Identifiers or references to supplemental information or content regarding images may be steganographically encoded into the images. The identifiers or references may be encoded into least significant bits or less significant bits of pixels within the image that may be selected on any basis. The identifiers or references may include alphanumeric characters, bar codes, symbols or other features. When an image is captured of an image having one or more identifiers or references steganographically encoded therein, the identifiers or references may be interpreted, and the supplemental information or content may be accessed and displayed on a computer display. In some embodiments, the supplemental information or content may identify and relate to a commercial product expressed in an image, and may include a link to one or more pages or functions for purchasing the commercial product.

An image forming apparatus includes an embedding device and an image output device. The embedding device is configured to embed a pair of identical electronic information in a pair of electronic embedment areas outside a print guarantee area and within a printable area of a recording medium. The pair of electronic embedment areas is along a pair of opposite sides of the recording medium. The image output device is configured to print out an image with the pair of identical electronic information embedded on the recording medium.

This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking. One implementation is directed a printed object comprising: a substrate comprising a first area; a first colored ink or design printed within the first area, the first colored ink or design comprising a spectral reflectivity of less than or equal to 20% at or around 660 nm; a colored ink mixture printed over the first colored ink or design at a first plurality of spatial locations within the first area, the colored ink mixture printed such that the first area comprises a second plurality of spatial locations without the colored ink mixture, the colored ink mixture comprising opaque white ink and a first colorant, wherein the color ink mixture comprises a spectral reflectivity greater than the first colored ink or design at or around 660 nm, and wherein colored ink mixture comprises a spectral reflectivity less than the first colored ink or design in the range of 495 nm-570 nm; in which the first plurality of spatial locations is arranged in a pattern conveying an encoded signal, and in which the first colored ink or design and the colored ink mixture comprise a spectral reflectivity difference at or around 660 nm in a difference range of 8%-30%. Of course, other objects, methods, packages, labels, containers, systems and apparatus are described in this patent document.

An image forming apparatus has an input portion that receives original image data, a control portion that generates output image data based on the original image data, a printing portion that performs printing based on the output image data, and a storage portion. The storage portion stores associated color information that defines colors associated with a plurality of prescribed processes respectively. When generating the output image data, the control portion, if the original image data includes a marked region, performs, out of the plurality of processes, the process associated with the color of the marked region.

An image processing method includes a selection step of selecting a type of first information that is embedded in printed matter in accordance with instructions by a user via a user interface, an embedment step of embedding the first information and second information indicating a type selected at the selection step in a printing-target image as an electronic watermark, a printing control step of causing a printing apparatus to print the printing-target image in which the first information and the second information have been embedded at the embedment step, an acquisition step of acquiring image data by capturing the printed matter, an extraction step of extracting the first information and the second information from the image data acquired at the acquisition step, and a processing step of processing the first information extracted at the extraction step by different processing methods in accordance with the second information.

A first digital image is integrated into a second digital image to generate a third digital image. A first code representing the procedures performed to integrate the first digital image into the second digital image is generated. A second code representing information for retrieving the first digital image is generated. The first code and the second code are embedded as metadata into a file that contains the second digital image.

Imagery captured by a point-of-sale scanner (e.g., in a supermarket) for purposes of barcode decoding, is contrast-enhanced preparatory to use for watermark decodingdespite the fact that such operation may sometimes result in contrast between certain pixels being diminished. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to detect steganographically hidden content in a media file are disclosed. An example system includes a media classifier to determine type of a media file, and a detector to apply a detection technique to the media file. The detector selects the detection technique from a plurality of steganographically-based detection techniques based on the media file type. The system also includes a remediator to apply a remediation technique to the media file based on whether the detector detects steganographically hidden content in the media file.

A method for providing watermark to subscribers is provided. The method comprises observing a request for a first content from a subscriber, determining if the subscriber can receive a watermark, generating a second content comprising the watermark if the subscriber can receive a watermark, causing the subscriber to fetch the first content, and causing the subscriber to fetch the second content comprising the watermark overlaying the first content.

An image processing method includes: a first obtaining step of obtaining data of an image; a second obtaining step of obtaining additional information; a third obtaining step of obtaining information related to a printable area of a print medium on which the image based on the data obtained in the first obtaining step is printed; determining step of determining a position where the obtained additional information is embedded in the image on the basis of the information obtained in the third obtaining step; and embedding step of embedding the additional information with reference to the determined position.