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.

Methods and systems for configuring and rendering a fluorescent watermark can involve modifying a non-partially reflecting/absorbing ultraviolet ink from an original ultraviolet pattern by blending a minimal amount of a partially reflecting ink, and ensuring that the modification of the non-partially reflecting/absorbing ultraviolet ink maintains an appearance of two or more pattern inks as a single color/pattern under office lighting when rendered as a part of a fluorescent watermark based on the non-partially reflecting/absorbing ultraviolet ink. The fluorescent watermark can be then rendered on a substrate (e.g., paper or other material).

Methods and systems for configuring and rendering a fluorescent watermark can involve modifying a non-partially reflecting/absorbing ultraviolet ink from an original ultraviolet pattern by blending a minimal amount of a partially reflecting ink, and ensuring that the modification of the non-partially reflecting/absorbing ultraviolet ink maintains an appearance of two or more pattern inks as a single color/pattern under office lighting when rendered as a part of a fluorescent watermark based on the non-partially reflecting/absorbing ultraviolet ink. The fluorescent watermark can be then rendered on a substrate (e.g., paper or other material).

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.

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.

The present invention is directed towards a device and process for imprinting watermarks on physical documents. The process includes an adapter operating as a stencil and containing the watermarking material. A pen-like applicator is used to imprint the watermarking material through the stencil. The watermarking material is produced as a composition of plant components which are mixed while being treated with the application of heat and cold activation techniques.

The present invention is directed towards a device and process for imprinting watermarks on physical documents. The process includes an adapter operating as a stencil and containing the watermarking material. A pen-like applicator is used to imprint the watermarking material through the stencil. The watermarking material is produced as a composition of plant components which are mixed while being treated with the application of heat and cold activation techniques.