An object is to provide a copy function that guarantees intensity of embedded information. At the time of copying a printed material, embedded information is extracted from a scanned image obtained by scanning the target printed material. Then, in a case where it is confirmed that the copy-target printed material is an authentic document by the extracted embedded information, the embedded information extracted from the scanned image is reconfigured and printed and output.

The image processing apparatus includes: a first obtaining unit configured to obtain an original image; a second obtaining unit configured to obtain a first multiplexed image created by embedding first information in the original image by a first method in which a shape of a pattern is changed; a third obtaining unit configured to obtain a second multiplexed image created by embedding second information in the first multiplexed image by a second method in which a density of a pattern is changed, the second information being a different type of information from the first information; and a control unit configured to perform control of outputting print data for a print original by using the second multiplexed image.

An image processing apparatus includes: a first obtaining unit configured to obtain an original image; a second obtaining unit configured to obtain region information indicating first and second regions, the first region read in reading of a print original to have a higher density than the second region, the second region read in the reading to have a lower density than the first region; an embedding unit configured to embed information in the original image by embedding a pattern with a directivity in the first region and embed, in the second region, a pattern in which the number of pixels printed adjacent to printed pixels is smaller than that in the first region; and a control unit configured to perform control of outputting the print original by using a print image in which the patterns of the first and second regions are embedded by the embedding unit.

Provided is an image processing apparatus for extracting embedded information from a printed document printed by an electrophotographic method, including: a first obtaining unit configured to obtain first image data by reading the printed document while applying light to the printed document; a second obtaining unit configured to obtain second image data by reading the printed document without applying light to the printed document; a determination unit configured to determine whether a high color density region of which density is higher than a predetermined value is present in the printed document; and a decision unit configured to decide which of the first image data and the second image data to set as image data to be used to extract the embedded information, according to the determination made by the determination unit.

Provided is an image processing apparatus for generating a printed document with specific information embedded therein, including: a first obtaining unit configured to obtain image data to be used in printing; a second obtaining unit configured to obtain the specific information; an acceptance unit configured to accept designation of a printing apparatus for executing printing; an embedding condition determination unit configured to determine a condition for embedding the specific information into the image data according to a type of the accepted printing apparatus; a multiplexed image generation unit configured to generate a multiplexed image by executing embedding of the specific information under the condition determined by the embedding condition determination unit; and a control unit configured to perform control such that the printing apparatus prints the multiplexed image.

Provided is an image processing apparatus for generating a printed document with specific information embedded therein, including: a first obtaining unit configured to obtain image data to be used in printing; a second obtaining unit configured to obtain the specific information; an acceptance unit configured to accept designation of a printing apparatus for executing printing; an embedding condition determination unit configured to determine a condition for embedding the specific information into the image data according to a type of the accepted printing apparatus; a multiplexed image generation unit configured to generate a multiplexed image by executing embedding of the specific information under the condition determined by the embedding condition determination unit; and a control unit configured to perform control such that the printing apparatus prints the multiplexed image.

Provided is an image processing apparatus for extracting embedded information from a printed document printed by an electrophotographic method, including: a first obtaining unit configured to obtain first image data by reading the printed document while applying light to the printed document; a second obtaining unit configured to obtain second image data by reading the printed document without applying light to the printed document; a determination unit configured to determine whether a high color density region of which density is higher than a predetermined value is present in the printed document; and a decision unit configured to decide which of the first image data and the second image data to set as image data to be used to extract the embedded information, according to the determination made by the determination unit.

Generation of one dimensional guilloche patterns able to be affixed on a document, each guilloche pattern being able to encode variable alphanumeric data providing a different appearance to each guilloche pattern, by formatting alphanumeric data to be encoded in the form of a predefined number of data blocks with a predefined size, generating a carrier function having a plurality of parameters, the formatted data blocks forming at least one of the parameters, and modulating the carrier function by the formatted data blocks so as to encode the alphanumeric data graphically, each data block defining a guilloche pattern, the number of data blocks defining the number of guilloche patterns, the carrier function associated with a formatted data block is modulated locally, each datum of the block being encoded locally in the guilloche pattern, by interpolation of a predefined point associated with the carrier function.

A watermark image may be generated that includes a first set of encoded pixels each of which is assigned a first transparency value and a second set of encoded pixels each of which is assigned a second transparency value, the second transparency level being different from the first transparency level. The encoded pixels may be distributed among a set of blank pixels such that each encoded pixel neighbors one or more blank pixels in the watermark image, and in particular at least two blank pixels in the watermark image. Herein, each blank pixel may be assigned the second transparency value. The watermark image may be overlaid and blended over a background source image to create an encoded source image. A decoder system may recover encoded information from the encoded source image.

An image processing apparatus that is capable of preventing an additional image from being arranged at a position that overruns from a displayed base image when a user carelessly designates such a position. The image processing apparatus including an instruction unit that instructs a composition position by a user's operation at which an additional image selected by a user is combined with a base image displayed on a display, and a controller that controls so as to combine the additional image with the base image at a composition position instructed by the instruction unit. When the composition position where at least a part of the additional image overruns from the base image is instructed by the instruction unit, the controller changes the composition position so that the additional image will fit into the base image and combines the additional image at the changed composition position.