Digimarc Corporation

Kristyn R Falkenstern

Alastair M Reed

Yang Bai

Tomas Filler

Tony F Rodriguez

Vojtech Holub

David M Berfanger

Stephen A Lauer

Jay Kelly Sperry

Hugh L Brunk

Jeremy Leigh Cattone

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.

Modulating surface topcoats to embed digital watermarking

Consumer product labels sometime include 2D machine readable codes, such as digital watermark patterns. When such label artwork is printed on a plastic sleeve that is then heat-shrunk to conform to a plastic container, the code can become distorted and unreadable. Various techniques are detailed to cope with this problem. Additionally, methods are disclosed to assess—before a heat-shrink label is applied to a product—the expected final readability of any machine readable code included in the label artwork. A variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Pre-press warping arrangements for watermarks and associated graphic artworks, with related quality control techniques

This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking. One claim is directed to a container comprising: a 3004 or 3003 aluminum alloy shell, the shell comprising an outer surface and an inner surface; a first layer of transparent ink printed on the outer surface as a flood within a first region; a second layer of the transparent ink printed over the first layer of transparent ink within the first region, in which the second layer of the transparent ink is printed to include a plurality of holes without any transparent ink printed therein; an opaque ink printed within the plurality of holes of the second layer of transparent ink on first layer of transparent ink within the first region, in which: i) the outer surface/first layer/second layer, and ii) the outer surface/first layer/opaque ink comprise a spectral reflectance difference at a machine-vision wavelength in the range of 8%-35%, and in which the plurality of holes are arranged in a 2-dimensional pattern according to a machine-readable signal, the 2-dimensional pattern being machine-readable from imagery captured of the first region. Of course, other containers, methods, packages, objects, systems, technology and apparatus are described in this disclosure.

Signal encoding for aluminum alloy containers

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 first clear topcoat layer printed over the color ink, and in which each of the plurality of second areas comprises the color ink printed therein, and a second clear topcoat layer printed over the color ink, in which the first clear topcoat layer and the second clear topcoat layer each comprise a different sheen relative to one another, and in which the plurality of second areas is arranged on the substrate in hole locations provided in the first clear topcoat layer, the second clear topcoat layer filling in the holes, the holes arranged according to a 2-dimensional pattern that is machine-readable from image data depicting such. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided in the specification with reference to specific implementations and related examples.

Encoding signals with printed clear topcoats

The present disclosure relates generally to data hiding for retail product packaging and other printed objects such as substrates. One embodiment embeds an information signal in a spot color for printing on various substrates. The spot color is screened, and overprinted with process color tint. The tint is modulated prior to overprinting with optimized signal tweaks. The optimization can include consideration of a detector spectral dependency (e.g., red and/or green illumination). Many other embodiments and combinations are described in the subject patent document.

Data hiding through optimization of color error and modulation error

This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking. One implementation is directed to a printed object comprising: a white substrate or background comprising a first area; an ink mixture printed at a first plurality of spatial locations within the first area, the ink mixture printed such that the first area comprises a second plurality of spatial locations without the ink mixture, the ink mixture comprising extender white and Green 7 ink, the ink mixture comprising a volume or weight ratio of 97.5% to 99.75% white extender and 2.5%-0.25% Green 7 ink; in which the first plurality of spatial locations is arranged in a pattern conveying an encoded signal, and in which the white substrate or background and the ink mixture comprise a spectral reflectivity difference at or around 660 nm in a difference range of 8%-30%. Of course, other implementations, methods, packages, systems and apparatus are described in this patent document.

Signal encoding based on spectral requirements

This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking. We disclose methods, systems and apparatus for selecting which ink(s) should be selected to carry an encoded signal for a given machine-vision wavelength for a retail package or other printed design. We also disclose retail product packages and other printed objects, and methods to generate such, including a sparse mark in a first ink and an overprinted ink flood in a second ink. The first ink and the second ink are related through tack and spectral reflectance difference. Of course, other methods, packages, objects, systems and apparatus are described in this disclosure.

