claims 1. Decorative foil (1), in particular cold stamping foil or hot stamping foil, for decorating a target substrate (40), comprising a carrier foil (10) and a total lacquer layer (20) removable from the carrier foil (10), wherein the carrier foil (10) has a thickness in the range of 1.0 pm to 10.0 pm, in particular from 3.0 pm to 10 pm, preferably from 3.0 pm to 6 pm, characterized in that the total lacquer layer (20) has a thickness in the range of 0.4 pm to 0.95 pm, in particular from 0.5 pm to 0.9 pm, in particular from 0.5 pm to 0.7 pm.

2. Decorative film (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier film (10) comprises a material or a material combination selected from: PET, PMMA, PC, PE, PVC, PS, ABS, PU, ​​PBS, PLA, PAN, glass.

3. Decorative film (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the total lacquer layer (20) comprises at least one release layer (21) and / or at least one protective lacquer layer (22) and / or at least one decorative layer (23) and / or at least one primer layer (24) and / or has at least one adhesive layer (25) and / or at least one paint layer.

4. Decorative film (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one release layer (21) comprises a material or a material combination selected from: waxes, silicones, polyurethanes and / or polymers, preferably acrylates, acrylate copolymer, polyesters, polyester copolymers, polystyrenes, polystyrene copolymers, polycarbonates, polycarbonate copolymers, nitrocellulose.

5. Decorative film (1 ) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the at least one release layer (21 ) has a thickness in the range of 0.001 pm to 0.50 pm, preferably from 0.006 pm to 0.01 pm.

6. Decorative film (1) according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the at least one protective lacquer layer (22) comprises a material or a material combination selected from: polymers, in particular acrylates, acrylate copolymers, polyesters, polyester copolymers, polystyrenes, polystyrene copolymers, polycarbonates, polycarbonate copolymers and / or SMA copolymers, nitrocellulose.

7. Decorative film (1 ) according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the at least one protective lacquer layer (22) has a thickness in the range of 0.02 pm to 0.8 pm, in particular from 0.03 pm to 0.6 pm, preferably from 0.03 pm to 0.54 pm.

8. Decorative film (1) according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the at least one decorative layer (23) has at least one layer generating an optically variable effect.

9. Decorative film (1) according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that at least one decorative layer (23) has at least one replicating lacquer layer with a surface structure molded in the at least one replicating lacquer layer, in particular selected from: diffractive surface structure, refractive surface structure, lens structure, matte structure and / or blaze grid.

10. Decorative film (1 ) according to one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that the at least one decorative layer (23) has at least one reflective layer, in particular at least one reflective layer shaped in a pattern in the form of first information.

11. Decorative foil (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the at least one reflective layer comprises at least one metal layer and / or at least one dielectric layer.

12. Decorative film (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the at least one metal layer is a material or a The material combination comprises, selected from: aluminum, silver, gold, copper, nickel, chromium, indium and / or an alloy comprising at least two of these metals.

13. Decorative film (1) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the at least one dielectric layer comprises a material or a material combination selected from: metal oxide, polymer, lacquer and / or HRI material, in particular MgO, TiOn, Al2O3, ZnO, ZnS and / or SiOn, wherein the variable n is preferably in the range of greater than or equal to 0 to less than or equal to 3.

14. Decorative film (1 ) according to one of claims 3 to 13, characterized in that the at least one decorative layer (23) has a thickness in the range of 8 nm to 500 nm, preferably from 8 nm to 60 nm, particularly preferably from 10 nm to 30 nm.

15. Decorative film (1 ) according to one of claims 3 to 14, characterized in that the at least one primer layer (24) has a thickness in the range of 0.01 pm to 0.5 pm, particularly preferably from 0.05 pm to 0.2 pm, especially preferably from 0.05 pm to 0.09 pm.

16. Decorative film (1 ) according to one of claims 3 to 15, characterized in that the at least one adhesive layer (25) is designed as an adhesive pattern (30) and covers the other layers of the total paint layer (20) at least partially or completely.

17. Decorative film (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that the adhesive image (30) comprises at least one of the following design elements or a combination of the following design elements: alphanumeric character, character, symbol, microtext, image, photo, logo, portrait, pictogram, pattern, in particular continuous pattern, grid, in particular periodic grid, amplitude-modulated grid, dot grid, line grid, motif.

18. Decorative film (1 ) according to one of claims 3 to 17, characterized in that the at least one adhesive layer (25) is formed from a hot melt adhesive and / or a thermoplastic adhesive and / or a cold adhesive and / or a radiation-curable adhesive, in particular an adhesive curable by means of electromagnetic radiation and / or electron radiation and / or by means of UV radiation, and / or an oxidatively curing adhesive.

19. Decorative film (1) according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that when decorating a target substrate (40), a target value deviation of the total lacquer layer (20) decorated on the target substrate (40) with reference to an adhesive image (30) applied to the target substrate (40) lies in a range of -40% to +40%, in particular from -10% to +40%, preferably from 0% to +30%, particularly preferably from 0% to +20%, further preferably from 0% to +10%.

20. Decorative film (1) according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that, when decorating a target substrate (40), a target value deviation of the total lacquer layer (20) decorated on the target substrate (40) is based on an adhesive image (30) applied to the target substrate (40), wherein the adhesive image (30) is selected from at least one of the grid fields 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% and / or 100%, lies in a range of -40% to +40%, in particular from -10% to +40%, preferably from 0% to +30%, particularly preferably from 0% to +20%, further preferably from 0% to +10%.

