Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080199785 | Substrate fluorescence mask utilizing a multiple color overlay for embedding information in printed documents - A method is provided for creation of a substrate fluorescence mask having background color(s), UV mark color(s), and distraction color(s), to be printed as an image on a substrate containing optical brightening agents. The method includes selecting one or more UV mark colors for the mask such that the UV mark colors exhibit low contrast against the background color(s) under normal illumination and high contrast against the background color(s) under UV illumination. One or more distraction colors are also selected, such that the distraction color(s) exhibit low contrast against the background color(s) under UV illumination and exhibit high contrast against the background color(s) under normal illumination. A distraction pattern, formed from one or more distraction colors, is also selected. | 08-21-2008 |
20080292129 | EMBEDDING INFORMATION IN DOCUMENT BLANK SPACE - A method for embedding information in a document includes encoding information as a plurality of data carrying dot patterns. For each of a plurality of blocks of a document page to be rendered, the method includes determining whether the block is blank. Each of the plurality of data carrying dot patterns is embedded in a respective one of the blank blocks. The document with the embedded data carrying dot patterns is rendered. | 11-27-2008 |
20080296885 | FONT PRINTING SYSTEM HAVING EMBEDDED SECURITY INFORMATION COMPRISING VARIABLE DATA PERIODIC LINE PATTERNS - A method and system is provided for providing a variable data guilloché shaped pattern comprised of variable data differential line pattern fonts comprising decodable template symbols which are capable of being selectively assembled into a predetermined variable data code. The code representations are embedded in the guilloché pattern amongst a plurality of unvaried standard base patterns. The representation can be decoded with a digital scan capable of identifying the embedded patterns and communicated it to a user for verifying a document containing the code. | 12-04-2008 |
20080297851 | METHODOLOGY FOR SUBSTRATE FLUORESCENT NON-OVERLAPPING DOT DESIGN PATTERNS FOR EMBEDDING INFORMATION IN PRINTED DOCUMENTS - The teachings as provided herein relate to a watermark embedded in an image, and methodology for same, that has the property of being relatively indecipherable under normal light, and yet decipherable under UV light. This fluorescent mark comprises a substrate containing optical brightening agents, and a first dot design printed as an image upon the substrate. The first dot design has as a characteristic, the property of strongly suppressing substrate fluorescence. A second dot design having a property of providing a differing level of substrate fluorescence suppression from that of the first dot design such that when rendered in close spatial proximity with the first dot design image print, the resultant image rendered substrate suitably exposed to an ultra-violet light source, will yield a discernable image evident as a fluorescent mark. | 12-04-2008 |
20080297852 | VARIABLE DATA PERIODIC LINE PATTERNS FOR COMPOSING A FONT SYSTEM - A method and system is provided for generating a variable data differential line pattern font comprising forming a periodic line pattern suitable for tessellation disposition within a printed document and selectively distorting a portion of the periodic line pattern in a predetermined manner wherein the distorting comprises generating a distinguishable font corresponding to the distorting. A plurality of different distinguishable fonts are formed by a corresponding plurality of distorted line patterns, respectively. | 12-04-2008 |
20080299333 | SUBSTRATE FLUORESCENT NON-OVERLAPPING DOT PATTERNS FOR EMBEDDING INFORMATION IN PRINTED DOCUMENTS - The teachings as provided herein relate to a watermark embedded in an image that has the property of being relatively indecipherable under normal light, and yet decipherable under UV light. This fluorescent mark comprises a substrate containing optical brightening agents, and a first dot design printed as an image upon the substrate. The first dot design has as a characteristic the property of strongly suppressing substrate fluorescence. A second dot design having a property of providing a differing level of substrate fluorescence suppression from that of the first dot design such that when rendered in close spatial proximity with the first dot design image print, the resultant image rendered substrate suitably exposed to an ultra-violet light source, will yield a discernable image evident as a fluorescent mark. | 12-04-2008 |
20080302263 | INFRARED ENCODING OF SECURITY ELEMENTS USING STANDARD XEROGRAPHIC MATERIALS - The teachings as provided herein relate to a watermark embedded in an image that has the property of being relatively indecipherable under normal light, and yet decipherable under infrared illumination when viewed by a suitable infrared sensitive device. This infrared mark entails, a substrate reflective to infrared radiation, and a first colorant mixture and second colorant mixture printed as an image upon the substrate. The first colorant mixture layer in connection with the substrate has a property of strongly reflecting infrared illumination, as well as a property of low contrast under normal illumination against a second colorant mixture as printed in close spatial proximity to the first colorant mixture pattern, such that the resultant image rendered substrate suitably exposed to an infrared illumination, will yield a discernable image evident as a infrared mark to a suitable infrared sensitive device. | 12-11-2008 |
20080304696 | INFRARED ENCODING FOR EMBEDDING MULTIPLE VARIABLE DATA INFORMATION COLLOCATED IN PRINTED DOCUMENTS - The teachings as provided herein relate to a watermark embedded in an image that has the property of being relatively indecipherable under normal light by including a distraction pattern, and yet remains decipherable under infrared illumination when viewed by a suitable infrared sensitive instrument. This infrared mark comprises, a substrate reflective to infrared radiation, a foreground colorant mixture printed as an image upon the substrate, a background colorant mixture and a distraction colorant mixture. The foreground colorant mixture layer in connection with the substrate has a property of strongly reflecting infrared illumination, as well as a property of low contrast under normal illumination against the background colorant mixture as printed in close spatial proximity to the foreground colorant mixture pattern. A distraction colorant mixture is selected to have a substantially negligent effect on the infrared response of the foreground and background color mixtures, but as having a substantially noticeable effect of the visual response of the foreground and background color mixtures when provided as a distraction pattern, such that a resultant collocated image rendered substrate suitably exposed to an infrared illumination, will yield a discernable image evident as a infrared mark to a suitable infrared sensitive device, but remain undecipherable under normal ambient light. | 12-11-2008 |
