An article for laser marking can comprising: a thermoplastic composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer, an active component comprising at least one of a polymeric unit and an additive, wherein the thermoplastic polymer has a visible transmission of greater than or equal to 80% according to ASTM D1003-00, Procedure A, using D65 illumination, 10 degrees observer, and thickness of 1 mm; and a mark produced by chemical rearrangement of the active component generated by a laser of a first wavelength; wherein the mark exhibits at least one of: (i) a change in optical properties in the region 400 nm to 700 nm when exposed to light having a wavelength less than or equal to 500 nm; and (ii) a change in optical properties in the region of 400 nm to 700 nm when exposed to light having a wavelength greater than or equal to the first wavelength.

The application discloses printed objects including encoded information, and methods, apparatus and systems for authenticating such printed objects. Some such objects, methods and apparatus involve data hiding and/or encoded signals.

This disclosure relates to counterfeit detection and deterrence using advanced signal processing technology including steganographic embedding and digital watermarking. Digital watermark can be used on consumer products, labels, logos, hang tags, stickers and other objects to provide counterfeit detection mechanisms.

A multilayered article for laser marking can comprise: a first layer having a visible transmission of greater than or equal to 80%; a second layer having a visible transmission of greater than or equal to 80%, and wherein the second layer comprises an active component that will form a laser mark with an L* of less than or equal to 40, when exposed to a laser light of a wavelength of greater than 800 nm; a third layer reflective to laser light having a wavelength greater than 800 nm, wherein the third layer has a visible transmission of greater than or equal to 80%; and optionally a substrate; wherein the article comprises a laser mark having an L* of less than or equal to 40 as measured according to CIELAB 1976 (specular included).

Methods and systems for creating a gloss effect, can involve adjusting a color selected with a first RGB color value for a first pattern ink among a group of pattern inks to appear lighter and selecting a common geometric pattern for the group of pattern inks including the first pattern ink and a second pattern ink. A feature can be written with an object with a second RGB color value and a geometric pattern can be written opaquely on top of the selected common geometric pattern. The feature can be erased within the object with a third RGB color value. The feature can be then written with a fourth RGB color value. The geometric pattern can be then written opaquely on top of the feature in the color adjusted selected for the first pattern ink to create a gloss effect with the geometric pattern opaquely on top of the feature in the color adjusted selected for the first pattern ink which displays the feature.

A method of ascertaining identity, verification, or authentication of a product is disclosed which includes embedding a predetermined watermark on a host image, thereby generating an edible watermarked image, printing the watermarked image using edible ink on an attack-resistant edible substrate, affixing the printed substrate onto the product, providing a color reference chart along with the watermarked image, obtaining an image of the watermarked image from the product, establishing correspondence between the watermarked image and the color reference chart, correcting the obtained image based on the established correspondence, extracting the embedded predetermined watermark from the corrected watermarked image, and determining identity, verification, and authentication of the product by analyzing the extracted predetermined watermark of the watermarked image.

A method of ascertaining identity, verification, or authentication of a product is disclosed which includes embedding a predetermined watermark on a host image, thereby generating an edible watermarked image, printing the watermarked image using edible ink on an attack-resistant edible substrate, affixing the printed substrate onto the product, providing a color reference chart along with the watermarked image, obtaining an image of the watermarked image from the product, establishing correspondence between the watermarked image and the color reference chart, correcting the obtained image based on the established correspondence, extracting the embedded predetermined watermark from the corrected watermarked image, and determining identity, verification, and authentication of the product by analyzing the extracted predetermined watermark of the watermarked image.

A gloss value of a clear topcoat (e.g., flood of varnish) on a substrate relative to a bare substrate is an indicator of digital watermark robustness for an encoded signal carried by modulating the clear topcoat. This measurement can be used to predict encoded signal robustness prior to printing. One claim is directed to an image processing method comprising: obtaining a first gloss value corresponding to a layer comprising a matte or gloss topcoat flooded over a substrate; obtaining a second gloss value corresponding to the substrate; and determining a relationship between the first gloss value and the second gloss value to determine digital watermark signal robustness of a sparse mark pattern provided on the substrate with the matte or gloss topcoat. Of course, other claims are combinations are described as well.

A gloss value of a clear topcoat (e.g., flood of varnish) on a substrate relative to a bare substrate is an indicator of digital watermark robustness for an encoded signal carried by modulating the clear topcoat. This measurement can be used to predict encoded signal robustness prior to printing. One claim is directed to an image processing method comprising: obtaining a first gloss value corresponding to a layer comprising a matte or gloss topcoat flooded over a substrate; obtaining a second gloss value corresponding to the substrate; and determining a relationship between the first gloss value and the second gloss value to determine digital watermark signal robustness of a sparse mark pattern provided on the substrate with the matte or gloss topcoat. Of course, other claims are combinations are described as well.

The present disclosure relates to signal processing such as digital watermarking and other encoded signals. One claim recites a substrate comprising a plurality of first areas and a plurality of second areas, in which each of the plurality of first areas comprises a color ink printed therein with a UV topcoat layer printed over the color ink, in which the UV topcoat layer includes a material that absorbs at or around 350 nm and emits in the visible spectrum, and in which each of the plurality of second areas comprises the color ink printed therein, and in which the plurality of first areas is arranged on the substrate in a 2-dimensional pattern that is machine-readable from image data depicting the plurality of first areas, and in which the 2-dimensional pattern represents signal elements that cover only between 1-20% of an area on the substrate, and in which contrast in the image data between the plurality of first areas and the plurality second areas comprises a contrast difference in the range 75%>contrast difference>8%. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided in the specification with reference to specific implementations and related examples.