21. Method for producing a decorative film (1), in particular according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the method comprises the following steps, which are carried out in particular in the following sequence: a) providing a carrier film (10), wherein the carrier film (10) has a thickness in the range of 1.0 pm to 10.0 pm, in particular from 3.0 pm to 10 pm, preferably from 3.0 pm to 6 pm; b) applying a total lacquer layer (20) at least partially or completely to at least one surface of the carrier film (10), wherein the total lacquer layer (20) has a thickness in the range of 0.4 pm to 0.95 pm, in particular from 0.5 pm to 0.9 pm.

22. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that the total lacquer layer (20) in step b) comprises at least one release layer (21) and / or at least one protective lacquer layer (22) and / or at least one decorative layer (23) and / or at least one primer layer (24) and / or at least one adhesive layer (25) and / or at least one color layer.

23. Method according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that in step b) the at least one release layer (21 ) and / or the at least one protective varnish layer (22) and / or the at least one decorative layer (23) and / or the at least one primer layer (24) and / or the at least one adhesive layer (25) and / or the at least one color layer is applied by means of a method, individually or in combination selected from: gravure printing, screen printing, letterpress printing, pad printing, inkjet printing, xerographic processes, offset printing, flexographic printing, casting techniques.

24. Method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, characterized in that step b) further comprises the following step and / or the following step is carried out after step b): c) application of at least one adhesive layer (25) such that the at least one adhesive layer (25) is designed as an adhesive pattern (30) and at least partially or completely covers the other layers of the total lacquer layer (20).

25. Method according to claim 24, characterized in that in step c) the at least one adhesive layer (25) is applied as a hot melt adhesive, a thermoplastic adhesive, a cold adhesive, a radiation-curable adhesive, in particular an adhesive curable by means of electromagnetic radiation and / or electron radiation and / or by means of UV radiation, or an oxidatively curing adhesive.

26. Method according to claim 25, characterized in that the adhesive image (30) in step c) comprises at least one of the following design elements or a combination of the following design elements: alphanumeric character, character, symbol, microtext, image, photo, logo, portrait, pictogram, pattern, in particular continuous pattern, grid, in particular periodic grid, amplitude-modulated grid, dot grid, line grid, motif.

27. Method for decorating a target substrate (40), wherein the method comprises the following steps, which are carried out in particular in the following order: d) providing a decorative film (1 ) according to any one of claims 1 to 20; e) providing a target substrate (40); f) applying the decorative film (1 ) to the target substrate (40).

28. Method according to claim 27, characterized in that the following step is carried out before step f): g) applying at least one adhesive layer (25) to the decorative film (1) such that the at least one adhesive layer (25) is applied as an adhesive image (30), and / or applying at least one adhesive layer (25) to the target substrate (40) such that the at least one adhesive layer (25) is applied as an adhesive image (30).

29. Method according to claim 28, characterized in that the adhesive image (30) in step g) comprises at least one of the following design elements or a combination of the following design elements: alphanumeric character, character, symbol, microtext, image, photo, logo, portrait, pictogram, pattern, in particular continuous pattern, grid, in particular periodic grid, amplitude-modulated grid, dot grid, line grid, motif.

30. Method according to claim 28 or 29, characterized in that the at least one adhesive layer (25) in step g) is formed from a hot melt adhesive, a thermoplastic adhesive, a cold adhesive, a radiation-curable adhesive, in particular an adhesive curable by means of electromagnetic radiation and / or electron radiation and / or by means of UV radiation, and / or an oxidatively curing adhesive.

31. Method according to one of claims 28 to 30, characterized in that that in step g) at least one adhesive layer (25) is applied by means of a process selected individually or in combination from: gravure printing, screen printing, letterpress printing, pad printing, inkjet printing, xerographic processes, offset printing, flexographic printing, casting techniques.

32. Method according to one of claims 28 to 31, characterized in that the adhesive image (30) is decorated by the total lacquer layer (20) and / or the area surrounding the adhesive image (30) is not decorated by the total lacquer layer (20).

33. Method according to one of claims 27 to 32, characterized in that after step f) the following step is further carried out: h) peeling off the carrier film (10) from the total lacquer layer (20), wherein the peeling angle between the carrier film (10) and total lacquer layer (20) is in a range of 0° to 120°, preferably from 0° to 90°.

34. Method according to claim 33, characterized in that at least one color layer is applied to at least one surface of the total lacquer layer (20) after step h), such that the adhesive force between the at least one color layer and the total lacquer layer (20) is at least 25 cN, preferably at least 30 cN.

35. Method according to one of claims 27 to 34, characterized in that a target value deviation of the decoration of the total lacquer layer (20) with respect to the adhesive image (30) is in a range of -40% to +40%, in particular from -10% to +40%, preferably from 0% to +30%. especially preferably from 0% to +20%, further preferably from 0% to +10%.

36. Method according to one of claims 27 to 35, characterized in that the target value deviation of the decoration of the total lacquer layer (20) with respect to the adhesive pattern (30), wherein the adhesive pattern (30) is selected from at least one of the grid fields 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% and / or 100%, lies in a range of -40% to +40%, in particular from -10% to +40%, preferably from 0% to +30%, particularly preferably from 0% to +20%, further preferably from 0% to +10%.

Images