The present disclosure discloses methods and systems for detecting an IR security mark in a document based on known color information and halftone frequency information. The method includes receiving a document from a user, including an IR security mark. Then, location information, color information and halftone frequency information are received from the user. The document is scanned. Based on the color information and the location information, the IR security mark is extracted from the scanned document. After this, halftone frequency information of the extracted IR security mark is verified. Based on the verification, text in the extracted IR security mark is identified and is then compared with one or more pre-stored IR security marks to ascertain whether the IR security mark in the document is an authentic security mark.

To generate a security mark, a system prints test pattern marks of varying frequencies on a first substrate. The system copies the test pattern marks onto a second substrate. The system analyzes the copy to identify a frequency or period range for test patterns that exhibit a high level of contrast as compared to the original. It then uses the identified range to generate an array of cells having pantograph marks of various foreground/background frequencies/periods. The system prints the array and generates polygons that contain cells in which the foreground is visually distinguished from the background. The system identifies the polygon having an inner point having a largest range to edge. It identifies the frequency/period of the background pattern and of the foreground pattern of the cell that contains the inner point. It then generates a pantograph mark having a background and foreground that correspond the identified frequencies or periods.

A multi-functional printing (MFP) includes a scan privacy tool to allow edits and changes to a scanned document image to remove or hide private information within a document. The scan privacy tool is enabled for jobs on the MFP device and launches when a job is run. The document is scanned and a scanned document image displayed on a display and edit interface of the scan privacy tool. Changes are made to the image using tools available through the scan privacy tool. The changes are applied to the scanned document image. The modified image is saved and transmitted to an engine in the MFP device to complete the job.

A multi-functional printing (MFP) includes a scan privacy tool to allow edits and changes to a document image to remove or hide private information within a document. The scan privacy tool is enabled for jobs on the MFP device and launches when a print job is run. The document is sent from a device or retrieved from memory storage. The document image displayed on a display and edit interface of the scan privacy tool. Changes are made to the document image using tools available through the scan privacy tool. The changes are applied to the document image. The modified image is saved and transmitted to an engine in the MFP device to complete the print job.

Methods and systems for forming a pattern ink pantograph. In an example embodiment, two or more pattern inks can be configured, such that a frequency of one pattern ink among the two (or more) pattern inks comprises a frequency below an MTF (Modulation Transfer Function) and a frequency of another pattern ink among the two or more pattern inks comprises a frequency above said MTF. The two or more pattern inks can be used as a special color space to paint a font or a geometric object, and such pattern inks are also independent of what is being written. Each pattern ink comprises vector graphic data.

In accordance with an embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a first image forming section configured to form an image with a visible image forming material; a second image forming section configured to form an image with an invisible image forming material; an image acquisition section configured to acquire a print image that should be printed on a medium as a printed matter; and a processor configured to acquire authentication information for authenticity determination added to the printed matter and carry out an image forming processing on not only the print image with the visible image forming material by the first image forming section but also the authentication information with the invisible image forming material by the second image forming section.

Certain aspects of the present technology involve automated capture of several image frames (e.g., simultaneously in a single exposure, or in a burst of exposures), and application of a data-extraction process (e.g., watermark decoding) to each such image. Other aspects of the technology involve capturing a single scene at two different resolutions, and submitting imagery at both resolutions for watermark decoding. Still other aspects of the technology involve increasing the signal-to-noise ratio of a watermark signal by subtracting one image from another. Yet other aspects of the technology involve receiving focus distance data from a camera, and employing such data in extracting information from camera imagery. Smartphone camera APIs can be employed to simplify implementation of such methods. A great number of features and arrangements are also detailed. Embodiments of such technology can simplify image processing required for data extraction, with attendant reductions in required program memory and battery power consumption. Moreover, they can enlarge a system's operational envelopeenabling information to be extracted from imagery under conditions that lead to failure in prior art arrangements.

A multi-functional printing (MFP) includes a scan privacy tool to allow edits and changes to a scanned document image to remove or hide private information within a document. The scan privacy tool is enabled for jobs on the MFP device and launches when a job is run. The document is scanned and a scanned document image displayed on a display and edit interface of the scan privacy tool. Changes are made to the image using tools available through the scan privacy tool. The changes are applied to the scanned document image. The modified image is saved and transmitted to an engine in the MFP device to complete the job.

A multi-functional printing (MFP) includes a scan privacy tool to allow edits and changes to a document image to remove or hide private information within a document. The scan privacy tool is enabled for jobs on the MFP device and launches when a print job is run. The document is sent from a device or retrieved from memory storage. The document image displayed on a display and edit interface of the scan privacy tool. Changes are made to the document image using tools available through the scan privacy tool. The changes are applied to the document image. The modified image is saved and transmitted to an engine in the MFP device to complete the print job.

Example implementations relate to multiple payload pantograph. Some examples may include a first pattern generation engine to generate a first pattern. The first pattern may be a data-bearing pattern encoding a first payload. Additionally, some examples may include a second pattern generation engine to generate a second pattern, the second pattern (by itself or in combination with the first pattern) may represent a second payload. The second payload may be camouflaged by a combination of the first pattern and the second pattern. Some examples may also include a pantograph generation engine to generate a multiple payload pantograph including the first pattern and the second pattern. The multiple payload pantograph may include the first pattern in one of the pantograph background or the pantograph foreground.