Patent attributes
A photonic crystal device comprising: a photonic crystal material having an initial ordered structure and a viewing surface, the initial ordered structure giving rise to a first optical effect detectable from the viewing surface; and a removal layer removably attached with the viewing surface or an opposing surface of the photonic crystal material opposite to the viewing surface; wherein mechanical removal of at least a portion of the removal layer results in a structural change in at least a portion of the initial ordered structure of at least a portion of the photonic crystal material respective to the portion of the removed removal layer, thereby resulting in a changed portion different from the initial ordered structure, the changed portion giving rise to a second optical effect detectable from the viewing surface and detectably different from the first optical effect.