System and method for digital image encoding

1. An automated method for encoding and graphically embedding digital images into a source image, the method comprising:

(a) providing a first digital output image;

(b) rasterizing a source image into source image segments having a rasterization frequency equal to or a multiple of a decoder lens frequency; and

(c) reforming the rasterized source image segments according to a pattern of the output image to form a revised source image, the output image being viewable by orienting a decoder with the decoder lens frequency over a printed version of the revised source image.

2. An automated method according to claim 1 wherein the action of providing a first digital output image comprises:

(a) providing a first digital input image;

(b) dividing the first digital input image into a number of elemental image segments each having an input segment length dimension and an input width dimension, the number of elemental image segments being established so that the number of image segments per inch is equal to or a multiple of the decoder lens frequency; and

(c) assembling the elemental image segments to form the first digital output image.

3. An automated method according to claim 2 further comprising:

resizing the elemental image segments so that each image segment has an output segment length dimension equal to the input segment length dimension and a common width dimension that is a function of the input segment width dimension and a scrambling factor, the elemental image segment being resized about a lengthwise segment centerline.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein a ratio of the output segment width dimension to the input segment width dimension is proportional to the scrambling factor.

5. A method according to claim 3 wherein the scrambling factor is greater than or equal to 1.0.

6. A method according to claim 3 wherein the scrambling factor is an input parameter specified by a user of the automated method.

7. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

printing the revised source image with sufficient resolution so that the input image may be discerned by viewing the revised source image through a lenticular lens having the decoder lens frequency.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the action of reforming the rasterized source image segments includes altering line thickness for at least a portion of the rasterized source image segments in areas corresponding to content in the output image pattern.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the action of reforming the rasterized source image segments includes shifting line position along a portion of at least some of the rasterized source image segments in areas corresponding to content in the output image pattern.

10. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

flipping each elemental image segment 180 degrees about its lengthwise centerline.

11. A computer storage medium having software code stored thereon, the software code being configured to cause a computer to execute a method for encoding an image and graphically embedding the image into a source image, the method comprising:

(a) rasterizing a source image into source image segments having a rasterization frequency equal to or a multiple of a decoder lens frequency; and

(b) reforming the rasterized source image segments according to a pattern of an output image to form a revised source image, the output image being viewable by orienting a decoder with the decoder lens frequency over a printed version of the revised source image.

12. A computer storage medium according to claim 11 wherein the method further comprises:

(a) receiving a first digital input image;

(b) dividing the first digital input image into a number of elemental image segments each having an input segment length dimension and an input width dimension, the number of elemental image segments being established so that the number of image segments per inch is equal to or a multiple of the decoder lens frequency; and

(c) assembling the elemental image segments to form the output image.

13. A computer storage medium according to claim 12 wherein the method further comprises:

resizing the elemental image segments so that each image segment has an output segment length dimension equal to the input segment length dimension and a common width dimension that is a function of the input segment width dimension and a scrambling factor, the elemental image segment being resized about a lengthwise segment centerline.

14. A computer storage medium according to claim 13 wherein a ratio of the output segment width dimension to the input segment width dimension is proportional to the scrambling factor.

15. A computer storage medium according to claim 13 wherein the scrambling factor is greater than or equal to 1.0.

16. A computer storage medium according to claim 13 wherein the scrambling factor is an input parameter specified by a user of the automated method.

17. A computer storage medium according to claim 11 wherein the method further comprises:

printing the revised source image with sufficient resolution so that the input image may be discerned by viewing the revised source image through a lenticular lens having the decoder lens frequency.

18. A computer storage medium according to claim 11 wherein the action of reforming the rasterized source image segments includes altering line thickness for at least a portion of the rasterized source image segments in areas corresponding to content in the output image pattern.

19. A computer storage medium according to claim 11 wherein the action of reforming the rasterized source image segments includes shifting line position along a portion of at least some of the rasterized source image segments in areas corresponding to content in the output image pattern.

20. A computer storage medium according to claim 11 wherein the method further comprises:

flipping each elemental image segment 180 degrees about its lengthwise centerline.