A security element (2) comprising a plastic laminate has a surface pattern
(12) composed mosaic-like from surface elements (13; 14; 15). Shaped
into at least two of the surface elements (14; 15) is a respective diffraction
structure {B(x, y, T)} produced from a superimposition of a low-frequency grating
structure {G(x, y)} with a high-frequency relief structure {R(x, y)}. In the one
surface element (14) a grating vector of the grating structure {G(x, y)}
and a relief vector of the relief structure {R(x, y)} are parallel and in the other
surface element (15) the grating vector (16) and the relief vector
(17) include a substantially right angle. In addition the grating vectors
(16) of the grating structures {G(x, y)} in the two surface elements (14;
15) are parallel. A common boundary (18) of the two surface elements
(14; 15) is visible only upon lighting with linearly polarized light, in
daylight both surface elements (14; 15) have the same surface brightness.