20080305444 | INFRARED ENCODING OF SECURITY ELEMENTS USING STANDARD XEROGRAPHIC MATERIALS WITH DISTRACTION PATTERNS - The teachings as provided herein relate to a watermark embedded in an image that has the property of being relatively indecipherable under normal light, and yet decipherable under infrared illumination when viewed by a suitable infrared sensitive device. This infrared mark entails in combination with at least one distraction pattern, a substrate reflective to infrared radiation, and a first colorant mixture and second colorant mixture printed as an image upon the substrate. The first colorant mixture layer in connection with the substrate has a property of strongly reflecting infrared illumination, as well as a property of low contrast under normal illumination against a second colorant mixture as printed in close spatial proximity to the first colorant mixture pattern, such that the resultant image rendered substrate suitably exposed to an infrared illumination, will yield a discernable image evident as a infrared mark to a suitable infrared sensitive device. | 12-11-2008 |
20090109460 | USING APPLICATION SIDE TRUETYPE OR OTHER OUTLINE FONTS TO CREATE SPECIALTY IMAGING FONTS ON DIGITAL FRONT-END - A document printing method includes receiving a print job of electronic document data representing a document including a security character string with at least one character defined in the electronic document data in terms of a security mark creation font. The security mark creation font is a scalable outline based font, wherein the security character string is defined with a selected security effect, and wherein the security mark creation font provides an indication of the selected security effect without implementing the security effect. An SI Font is selected that corresponds to the security mark creation font of the at least one character of the security character string. The SI Font includes a bitmap representation of the at least one character of the security character string. The SI Font is suitable for printing the security character string with the selected security effect. The step of selecting an SI Font includes selecting the SI Font based upon a unique name of the SI Font that corresponds to a name of the security mark creation font, and also includes selecting the SI Font based upon at least one other attribute of the security mark creation font. A font substitution is performed in which the selected SI Font is used to define the security character string in the electronic document data in place of the security mark creation font. After the font substitution, a hard copy output of the document is printed as defined by the electronic document data including the substituted SI Font. A system is disclosed for performing the document printing method. | 04-30-2009 |
20090122349 | FLUORESCENCE-BASED CORRELATION MARK FOR ENHANCED SECURITY IN PRINTED DOCUMENTS - A fluorescence-based correlation mark is included in a printed document by encoding the correlation mark as phase shifts in the yellow halftone image only of a printed color document. The correlation mark transparency key is likewise printed using only yellow colorant or can be printed in black or with another colorant or mixture of colorants that will appear dark or black when subjected to UV illumination. UV illumination of the document without use of the transparency key, and use of the transparency key without UV illumination of the document are insufficient to reveal the fluorescence-based correlation mark. UV illumination of the document while the transparency key is overlaid with the document will allow the correlation mark to be perceived. | 05-14-2009 |
20090207433 | VARIABLE DATA DIGITAL PANTOGRAPHS - A variable data pantograph is formed by receiving a variable data string and retrieving at least one character representation from a vocabulary of character representations stored in memory. The retrieved at least one character representation corresponds to the variable data string. Each of the character representations in the vocabulary include a foreground region including a character shape and a background region suitably sized and arranged for encompassing the foreground region. The background region incorporates a first pattern of elements and the foreground region incorporates a second pattern of elements. The retrieved at least one character representation is assembled to form a variable data pantograph, whereby when the variable data pantograph is rendered in an original document, the foreground and background regions are similar in tone, the foreground and background regions being substantially less similar in tone in a copy of the original document to render the character visible. | 08-20-2009 |
20090214113 | Removing Ringing and Blocking Artifacts from JPEG Compressed Document Images - A method of removing ringing and blocking artifacts from a decompressed digital image. In one method, a background value of the digital image a background region and foreground regions is determined, and a threshold value is computed. A mapping of the digital image is then generated by thresholding the digital image based on the threshold value to produce a thresholded image, and enlarging the foreground regions of the thresholded image to form a map image. The mapping includes the background pixels of the map image. The background region of the decompressed digital image is then cleansed based on the mapping. In an alternate method, ringing artifacts are removed from a decompressed digital image based on a signal-to-noise ratio of the image. In yet another alternate embodiment, ringing artifacts are from a decompressed digital color image that includes a chrominance channel and a luminance channel. An alternate embodiment removes ringing and blocking artifacts. | 08-27-2009 |
20090262400 | INFRARED WATERMARKING OF PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES BY MATCHED DIFFERENTIAL BLACK STRATEGIES - A system and method for infrared watermarking using gray component replacement and other color removal schemes is shown. This method includes providing a substrate and implementing two infrared absorption strategies, one with low infrared absorption and the other with high infrared absorption. These two strategies are then combined in order to form two gamuts with substantially similar shapes. This combination can be made by blending the gamuts at areas where one of the strategies do not meet or implementing the intersection of the two gamuts. A watermark is then printed along with an image. The resultant image with watermark is void of artifacts while still having a consistent watermark signal. | 10-22-2009 |
20090262402 | SHOW-THROUGH REDUCTION METHOD AND SYSTEM - A show-through reduction method is disclosed. The method is designed to deal with both light and severe show-through. The method focuses mostly on text documents, with characters possibly appearing in multiple gray levels, although the method can also be extended to color documents. As in the prior art, the front and back pages are processed in pairs. However, no perfect page alignment is assumed here, since we are dealing with real images. Instead, a front and back registration is performed as the first step before the pages are further analyzed. In this method, we are aligning the front page content with its show-through appearing in the back side, and the back page content with its show-through appearing in the front side. Once the two sides are aligned, masks are generated for both sides to differentiate severe show-through and light color content regions. Finally, different TRCs are applied to different regions. The show-through is reduced and the page contents are retained. | 10-22-2009 |
