A method for rendering visible security information of a digitally stored image which has a plurality of pixels and at least one piece of digitally coded information comprises at least the following steps: allocating at least some of the pixels to at least one image region; determining an average color value of the pixels allocated to the image region; determining two mutually complementary color values whose average color value is at least approximately identical to the determined average color value of the pixels allocated to the image region; depicting the image region and at least part of the digitally coded security information in a visually perceptible manner. The depicted image region thereby has a first of the mutually complementary color values. The part of the digitally coded security information is depicted within the image region and has a second of the mutually complementary color values.

The present disclosure relates generally to digital watermarking for retail product packaging. A digital watermark can be carried in different color channels, and at with different signal polarities. Detection can utilize different illumination sources to highlight signal in one or more channels.

A method, computer system, and a computer program product for image capture prevention is provided. The present invention may include, in response to embedding at least one digital security mark in a visual communication, securing the visual communication. The present invention may also include preventing, based on the embedded at least one digital security mark, an image capture of the secured visual communication.

This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking. One implementation is directed to a printed object comprising: a white substrate or background comprising a first area; an ink mixture printed at a first plurality of spatial locations within the first area, the ink mixture printed such that the first area comprises a second plurality of spatial locations without the ink mixture, the ink mixture comprising extender white and Green 7 ink, the ink mixture comprising a volume or weight ratio of 97.5% to 99.75% white extender and 2.5%-0.25% Green 7 ink; in which the first plurality of spatial locations is arranged in a pattern conveying an encoded signal, and in which the white substrate or background and the ink mixture comprise a spectral reflectivity difference at or around 660 nm in a difference range of 8%-30%. Of course, other implementations, methods, packages, systems and apparatus are described in this patent document.

An image output device includes a storage and outputs image data stored the storage. The image output device includes a detector, an output controller, and an eraser. The detector detects whether or not specific image information is included in the image data. The output controller allows an output of the image data when the image data does not include the specific image information, and disallows the output of the image data when the image data includes the specific image information. The eraser erases the image data from the storage when the specific image information is included in the image data.

Methods, devices, and computer-program products are provided for adding and decoding data to a digital video signal in a visually imperceptible manner. For example, an encoded video frame can be obtained, and one or more blocks of the encoded video frame can be decoded. Binary data can be added to a subset of pixels from a set of pixels of the one or more blocks. For instance, a pixel component can be modulated to add the binary data. The one or more blocks can be re-encoded using at least one coding mode. The re-encoded one or more blocks can be added to the encoded video frame.

A device and a method that achieve a watermark that can be easily recorded and does not significantly impair the appearance of a printed matter are provided. A watermark recording unit (214) that records watermark dots having a color having a small difference from an area color of an area in which a watermark is recorded, and a watermark recording mode determination unit (213) that determines a color of the watermark dots are included. The watermark recording mode determination unit (213) determines a color of the watermark dots in such a way that a wavelength difference Δλ, which is a difference between a color wavelength of the watermark dots and an area color wavelength of a recording area of the watermark dots, is less than a wavelength resolution of human eye. Moreover, the color of the watermark dots is determined in such a way that the wavelength difference Δλ is equal to or higher than a wavelength resolution of a spectroscopic camera (hyperspectral camera) (141) that captures an image for watermark analysis.

An image reading apparatus of an embodiment includes a reading unit and a controller. The reading unit simultaneously reads a plurality of documents on a document table and generates an overall scan image as color image data including images of all the documents in the plurality of documents. The controller is configured to isolate an image of each document from the overall scan image, perform a color determination on each of the isolated images to determine if the document corresponding to the isolated image is a color document or a non-color document, and encode each of the isolated images with an image encoding method selected based on the color determination for the isolated image.

The present disclosure relates generally to signal encoding for printed objects such as product packaging, labels and hangtags. One implementation obtains a color image representing CMY color channels, and alters the color image to include an encoded signal by altering values representing CIELAB a* and b*, all the while keeping L* on or within a predetermined tolerance of a contour representing a constant value. Other implementations are provided.

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.