Various decoration technologies have been developed to enhance product appeal and are applied across various fields based on specific needs. As more decorative expressions with high design value are incorporated, the overall value of the product increases. In the future, decoration technologies will be expected to provide additional value, such as improved functionality, environmental sustainability, and support for small-lot, high-mix production, rather than serving solely an aesthetic purpose. This article reviews the latest trends in decoration technology.

When light interacts with a periodic microstructure of sub-micron size, it is reflected through physical phenomena such as interference, diffraction, and scattering, resulting in the production of structural color. Structural color exhibits a distinctive luster and gloss, making it an attractive decorative technique due to its exceptional color vibrancy and durability. Various microstructures, including thin films, multilayer films, diffraction gratings, helices, sponges, and particle arrays, can produce structural color. Selecting an appropriate microstructure depends on the specific application and required characteristics. Advances in research on structural color have been closely linked to the study of coloration mechanisms in living organisms. This review discusses the structural coloration mechanisms of representative organisms and the structural color materials developed by leveraging these mechanisms, including the melanin-based structural color materials created in our research.

UV inkjet printing (UV-IJP) enables digital decorative printing with controlled line heights to create latent images that become visible when the printed material is tilted. Gradual variations in line height can introduce gradation to the latent image, while the use of white ink, commonly employed in digital decoration, enhances its contrast. This technique is expected to significantly enhance the value of security-printed materials by providing on-demand printing and variable information capabilities.

The automotive industry is experiencing rapid advancements in connected, automated, shared, and electric (CASE) technologies, with a growing emphasis on in-car comfort and livability. This progression has driven a trend toward larger, more seamless displays. Enhancing safety remains a priority, particularly through the integration of driver monitoring systems (DMS) and LiDAR. However, incorporating DMS introduces spatial and safety challenges, complicating design integration. Toray is addressing these challenges by developing decorative technologies that balance functionality and aesthetics, with a focus on inks designed to conceal near-infrared sensors. The recent trend toward seamless design includes the integration of multi-displays into dashboards. To achieve this, Toray employs technologies such as narrow bezel displays, color-matching decoration, and smoke decoration. Their seamless decorative ink leverages nano-dispersion technology to uniformly distribute pigments and particles, enabling optical designs that optimize both specular and diffuse reflection. Additionally, Toray has developed the infrared-transmitting black ink "Photo Black^®," which offers excellent visible light shielding while maintaining infrared transmission. This innovation ensures seamless display designs without compromising the functionality of cameras and sensors. Utilizing proprietary pigment dispersion technology, the ink achieves a haze level of approximately 0.2%, delivering clear and sharp images.