The invention relates to improvements in security elements for use in or on security substrates. In particular the invention is concerned with security elements having public recognition features. The security element includes at least one light transmitting carrier substrate, a first metal layer having substantially metal-free areas defining indicia which are visible in transmitted light, a partial first light scattering layer providing further indicia which are visible in reflected light. The first light scattering layer overlaps the metal free areas in the first metal layer.