The invention concerns an apparatus and a process for producing a marking on a substrate. Substrates marked in that way are applied to documents such as for example credit cards, personal identity cards or banknotes as security features for affording protection from forgery. Embodiments of these security features have diffractive or holographic structures. Production of the markings is produced by shaping from a mold. A change in the configuration of the marking is possible by changing the mold, which is time-consuming. The new apparatus and the new process are intended to permit the production of individualised markings on a substrate at a low level of apparatus expenditure. The new apparatus has a replication apparatus, in the form of a replication roller, having a replication surface, a device for producing a radiation and a counterpressure apparatus with a counterpressure surface, wherein a substrate is arranged between the replication surface of the replication apparatus and the counterpressure surface of the counterpressure apparatus in such a way that a shaping region of the replication surface is shaped on to the substrate in a contact region between the replication surface and the substrate.