Methods and systems for creating a security mark for a document. A first generation print can be rendered based on one or more patterns (e.g., pantograph pattern) for a security mark. Post-copy results of the pattern(s) can be then rendered. The first generation print and the post-copy results of the pattern(s) can be calibrated, and the output of the calibration of the first generation print and the post-copy results are then applicable for optimizing the design of the security mark for a print condition. Optimization of the design of the security mark for the print condition can be implemented by applying the output of the calibrating of the first generation print and the post-copy results for the print condition. The first generation prints and post-copy results of pantograph pattern samples can be calibrated to drastically reduce the time and labor involved in optimizing void pantograph designs for a particular print condition.

A method for preparing a select graphic for printing using a digital printing device includes receiving the select graphic, at least one position for printing the select graphic, and a select spot color name for the select graphic, wherein the select spot color name represents a tone printable using at least one colorant of the digital printing device; generating a select spot color separation for the select graphic using a halftone screen to produce the tone represented by the security spot name, wherein the halftone screen is selected for printing the select graphic without a discernible dot pattern upon unmagnified viewing; and preparing raster data incorporating the select spot color separation for printing the select graphic at the at least one position on the item.

There is provided a printing apparatus including an obtaining unit configured to obtain print data in which in imposition image data in which one or more images are imposed in a print region, a code for identifying each image in the imposition image data is embedded; a determination unit configured to determine an ink color to be used to print the code by excluding an ink color satisfying a predetermined condition from candidates for the ink color to be used to print the code; and a print control unit configured to print the code based on the print data obtained by the obtaining unit using a plurality of nozzle arrays for the ink color determined by the determination unit.

This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking. The technology may be applied to retail packages and other printed objects, e.g., such as hang tags, labels and receipts.

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.

The present disclosure relates generally to data hiding for retail product packaging and other printed objects such as substrates. One embodiment embeds an information signal in a spot color for printing on various substrates. The spot color is screened, and overprinted with process color tint. The tint is modulated prior to overprinting with optimized signal tweaks. The optimization can include consideration of a detector spectral dependency (e.g., red and/or green illumination). Many other embodiments and combinations are described in the subject patent document.

A computer implemented method for embedding a marker in an image or video content including receiving an input image or frame for embedding, determining a binary message to be encoded within said input image or frame comprising bits sequences having an identical number of bits which is superior or equal to two, said binary message comprising at least a header part comprising at least two consecutive bits sequences which are not identical, detecting a region within said input image or frame such that the color within said region is uniform and that said region presents a chosen length and height, associating each possible bits sequence to a corresponding encoding color determined from the color within said uniform region and an encoding rule such that the respective colors are all different from one another, and generating a marker color table in which each element stores an encoding color associated to a bits sequence of the binary message, such that the color table constitutes a color encoding of the binary message, and embedding said marker in said region by appending directionally pixel blocks comprising at least a chosen number of pixels in an appending direction, the pixels within a given pixel block being each colored with the encoding color of an element of the marker color table, each element of the marker color table being associated with at least one pixel block.

An information processing apparatus includes a determination unit configured to determine a printing area and a non-printing area in image data, and an execution unit configured to execute first multiplexing processing by changing a U component in a YUV color space with respect to an area determined as a printing area in the image data and to execute second multiplexing processing by changing a Y component in a CMYK color space with respect to an area determined as a non-printing area in the image data.

A method and system for rendering a watermark with near perfect infrared colors can involve providing an infrared pattern ink having a color with a lower spectral reflectance in an infrared spectrum, replacing the color having the lower spectral reflectance with a replacement color constituting a combination of colors having a higher spectral reflectance in the infrared spectrum, them matching in a visible spectrum, the replacement color with the color having the lower spectral reflectance in the infrared spectrum, and rendering a watermark as a metameric color pair including the infrared pattern ink and replacement color. Alternatively, a watermark may be created by defining a first color pattern having a CMYK value derived from a particular LAB value with a lower toner stack and a higher reflectance in an infrared spectrum as compared to a second color pattern having a second CMYK value derived from the same LAB value.

An image processing device includes an input device and circuitry. The input device inputs data. The circuitry converts text information to be printed included in the data to generate converted information and outputs data for image formation including the converted information.