An image reading device includes a marking part that applies a predetermined mark to a margin of a rear end of a document having passed through an image reading position, a mark erasing part that erases the predetermined mark when the document is discharged from a sheet discharge port, and an image data processing unit that determines whether the predetermined mark exists in image data of a document image read by an image reading unit and erases the image data of the document image when it is determined that the predetermined mark exists.

An image forming apparatus includes an input device, an image forming device, and a control device. The control device includes a processor, and acts, when the processor executes a control program, as a controller that, upon receipt of an instruction to form a source document image on a first face of a plurality of recording media through the input device, causes the image forming device to form the source document image on the first face of the plurality of recording media, designates a recording medium on which a see-through prevention image, constituted of a predetermined pattern, is to be formed, out of the plurality of recording media, and causes the image forming device to form the see-through prevention image only on a second face, opposite to the first face, of the recording medium designated.

An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit, a fixing device, and circuitry is provided. The image forming unit is configured to perform a special image forming operation that forms a color toner image and a special toner image with a color toner and a special toner, respectively, on a recording medium and a normal image forming operation that forms the color toner image without forming the special toner image on the recording medium. The fixing device is configured to fix the color toner image and the special toner image on the recording medium. The circuitry is configured to perform, in the special image forming operation, a toner amount suppression control that makes an amount of the color toner on the recording medium per unit area smaller than that in the normal image forming operation.

An information processing apparatus includes circuitry to control a display to display a setting screen for a background pattern that allows a user to designate a special consumable material as a color to be used for information specified as the background pattern; generate print data using the designated special consumable material; and transmit the print data to an image forming apparatus.

An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit containing a special recording material and circuitry configured to control the image forming unit to form a hardly visible image on a recording medium with the special recording material. The hardly visible image is formed of a halftone dot image comprising isolated dots in a number smaller than that of isolated dots forming a visible image having the same image area ratio as the hardly visible image.

An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit containing a special recording material and circuitry configured to control the image forming unit to form a hardly visible image on a recording medium with the special recording material. The hardly visible image is formed of a halftone dot image comprising isolated dots in a number smaller than that of isolated dots forming a visible image having the same image area ratio as the hardly visible image.

A redundantly printed security-enhanced document, printing method and system ensure the meaning of the information imparted by variable indicia printed by redundant printing on the document with removable scratch-off coatings. By printing the variable indicia with multiple colors, redundancy and integrity of the intended indicia is achieved. Additionally, inverted color indicia countermeasures to pinprick attacks are also disclosed. The redundantly printed document, methods and systems enhance the overall appearance of the redundantly printed document, and reduce possible consequences resulting from misprinted variable indicia. The resultant printed process color indicia maintains a grayscale equivalent level of a process color greater than or equal to the measured grayscale equivalent level of the substrate surface plus an additional contrast delta of 15%.

An optical article printed on a substrate may include an organic binder; and a plurality of reflective magnetic platelets provided in the organic binder, wherein the plurality of reflective magnetic platelets are substantially aligned in accordance with at least part of a surface of revolution, and wherein the plurality of reflective magnetic platelets are aligned to cause a first reflective effect of the optical article when the substrate is rotated around a first axis and to cause a second reflective effect of the optical article when the substrate is rotated around a second axis, wherein the first reflective effect is different from the second reflective effect.

An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit, a unit holder, and circuitry is provided. The image forming unit includes a color toner unit, a replaceable black toner unit, and a replaceable special toner unit that form a color toner image, a black toner image, and a special toner image, respectively. The unit holder selectively and detachably holds the replaceable black toner unit or the replaceable special toner unit. The circuitry controls the image forming unit to perform: a normal operation, when the unit holder holds the replaceable black toner unit, that forms a color-black image; a special operation, when the unit holder holds the replaceable special toner unit, that forms a color-special image; and a toner amount increase control that increases an amount of the color toner per unit area in the color toner image in the special operation than that in the normal operation.

An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit, a fixing device, and circuitry is provided. The image forming unit is configured to perform a special image forming operation that forms a color toner image and a special toner image with a color toner and a special toner, respectively, on a recording medium and a normal image forming operation that forms the color toner image without forming the special toner image on the recording medium. The fixing device is configured to fix the color toner image and the special toner image on the recording medium. The circuitry is configured to perform, in the special image forming operation, a toner amount suppression control that makes an amount of the color toner on the recording medium per unit area smaller than that in the normal image forming operation.