20100021069 | PDF DE-CHUNKING AND OBJECT CLASSIFICATION - Systems and methods are described that facilitate identifying objects in a document (e.g., a PDF document) for automatic image enhancement (AIE). A PDF document is “chunked” or segmented into chunks, and boundaries between chunks are identified as real or imaginary. Chunks sharing imaginary boundaries are combined, while real boundaries are retained, to generate “de-chunked” objects. These objects are then classified, and an AIE application is executed on objects meeting pre-specified classification criteria. In this manner, objects of r which AIE is not desired are not subjected to the AIE application, thereby saving time and processing resources associated with enhancing the document. | 01-28-2010 |
20100040282 | DECODING OF UV MARKS USING A DIGITAL IMAGE ACQUISITION DEVICE - A method and system for identifying a fluorescence mark in a printed document includes using an image acquisition device to derive an input digital image that represents a printed document including a background and a fluorescence mark adjacent the background. The input digital image includes multiple color channel digital images, with each color channel digital image comprising a plurality of pixels each defined by a gray value. For each pixel of at least one of the color channel digital images, the gray value is adjusted based upon a variance of adjacent pixel gray values to define a filtered digital image including a plurality of pixels each defined by an adjusted gray value. Some pixels of the filtered digital image correspond to low variance regions of the input digital image and other pixels of the filtered digital image correspond to high variance regions of the input digital image. A binary image is derived that represents the filtered digital image by mapping each adjusted gray value of the filtered image to either a first or second possible binary pixel value. The binary image includes a binary representation of the fluorescence mark and a binary representation of the background. At least one morphological operation is performed on the binary image to adjust the pixel values of the binary representation of the background so that all pixel values of the binary representation of the background are opposite the binary pixel value used for the binary representation of the fluorescence mark. An ASCII character for the binary representation of the fluorescence mark (or each constituent character thereof) can be derived and compared to a known security code to authenticate the printed document. | 02-18-2010 |
20100054581 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COLOR SPACE CONVERSION WITH REDUCED ARTIFACTS - A method and system convert an original digital image being represented by a first color space to a digital image being represented by a second color space by transforming the original image data represented by a first color space to second image data being represented by a second color space, the transformation causing the colors of the transformed image data to be substantially encodable in the second color space. The second image data represented by the second color space is transformed to third image data represented by the first color space, the transformation causing the colors of the transformed image data to be substantially encodable in the first color space. Distortions in the third image data represented by the first color space are corrected to form corrected image data represented by the first color space, and the corrected image data represented by the first color space is transformed to fourth image data represented by the second color space. | 03-04-2010 |
20100071590 | SOLID PHASE CHANGE FLUORESCENT INK AND INK SETS - An ink set includes a plurality of inks, at least one ink but less than all inks of the ink set including an ink vehicle, colorant and fluorescence agent and remaining additional inks including an ink vehicle, colorant and free of fluorescence agent. At least a first ink grouping and a second ink grouping of the ink set form a combination, the first and second groupings of the combination exhibiting a substantially same color under ambient light conditions upon image formation. The first ink grouping and the second ink grouping of the combination contain a different amount of the fluorescence agent, wherein upon exposure to activating energy, the fluorescence agent fluoresces to cause a visible change in the color of a pattern formed in an image by the first ink grouping as compared to the second ink grouping. | 03-25-2010 |
20100075241 | TONERS WITH FLUORESCENCE AGENT AND TONER SETS INCLUDING THE TONERS - A toner set includes a plurality of toners, at least one toner but less than all toners of the toner set including binder, colorant and fluorescence agent and remaining additional toners including binder, colorant and free of fluorescence agent. At least a first toner grouping and a second toner grouping of the toner set form a combination, the first and second groupings of the combination exhibiting a substantially same color under ambient light conditions upon image formation. The first toner grouping and the second toner grouping of the combination contain a different amount of the fluorescence agent, wherein upon exposure to activating energy, the fluorescence agent fluoresces to cause a visible change in the color of a pattern formed in an image by the first toner grouping as compared to the second toner grouping. | 03-25-2010 |
20100128321 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO EMBED GLOSSMARK DIGITAL WATERMARKS INTO CONTINUOUS-TONE IMAGES - Disclosed are methods/systems to embed a watermark into a contone image. Specifically, the disclosed methods and systems spatially modulate a contone image substantially adjacent a watermark area according to a first polarization and spatially modulate the contone image substantially within the watermark area according to a second polarization. These spatially modulated images may then be subsequently processed, stored, communicated and/or rendered. | 05-27-2010 |