Signal encoding for difficult environments

The present disclosure relates to signal processing such as image processing, signal encoding, digital watermarking and data hiding. One claim recites a method including: capturing imagery corresponding to a printed object with a red or blue illumination source, the red or blue illumination source having an illumination wavelength at or around 660 nm or an illumination wavelength in the range of 60 nm centered around 460 nm, said capturing imagery yielding captured data; wherein the printed object includes a clear coat printed thereon, the clear coat including a material that has a peak absorbance at or around 660 nm or in the range of 60 nm centered around 460 nm, the clear coat printed in a manner to convey an encoded plural-bit message, the encoded plural-bit message corresponding to product information; analyzing the captured data with one or more programmed multi-core processors to decode the encoded plural-bit message, said analyzing yielding the product information; and providing the product information as an output. Of course, other claims, technology and combinations are disclosed.

Digital watermarking and data hiding with clear topcoats

This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking. One claim is directed to a container comprising: a 3004 or 3003 aluminum alloy shell, the 3004 or 3003 aluminum alloy shell comprising an outer surface and an inner surface; a 5182 aluminum alloy lid attached to the 3004 or 3003 aluminum alloy shell; and an opaque ink printed on the outer surface in a 2-dimensional pattern according to a machine-readable signal. The outer surface and the opaque ink printed on the outer surface comprise a spectral reflectance difference at a machine-vision wavelength in a range of 8%-30%, and the machine-readable signal is detectable from imagery representing the opaque ink printed on the outer surface. Of course, other containers, technology, methods, packages, objects, systems and apparatus are described in this disclosure.

The present disclosure relates generally to signal encoding for printed objects. One implementation selects an embed direction based on a minimal visibility axis of a 1 JND ellipse at a certain color center. One claim recites an apparatus comprising: memory for storing chromatic contrast sensitivity data representing multiple color encoding angles; one or more multi-core processors configured for: using the stored chromatic contrast sensitivity data, generating an ellipse around a first color center; and from the ellipse, determining a signal encode direction, the signal encode direction comprising an angle &#x3b1; representing a negative angle between the 'a*' axis in an CIELAB space and a direction of minimum sensitivity of an encoded signal, in which the angle &#x3b1; comprises &#x2212;9 degrees&#x2265;&#x3b1;&#x2265;&#x2212;25 degrees. Other technology described.

Utilizing dependency between watermark visibility and location of image sample in color space for embedded signal color direction

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.

Counterfeit detection using machine readable indicia

This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking. The technology may be applied to retail packages and other printed objects, e.g., such as hang tags, labels and receipts.

Signal encoding for inks with low reflectivity

This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking. One implementation is directed a printed object comprising: a substrate comprising a first area; a first colored ink or design printed within the first area, the first colored ink or design comprising a spectral reflectivity of less than or equal to 20% at or around 660 nm; a colored ink mixture printed over the first colored ink or design at a first plurality of spatial locations within the first area, the colored ink mixture printed such that the first area comprises a second plurality of spatial locations without the colored ink mixture, the colored ink mixture comprising opaque white ink and a first colorant, wherein the color ink mixture comprises a spectral reflectivity greater than the first colored ink or design at or around 660 nm, and wherein colored ink mixture comprises a spectral reflectivity less than the first colored ink or design in the range of 495 nm-570 nm; in which the first plurality of spatial locations is arranged in a pattern conveying an encoded signal, and in which the first colored ink or design and the colored ink mixture comprise a spectral reflectivity difference at or around 660 nm in a difference range of 8%-30%. Of course, other objects, methods, packages, labels, containers, systems and apparatus are described in this patent document.

Signal encoding for physical objects including dark ink

The present document provides image processing methods and apparatus. One claim recites: obtaining a signal to be encoded in color image data, the signal comprising a plural-bit payload; predicting a resulting color of overprinting several inks on a substrate, the overprinting representing the color image data encoded with the signal; using the resulting color for both i) visibility evaluation of the overprinting, and ii) signal robustness evaluation of the overprinting as seen by an imaging device. Other claims and combinations are provided.

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Portland, OR, United States of America

Kristyn R Falkenstern