Digital photograph duplication apparatus

1. An apparatus for reproducing a visible image depicted in a photograph, the photograph carrying digitally encoded data printed in invisible ink, the digitally encoded data having pixel values for all pixels in the visible image, the apparatus comprising:

an illuminating means for illuminating the photograph with invisible radiation, the illuminating means including a plurality of LEDs linearly arranged to span a width of the photograph;

a sensing means for receiving the invisible radiation illuminated on and reflected from the photograph by the illuminating means, the sensing means adapted to detect an interaction of the invisible radiation with the digitally encoded data carried on the photograph;

a top substrate in which the illuminating means and the sensing means are encased, the top substrate being transparent to the invisible radiation and having a semi circular cross section in the vicinity of the illuminating means, the top substrate further having a elongated recess for receiving therein the sensing means;

means for processing the invisible radiation received by the sensing means, the means for processing operable to decode the digitally encoded data; and

an inkjet printer for receiving data from the means for processing data to print a copy of the visible image depicted in the photograph, the data used to print the visible image being generated from the digitally encoded data, wherein

the top substrate, in the vicinity of the sensing means, is shaped to define an array of microlenses for focusing the invisible radiation reflected from the photograph onto the sensing means.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said invisible ink is an infra-red absorbing ink, and wherein said invisible radiation is infra-red light.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said ink jet printer prints both the visible image depicted in the photograph and the digitally encoded data.