Hiding patterns with daylight fluorescent inks

R. Rossier, R.D. Hersch

Proc. IS&T/SID's 19th Color Imaging Conference, 2011, pp. 223-228.

We propose a method for hiding patterns within printed images by making use of classical and of two daylight fluorescent magenta and yellow inks. Under the D65 illuminant we establish in the CIELAB space the gamut of a classical cmyk printer and the gamut of the same printer using a combination of classical inks with daylight fluorescent inks. These gamuts show that a significant part of the classical ink gamut can be reproduced by combining classical inks with daylight fluorescent inks. By printing parts of images with a combination of classical and daylight fluorescent inks instead of using classical inks only, we can hide security patterns within printed images. Under normal daylight, we do not see any difference between the parts printed with classical inks only and the parts printed with daylight fluorescent inks and classical inks. By changing the illumination, e.g. by viewing the printed image under a tungsten lamp or under a UV lamp, the daylight fluorescent inks change their colors and reveal the security pattern formed by combinations of classical inks and of daylight fluorescent inks.

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