20100150433 | VARIABLE DATA DIGITAL PANTOGRAPHS - A variable data pantograph is formed by receiving a variable data string and retrieving at least one character representation from a vocabulary of character representations stored in memory. The retrieved at least one character representation corresponds to the variable data string. Each of the character representations in the vocabulary is associated with a foreground region including a character shape and a background region suitably sized and arranged for encompassing the foreground region. The background region incorporates a first pattern of elements and is controlled to render a target color using a first set of color separation control data and the foreground region incorporates a second pattern of elements and is controlled to render the target color using a second set of color separation control data. The retrieved at least one character representation is assembled to form a variable data pantograph, whereby when the variable data pantograph is rendered in an original document, the foreground and background regions are similar in tone, the foreground and background regions being substantially less similar in tone in a copy of the original document to render the character visible. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153580 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INCLUDING A SECURITY FEATURE WITHIN A DOCUMENT - Disclosed are methods and apparatus for providing extended functionality to a networked device, the networked device connected in a network, as well as corresponding apparatus and computer-readable medium. The embodiments intercept data communications in which the networked device is a party, the data communications being intercepted by an interdictor, receive at the interdictor a subscription registration for notification of a networked device event which is to be altered, the subscription registration being received from an extension service, determine whether the data communications in which the networked device is a party corresponds to the subscription registration of the networked device event which is to be altered, and modify the data communications in which the networked device is a party to provide the extended functionality when the data communications are determined to correspond to the subscription registration of networked device event to be altered. According to one exemplary embodiment, the event is altered to include a security feature within a document associated with a print job. | 06-17-2010 |
20100156919 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TEXT-BASED PERSONALIZATION OF IMAGES - As set forth herein, a computer-implemented method is employed to place personalized text into an image. A location and region within the image is determined where the text is to be placed. The 3D geometry of the surface is estimated proximate to the location where the text is to be placed. A personalized text string is received. The personalized text string is incorporated into the image to appear as if it is rendered onto the surface or object according to the estimated 3D geometry. | 06-24-2010 |
20100157377 | UV FLUORESCENCE ENCODED BACKGROUND IMAGES USING ADAPTIVE HALFTONING INTO DISJOINT SETS - Systems and methods are described that facilitate generating a background image with a UV-fluorescent watermark for printing on a document. A binary watermark mask is generated to separate the background image into the UV-active and the UV-dull regions. Based on the assigned binary value of the watermark mask, each pixel is assigned a UV-active or UV-dull color using an adaptive halftoning technique, in order to generate a binary UV-active image and a binary UV-dull image. A binary watermarked background image is generated by combining the binary UV-active and UV-dull images, and is printed on a document. The UV-active and UV-dull colors have different UV intensities under UV light, but are indistinguishable under normal lighting conditions. In this manner, the background image is visible when exposed to visible light, and the UV-fluorescent watermark is visible when exposed to UV light. | 06-24-2010 |
20100188710 | FONT-INPUT BASED RECOGNITION ENGINE FOR PATTERN FONTS - As set forth herein, a computer implemented method is used to encode and decode a user-individualized font. A variable alphabet is created and a document is created using this variable alphabet to encode machine readable information. The variable alphabet is communicated to a generalized recognition engine via a predefined font mechanism. The alphabet representation is used to modify the recognition engine, by at least changing one or more template definitions. | 07-29-2010 |
20100214595 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING PATTERN COLOR SPACE IN PRINT JOB PROCESSING - A method for creating a pattern color space for use during print job processing may include: a) defining a variable portion of the pattern color space, b) defining a fixed portion of the pattern color space, c) defining a bounding shape for the pattern color space, d) defining a procedure for painting the variable and fixed portions within the bounding shape, and e) at least temporarily, saving the pattern color space to a storage device. The variable portion of the pattern color space may be based on variable data associated with the print job and an object within the print job may identify the pattern color space for a color parameter. A system using this method may include a storage device, a digital front end, a print controller, and a print engine. Various methods for using the pattern color space during print job processing are also provided. | 08-26-2010 |
20100231980 | HIGH RESOLUTION SCALABLE GLOSS EFFECT - A method for defining a gloss effect in a printed document includes printing a document region with first and second colorant combinations. The first colorant combination defines a first colorant stack height and said second colorant combination defines a second colorant stack height that differs from the first colorant stack height. As such, the document region has a first appearance when viewed straight-on and a second appearance when viewed at an angle. In one example, the first colorant combination is black (K) colorant that results in a one-level stack height and the second colorant combination is cyan, magenta, and yellow (CMY) colorants that result in a three-level stack height. In another example, the second colorant combination can be cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK) colorants that define a four-level stack height. In such case, both colorant combinations appear as black in straight-on viewing or scanning, while the average color and/or luminance of the colorant combinations will differ from each other when the document region is viewed at an oblique angle. The desired gloss font or other gloss effect is defined by selective placement of the first and second colorant combinations relative to each other. Font sizes of 3 points or less can be defined. | 09-16-2010 |
20100239831 | DOUBLE LAYER UV VARIABLE DATA TEXT - A method and system are provided for including a double layer security mark in digital document data defining an image of a document to be printed and in the printed document, itself. A fluorescence mark region including a fluorescence mark is defined using first and second metameric colorant mixtures. Variation in colorant spatial coverage between the first and second metameric colorant mixtures results in colorant-free areas that define the fluorescence mark due to substrate fluorescence under UV illumination. The fluorescence mark region is modified to define a double layer fluorescence mark region including the fluorescence mark and also including at least one visible light object defined by a third colorant mixture. The third colorant mixture is added to the fluorescence mark region by masking the colorant-free areas of the fluorescence mark region to prevent writing of the third colorant mixture data to the colorant-free areas so as not to disturb the colorant-free areas. | 09-23-2010 |
