A hologram is a three dimensional image recorded with the use of lasers on a special photographic film or plate.   

When developed and illuminated, the images not only show full dimension, shape and contour but also appear to float in space with remarkable realism.   What you see when you look at a hologram changes with
your angle of vision.

From some angles it may appear to be a mere sheet of glass or silvery paper, but move your head or the hologram and
the surface becomes a windowpane through which a remarkably lifelike and richly detailed three dimensional
image comes into view.

The word hologram is taken from the Greek and means 'whole message* due to the fact that a hologram contains 'all' the visual information contained in an image.

Until recently, industrial and commercial applications of holographic images and optical elements have been limited
by the lack of suitable replication techniques for mass production of an original 'Master' hologram.

This restricted the quality or efficiency of any holographic reproduction, as well as limited the surface upon which the hologram could be reproduced.  In addition, the technology was expensive and could not compete with

other means of lens fabrication and graphic image reproduction.

The global attention that has been focused on this medium recently is primarily due to the advances in micro-embossing
technology. This is a process which enables a holographic 'Master' image to be reproduced in large quantities.

The image or optical element is ‘embossed’ or embedded into a sheet of clear plastic and ‘stamped out’ by applying
heat and pressure to a ‘metal’ copy of the master.   The recent advances in replication technology now permit

an original hologram image or HOE to be mass produced reliably, efficiently and inexpensively.