The invention relates to an illuminating station for the production of partially designed areas in one or more layers of a web of sheeting and to optically variable elements produced with such an illuminating station and possessing partially designed areas showing different optical properties. The illuminating station has one or more radiation sources for illuminating the sheeting. The illuminating station has, further, a masking tape having partially designed areas showing different optical properties, which masking tape is guided through an illuminating zone in the path of radiation between said one or more radiation sources and the web of sheeting. The illuminating station further has two or more guide means for guiding the masking tape and/or for guiding the web of sheeting, which guide means are arranged such that the masking tape is guided in the illuminating zone in parallel relationship relative to the sheeting. Furthermore, the illuminating station has coupling means for causing the masking tape and the web of sheeting to travel through the illuminating zone at the same speed.