20100302594 | REAL-TIME IMAGE PERSONALIZATION - Systems and methods are described that facilitate real-time personalization of an electronic image by overlaying a text string on a planar surface of an object in the electronic image. A linear or affine transform is executed on a selected text string to position the text string in a reference rectangle or text box. A non-linear or projective transform is applied to the rectangular text box to project the box into a user-defined quadrilateral on the planar surface in the image. A page description language (PDL) file is generated and includes the transformed quadrilateral text box overlaid on the electronic image. At print-time, a database (e.g., a spreadsheet or the like) containing multiple text strings is read, once for each text string, and multiple images are printed. Each printed image has one of the text strings overlaid thereon, on the planar surface defined by the quadrilateral. | 12-02-2010 |
20110001314 | SECURITY CODES WITHIN SCRATCH-OFF LAYERS AND METHOD OF EMBEDDING THEREOF - A scratch-off document may include a substrate bearing printed content and a scratch-off layer covering the printed content. The scratch-off layer may include a mass of a first ink and a portion of a second ink embedded within the first ink. The first ink and the second ink may exhibit a metameric match when exposed to visible light, and the second ink may be positioned to form a security code | 01-06-2011 |
20110052888 | MAGNETIC WATERMARKING OF A PRINTED SUBSTRATE BY METAMERIC RENDERING - A document may include a non-magnetic substrate, a first colorant mixture printed as a first image upon the substrate, the first colorant mixture including a magnetic ink, and a second colorant mixture printed as a second image upon the substrate in substantially close spatial proximity to the printed first colorant mixture. The second colorant mixture may consist essentially of one or more non-magnetic inks and exhibit properties of both low visual contrast and high magnetic contrast against the first colorant mixture, such that the resultant printed substrate does not reveal the first image to the human eye, but will reveal the first image to a magnetic image reader. | 03-03-2011 |
20110127331 | PHASE LOCKED IR ENCODING FOR PEENED 2D BARCODES - A system reveals a 2D barcode in a document. A 2D barcode generator selects the placement and at least one colorant combination of an image and at least one colorant combination for a 2D barcode on a document, where the at least one colorant combination of the image and the 2D barcode form a metameric pair. A print system receives data from the 2D barcode generator and places the image and the 2D barcode on the document. A light source selected or tuned to a wavelength corresponding to the colorant combinations utilized by the print system reveals the 2D barcode placed thereon. A decoding element decodes and extracts data from the revealed 2D barcode. | 06-02-2011 |
20110141530 | Embedding information using modulated periodic line patterns - A method and system is provided providing a variable data guilloché pattern comprised of variable data differential line pattern fonts comprising decodable template symbols which are capable of being selectively assembled into a predetermined variable data code. The differential line pattern fonts are further spatially modulated for imposition of a second data channel on a printed document. The representation can be decoded with a digital scanner capable of identifying the embedded patterns and spatially modulated transform function and communicate it to a user for verifying a document containing the code. | 06-16-2011 |
20110193336 | Method and system of printing a scratch-off document - A scratch-off document may include a substrate bearing a toner image and a scratch-off layer covering the printed content. The scratch-off layer may include a mass of a first solid ink and a mass of a second solid ink printed over the first solid ink in a distraction pattern. The toner image is formed of a toner that adheres to the substrate, while the scratch-off layer is made of a wax-based or other solid ink that may be removed from the substrate by scratching without removing the toner image. The distraction pattern includes varying pile heights that distract a viewer from any pile height variations that may exist in the toner image. | 08-11-2011 |
20110205569 | GLYPH-LOOKING ALPHABET FOR VIPP / SPECIALTY IMAGING FONTS - A method of defining a glyph font character representing an input binary code includes defining a first portion of a matrix using an input binary code including a plurality of input bits. A second portion of the matrix is defined by performing a transformation on the input binary code so that the second portion of the matrix includes a plurality of transformed bits. A glyph character is derived that corresponds to the matrix. The glyph character is defined by a plurality of components corresponding in location to said bits of said matrix, wherein the components of the glyph character comprise a first component (e.g. a forward slash /) that corresponds to and represents a “1” bit of the matrix and second component (e.g., a backslash \) that corresponds to and represents a “0” bit of the matrix. The transformation operation includes a NOT operation or other logic operation, and includes a shift operation. The transformation can be repeated to derive additional portions of the matrix by transforming the group of bits of the preceding matrix portion. The glyph characters corresponding to alphabet characters are each defined as a bitmap and are saved as Postscript Type 3 font. | 08-25-2011 |
20110298204 | DOCUMENT SECURITY BY ALIGNING VISIBLE AND HIDDEN MARKS - A printed document includes a security mark with visible and hidden portions. The document includes a security mark defined by at least one first security mark constituent, at least one second security mark constituent, and at least one third security mark constituent, wherein: (i) each first mark constituent is visible in a first lighting condition and is detectable in a second lighting condition; (ii) each second mark constituent is hidden in the first lighting condition and is detectable in the second lighting condition; (iii) each third mark constituent is visible in the first lighting condition and is hidden in the second lighting condition. The security mark includes at least one of the first security mark constituents located adjacent and aligned with one of the second security mark constituents and one of the third security mark constituents. The location and relative placement of the first, second, and third mark constituents is selected such that cut and paste counterfeiting is hindered. The first lighting condition is visible light and the second lighting condition is IR or UV light. | 12-08-2011 |
20110304861 | COLORIMETRIC MATCHING THE PERCEPTION OF A DIGITAL DATA FILE TO HARDCOPY LEGACY - A system for generating one or more new hardcopy prints from an electronic file comprising original digital image data, wherein the new hardcopy print(s) match a legacy hardcopy previously generated from the original digital image data of the electronic file, even when the legacy hardcopy was printed from an “enhanced” or “tuned” version of the original image data. The original image data and scanner data derived by scanning the legacy hardcopy are used to identify corresponding areas of constant color in the original data and the legacy hardcopy. The corresponding color areas are represented in a colorimetric color space and the original data color values are adjusted to match the legacy hardcopy color values. The adjusted data are used to print a new hardcopy. The colorimetric color space conversion is completed using a plurality of different printing device assumptions, and the printing device assumption resulting in the smallest starting color difference between the original color values and legacy hardcopy color areas is used for the color matching process. | 12-15-2011 |
