According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of deriving information from an optically readable security element, the method comprising: optically reading the optically readable security element, the optically readable security element comprising one or more optically readable structures, optically readable in response to excitation of the one or more optically readable structures, the one or more optically readable structures being arranged to interact with one or more proximal structures of the optically readable security element, the interaction being such that an excitation-emission relationship for the one or more optically readable structures interacting with the one or more proximal structures, is different to an excitation-emission relationship for the one or more optically readable structures and the one or more proximal structures in isolation; the reading comprising: determining data indicative of an optical property of the optically readable security element using first emission electromagnetic radiation, emitted in response to first excitation of the one or more optically readable structures; and deriving the information from the determined data.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of deriving information from an optically readable security element, the method comprising: optically reading the optically readable security element, the optically readable security element comprising one or more optically readable structures, optically readable in response to excitation of the one or more optically readable structures, the one or more optically readable structures being arranged to interact with one or more proximal structures of the optically readable security element, the interaction being such that an excitation-emission relationship for the one or more optically readable structures interacting with the one or more proximal structures, is different to an excitation-emission relationship for the one or more optically readable structures and the one or more proximal structures in isolation; the reading comprising: determining data indicative of an optical property of the optically readable security element using first emission electromagnetic radiation, emitted in response to first excitation of the one or more optically readable structures; and deriving the information from the determined data.

An article comprises a superficial watermark located on a first surface. The article also comprises an embedded watermark that is embedded within the article. The embedded watermark may be viewed by an X-ray camera. A method comprises applying a metal-containing mixture to an inner layer of an article, resulting in an embedded watermark within the article. The method also comprises analyzing the properties of metal particles within the mixture. The method also comprises recording the first property.

The present disclosure relates to signal processing such as image processing, signal encoding, digital watermarking and data hiding. A sparse or dense digital watermark signal can be conveyed with a narrow-band absorption material corresponding to a center wavelength of a Point of Sale (POS) barcode scanner. The POS barcode scanner typically captures 2D imagery. Since the narrow-band absorption material absorbs over a narrow-band it is relatively imperceptible to the Human Visual System (HVS) but can be seen by the POS scanner.

A plastic item, such as a beverage bottle, conveys two distinct digital watermarks, encoded using two distinct signaling protocols. A first, printed label watermark conveys a retailing payload, including a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) used by a point-of-sale scanner in a retail store to identify and price the item when presented for checkout. A second, plastic texture watermark conveys a recycling payload, including data identifying the composition of the plastic. The use of two different signaling protocols assures that a point-of-sale scanner will not spend its limited time and computational resources working to decode the recycling watermark, which lacks the data needed for retail checkout. In some embodiments, a recycling apparatus makes advantageous use of both types of watermarks to identify the plastic composition of the item (e.g., relating GTIN to plastic type using an associated database), thereby increasing the fraction of items that are correctly identified for sorting and recycling. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Apparatuses, methods, systems, and program products are disclosed for watermark security. An apparatus includes a watermark module configured to generate a digital watermark to be presented as part of a graphical interface based on data presented on the graphical interface. A digital watermark verifies an authenticity of data to be presented in a graphical interface. An apparatus includes a presentation module configured to embed the digital watermark into the graphical interface prior to the data being presented in the graphical interface such that the digital watermark is graphically imperceptible to a user, dynamically update the digital watermark during runtime in response to detecting a change in the at least a portion of the data that is encoded into the digital watermark, and re-embed the digital watermark into the graphical interface in response to the digital watermark being updated.

Apparatuses, methods, systems, and program products are disclosed for watermark security. An apparatus includes a watermark module configured to generate a digital watermark to be presented as part of a graphical interface based on data presented on the graphical interface. A digital watermark verifies an authenticity of data to be presented in a graphical interface. An apparatus includes a presentation module configured to embed the digital watermark into the graphical interface prior to the data being presented in the graphical interface such that the digital watermark is graphically imperceptible to a user, dynamically update the digital watermark during runtime in response to detecting a change in the at least a portion of the data that is encoded into the digital watermark, and re-embed the digital watermark into the graphical interface in response to the digital watermark being updated.

A substrate for producing papers of value or security papers is described. The substrate may include a carrier layer, at least one security element applied at least one of onto and into the carrier layer, and a primer. The primer may be applied onto at least one of a first substrate side and a second substrate side of the substrate. The primer may be arranged, at least in some sections, between the carrier layer and the at least one security element. Additionally and/or alternatively, the primer may cover the at least one security element and/or the carrier layer such that regions of the at least one security element covered by the primer are not as well visible as regions of the at least one security element and/or the carrier layer not covered by the primer. The at least one security element may include a partial, reflective layer forming an image.

A substrate for producing papers of value or security papers is described. The substrate may include a carrier layer, at least one security element applied at least one of onto and into the carrier layer, and a primer. The primer may be applied onto at least one of a first substrate side and a second substrate side of the substrate. The primer may be arranged, at least in some sections, between the carrier layer and the at least one security element. Additionally and/or alternatively, the primer may cover the at least one security element and/or the carrier layer such that regions of the at least one security element covered by the primer are not as well visible as regions of the at least one security element and/or the carrier layer not covered by the primer. The at least one security element may include a partial, reflective layer forming an image.

The invention relates to a method for encoding a dimensionally stable packaging container or an associated constituent made of plastics material, wherein the packaging container is suitable for storing consumer goods such as food, detergents, etc., wherein a film-shaped, flat plastics material for forming the three-dimensional packaging container or the associated constituent is deep-drawn using a tool mold while, at a plurality of positions, the outer sides or the inner sides thereof undergo a first shape-changing treatment acting on the first surface thereof for producing a plurality of three-dimensional codes.