The first step is making the original hologram image, called Master hologram. The process needs special optical equipment, which records original image onto glass plate with photo-resist. After photo-resist developing, the result is Master hologram.
Different technics for mastering are known by different names: 2D/3D, Dot-Matrix, E-beam, Lidogram. In spite of the sophisticated result and security level, all types of Master holograms are a collection of microscopic peaks and valleys on the plate surface. The next goal in mass hologram production is to transfer this microscopic surface relief to metal tool, called Holographic shim and multiply the single image to mass quantities.