20120024953 | DETECTION OF SECURITY MARKS SIMULATING NATURAL DEFECTS FOR EMBEDDING INFORMATION IN DOCUMENTS - A system for generating a security mark includes a data reception component that receives information. A security mark generation component in communication with the data reception component generates at least one security mark configuration based at least in part upon the received information. The at least one security mark configuration includes at least one simulation mark which resembles a natural feature. An application component applies one configuration of the at least one security mark configurations to a recipient. The applied security mark configuration obeys at least one rule whereby the security mark is distinguishable from the natural feature which it resembles by a system for detection of security marks. | 02-02-2012 |
20120140252 | Guilloche mark generation - A method and system for creating guilloché base pattern with two-dimensional periodicity in a plurality of replicate patterns is shown wherein the creating can be assessed in real-time for pattern acceptability by a user. A base pattern is set on an imaging device in vector space relative to a set of predetermined pattern nodes. The base pattern is modulated via a user interface by adjusting positions of the pattern known for selectively controlling curve shapes of the pattern. A guilloché mark is illustrated by display on the imaging device of the adjusted base pattern and a compilation of associated replicate patterns for user assessment of the mark. | 06-07-2012 |
20120140290 | METHOD OF CREATING NON-PATTERNED SECURITY ELEMENTS - Described herein is a method to encode infrared (IR) security watermarks using a named color dictionary within a PDL in a device independent manner. A set of colors is chosen that lies within the common gamut of printing devices and then defined in a device-independent color space. For each color and output device, a metameric pair of device colorant values corresponding to minimum and maximum black (K) is obtained using inversion techniques. These extremes are selected in order to obtain the maximum perceivable IR signal. The metameric pair sets are processed to extract a smaller subset that satisfies certain criteria, including bounds on the K difference, total ink area coverage, and deviation from the neutral axis. The final data is then stored in resource files that link fixed device-independent IR color names to pairs of variable device-dependent colorant values. | 06-07-2012 |
20120146991 | RENDERING PERSONALIZED TEXT ON CURVED IMAGE SURFACES - As set forth herein, a computer-implemented method facilitates replacing text on cylindrical or curved surfaces in images. For instance, the user is first asked to perform a multi-click selection of a polygon to bound the text. A triangulation scheme is carried out to identify the pixels. Segmentation and erasing algorithms are then applied. The ellipses are estimated accurately through constrained least squares fitting. A 3D framework for rendering the text, including the central projection pinhole camera model and specification of the cylindrical object, is generated. These parameters are jointly estimated from the fitted ellipses as well as the two vertical edges of the cylinder. The personalized text is wrapped around the cylinder and subsequently rendered. | 06-14-2012 |
20120218608 | IR SPECIALTY IMAGING METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Disclosed are methods and systems of printing an image encoded with an IR watermark on a substrate. According to an exemplary method, an effective gamut is used to render the image, wherein the effective gamut is formed by the intersection of a first and second gamut associated with producing a constant IR response. | 08-30-2012 |
20120237865 | TONERS WITH FLUORESCENCE AGENT AND TONER SETS INCLUDING THE TONERS - A toner set includes a plurality of toners, at least one toner but less than all toners of the toner set including binder, colorant and fluorescence agent and remaining additional toners including binder, colorant and free of fluorescence agent. At least a first toner grouping and a second toner grouping of the toner set form a combination, the first and second groupings of the combination exhibiting a substantially same color under ambient light conditions upon image formation. The first toner grouping and the second toner grouping of the combination contain a different amount of the fluorescence agent, wherein upon exposure to activating energy, the fluorescence agent fluoresces to cause a visible change in the color of a pattern formed in an image by the first toner grouping as compared to the second toner grouping. | 09-20-2012 |
20120243009 | UV AND IR SPECIALTY IMAGING METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Disclosed are methods and systems of processing work flow associated with a print job including Specialty Imaging such as UV and/or IR encoding. According to one exemplary embodiment, a printing system controller accesses a spatially structured ink composed of a plurality of non-overlapping primitive spot colors to render Specialty Imaging effects along with other images and text associated with the print job. | 09-27-2012 |
20120320388 | RELEVANCE BASED PRINT INTEGRITY VERIFICATION - A relevance based print integrity method includes comparing current raster image data that define a document to be printed with golden raster image data that define a previous version of said document with a known (perfect) quality. A plurality of differences between said current raster image data and said golden raster image data are calculated, and each of the differences is processed to determine a relevance value of the difference and to assign the relevance value to the difference. The method includes generating and storing a list of the differences, wherein the list is ordered in terms of the relevance value assigned to each difference. The difference list is presented to a user textually or graphically and/or is used to control or interrupt printing operations. | 12-20-2012 |
20130004743 | DOUBLE LAYER UV VARIABLE DATA TEXT - A method and system for including a double layer security mark in digital document data defining an image of a document to be printed and in the printed document. A fluorescence mark region including a fluorescence mark is defined using first and second metameric colorant mixtures. Variation in colorant spatial coverage between the first and second metameric colorant mixtures results in colorant-free areas that define the fluorescence mark due to substrate fluorescence under UV illumination. The fluorescence mark region is modified to define a double layer fluorescence mark region including the fluorescence mark and also including at least one visible light object defined by a third colorant mixture. The third colorant mixture is added to the fluorescence mark region by masking the colorant-free areas of the fluorescence mark region to prevent writing of the third colorant mixture data to the colorant-free areas to avoid disturbing the colorant-free areas. | 01-03-2013 |
20130128317 | DOUBLE LAYER GLOSSMARK IMAGE THROUGH DYNAMIC PATTERNINKS - A method for providing a double layer GlossMark™ image includes providing a first layer text string for generating a patternink. The method further includes providing a second layer text string through the patternink. The first layer text string is visible as gloss variation between first character and background fields and the second layer text string is visible as a color difference between second character and background fields. | 05-23-2013 |
20130256400 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR END USER VERIFICATION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES - A portable electronic device includes an image capture module that captures a digital image of a symbology that is affixed to a regulated product. The device decodes the symbology to identify an end user functional element which has a public component and a law enforcement component. If the device has received a law enforcement official verification, then the device may use the law enforcement component of the functional element to take a first action. If the device has not received the law enforcement official verification, then the processor device may use the public component of the functional element to take a second action. | 10-03-2013 |
20140022603 | VARIABLE DATA IMAGE WATERMARKING USING INFRARED SEQUENCE STRUCTURES IN BLACK SEPARATION - An image watermarking method includes a color transform on RGB image data to derive CMYK image data that define a constant K image. Variable infrared (IR) mark data defining an IR mark are received and a sparse two-dimensional pattern of black pixels is defined that corresponds to the variable IR data, e.g., using Gold codes or pseudorandom binary sequences. A watermarked black separation K″ is defined by embedding the sparse two-dimensional pattern into the constant K black separation K′ while maintaining local average levels. A watermarked image includes the watermarked black separation K″ in combination with the CMY separations of the constant K image. A decoding process includes using an IR microscope fitted with IR LEDs and an IR pass filter to capture an IR image, which is subjected to exposure correction, thresholding, and dilation operations to extract the two-dimensional pattern for subsequent correlation processing. | 01-23-2014 |
20140038801 | PACKAGE DEFINITION SYSTEM - A method and system for defining a package uses a graph representation of the package to create and implement a package generation rule set. The graph representation uses links and nodes to represent the relationships between various facet, edges and functional elements of the package, | 02-06-2014 |
20140038802 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING PERSONALIZED PACKAGING - A personalized package creation system uses an imaging device to capture an image of a barcode. An image capture module decodes the barcode to retrieve data, such as package dimension data and one or more package structural parameters. Based on the package dimensions and the structural parameter, a processing device defines a set of cutting instructions. An automated package generation device applies the cutting instructions and uses a cutting device to creating a package. | 02-06-2014 |
20140040319 | PACKAGE DEFINITION SYSTEM - A package definition system enables a user to dynamically modify a package design by altering a dimension of less than all of the package's faces. The system uses a functional representation of a package having links and nodes that represent faces or functional elements and connecting relationships between them. | 02-06-2014 |
20140055796 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CREATING STRUCTURAL DOCUMENTS WITH SECURITY FEATURES - A method of creating a structural document may include determining a shape of a structural document, determining a plurality of dimensions of the structural document, receiving information associated with one or more content items, identifying one or more security features associated with the structural document and causing a graphical representation of the structural document to be displayed at a user computing device. A shape of the graphical representation may correspond to the determined shape, a plurality of dimensions of the graphical representation may be representative of the determined plurality of dimensions, and the graphical representation may include at least a portion of the received content items and at least a portion of the identified security features. The method may include receiving an indication that a user is finished creating the structural document, generating a print document including an encoded data mark, and providing the print document to print-related devices. | 02-27-2014 |
20140055820 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CREATING STRUCTURAL DOCUMENTS - A method of creating a structural document may include determining, by a host computing device in a cloud system, a shape of a structural document, determining, by the host computing device, a plurality of dimensions of the structural document, receiving information associated with one or more content items, and causing a graphical representation of the structural document to be displayed at a user computing device. A shape of the graphical representation may correspond to the determined shape, a plurality of dimensions of the graphical representation may correspond to the determined plurality of dimensions, and the graphical representation may include at least a portion of the received content items. The method may include receiving an indication that a user is finished creating the structural document, generating a print document including an encoded data mark, and providing the print document to one or more print-related devices. | 02-27-2014 |
20140055821 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CREATING STRUCTURAL DOCUMENT PACKAGES FOR PRODUCTS - A method of creating a structural document may include receiving, by a host computing device in a cloud system, content information pertaining to one or more contents of a structural document that may be configured to encase the contents, determining a shape of a structural document based at least in part on the received content information, determining a plurality of dimensions of the structural document based at least in part on the received content information, receiving content item information associated with one or more content items, and causing a graphical representation of the structural document to be displayed at the user computing device. The method may include receiving an indication that a user is finished creating the structural document, generating a print document including an encoded data mark, and providing the print document to one or more print-related devices. | 02-27-2014 |
20140055822 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CREATING STRUCTURAL DOCUMENTS HAVING CONTACT INFORMATION FOR UTILIZING PRODUCT INFORMATION - A method may include determining a shape of a structural document, determining a plurality of dimensions of the structural document, receiving information associated with one or more content items, receiving contact information to include on the structural document, receiving an indication of a location on the structural document where the contact information is to be displayed, and causing a graphical representation of the structural document to be displayed at a computing device. A shape and dimensions of the graphical representation may correspond to the determined shape and dimensions, the contact information may be displayed on the graphical representation at the location, and the graphical representation may include at least a portion of the received content items. The method may include receiving an indication that a user is finished creating the structural document, generating a print document including an encoded data mark, and providing the print document to print-related devices. | 02-27-2014 |
20140085392 | EMBEDDING INFRARED MARKS IN GLOSS SECURITY PRINTING - A processor controls a marking engine to print a uniform region having a visually uniform color for an observer within all areas of the uniform region. The processor also controls the marking engine to print different gloss patterns within the uniform region. The different gloss patterns have first and second gloss regions, and the gloss difference between the first and second gloss regions forms gloss marks. Additionally, the processor controls the marking engine to print different infrared patterns within the uniform region to form infrared marks. In some embodiments, the infrared patterns are only within the first gloss regions and are not within the second gloss regions. | 03-27-2014 |
20140121800 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR APPLYING AN ADAPTIVE PERFORATION CUT TO A SUBSTRATE - A method and system automatically and dynamically updates the design of perforation lines in a package design file. It identifies an edge between two facets to which a perforation line is to be applied, determines a length of the edge, and uses the length of the edge and a default cut segment length to determine a number of cut segments that will be included in the perforation line. The method and system also may determine a phasing for the perforation line to ensure that the ends of the line are either a cut or spacer, depending on the desired function or placement of the line. | 05-01-2014 |
20140129018 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO PROMOTE THE INCORPORATION OF UNUSED SUBSTRATE AREAS INTO ORNAMENTAL PACKAGES - A package generation system allows a user to add an ornamental structure to a package flat by receiving a package design file containing data representing package characteristics. The system uses the package design file to identify a two-dimensional layout of the package. The system identifies: (i) a first area of a substrate that will form a two-dimensional flat of a package; (ii) an unused area of the substrate that will not form part of the package; and (iii) an ornamental structure that is attachable to a facet of the package and which fits within a portion of the unused area adjacent to the facet. The system then outputs a representation of the ornamental structure to a user. Examples of ornamental structures include a ribbon, a detachable coupon, or an ornamental face. The system may create the package after the user selects an offered ornamental structure. | 05-08-2014 |
20140139849 | DYNAMIC BLEED AREA DEFINITION FOR PRINTING OF MULTI-DIMENSIONAL SUBSTRATES - A method of defining a three-dimensional structure having multiple facets, such as a package, identifies an image that is to be printed on a first facet. It also identifies a second facet of the package that has a functional relationship with the first facet, determines whether the functional relationship is that of a crease, an edge, or another functional relationship, and automatically defines a bleed area by accessing a rule set and applying the rule set to the determined functional relationship. The bleed area includes an area in which the first image will be printed and that is outside of the location of the first facet. | 05-22-2014 |
20140208196 | DYNAMIC IMAGE LAYOUT FOR PERSONALIZED PACKAGES - A method of determining a layout of a structural document may include receiving a plurality of images, determining a design associated with a structural document, determining a number of facets associated with the structural document based on the determined design, determining an image area associated with the structural document, and determining a layout associated with the structural document based on the determined image area. The method may include determining an image aspect ratio associated with each of the plurality of received images, determining an area aspect ratio associated with each of the one or more areas, assigning each received image to one of the one or more areas based on the determined aspect ratio associated with the image and the determined area aspect ratio associated with the area, and causing a graphical representation of the structural document to be displayed. | 07-24-2014 |
20140240790 | COLOR DIFFERENTIAL GLOSS SECURITY PRINTING - Methods and devices identify gloss levels and appearance colors for different printers based on the common printing capabilities of the different printers. Such gloss levels and appearance colors are formed from different combinations of one or more colorant marking materials combined or stacked on a print substrate surface. Further, such methods and devices identify common color metameric pairs based on the gloss levels and the appearance colors. Each of the common color metameric pairs has the same appearance color, but has a different gloss level. Patterns of different gloss levels in an area of uniform appearance color form a differential gloss security feature on a printed document. The methods herein can store a file with the common color metameric pairs in a non-transitory storage medium that is operatively connected to at least one of the different printers. | 08-28-2014 |
20140320874 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INCORPORATING SECURITY ELEMENTS IN PRINTED DOCUMENTS IN AN INSECURE ENVIRONMENT - Systems and methods for secured printing are provided. The method includes receiving a nominally print-ready document with the nominally print-ready document including one or more references to one or more security elements. The method also includes replacing the one or more references with one or more identifiers, to generate an intermediate document, and associating the one or more security elements with the one or more identifiers. The method further includes transmitting instructions to a printing device, with the instructions being configured to cause the printing device to associate the one or more identifiers with the one or more security elements. The operations further include transmitting the intermediate document to the printing device. | 10-30-2014 |
20150043039 | SYSTEM FOR CREATING CERTIFIED DOCUMENT COPIES - To print a certified document, a user may select or a system may receive a selection of a document to be certified. The system identifies a security template to be used based on the document and/or capabilities of the print device on which the document will be printed. The system may display the document with a non-secure overlay of the selected security template, add a unique security element to the document according to the template, and cause the document to be printed at the selected print device with the added security element without permitting the added security element to be fully displayed or printed on any other device. | 02-12-2015 |