Method and system for overprinting a first digital image over a pre-printed second image

1. A method of adaptive overprinting of a first digital image over a pre-printed second image comprising at least one feature, the method comprising:

capturing an image of a substrate pre-printed with said second image and with at least one registration mark;

automatically computing one or more global offsets from intended pre-determined properties of the at least one registration mark;

automatically computing one or more global compensation adjustment values to be applied to the at least one feature, based on said one or more computed global offsets;

applying, by a processor using image processing, said computed one or more global compensation adjustment values to said first digital image to create a corrected digital image; and

printing said corrected digital image over said second image.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said global offset comprises at least one of a global spatial shifts, a global intensity shift and a global color shift.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said global spatial shifts comprise at least one of a global rotational shift and a global size shift.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

automatically computing one or more local offsets from intended pre-determined properties of the at least one feature;

automatically computing one or more local compensation adjustment values to be applied to the at least one feature, based on said one or more computed local offsets; and

applying, by a processor using image processing, said computed one or more local compensation adjustment values to said first digital image to create a corrected digital image.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said local offset comprises one or more missing parts of said at least one feature.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein said local offset comprises one or more shifted parts of said at least one feature.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein said local offset comprises at least one of a local intensity shift and a local color shift.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

recording in a log identification information associated with the substrate when the one or more determined offsets have values indicative that the substrate requires shift adaptive overprint intervention.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said substrate is a single page.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said substrate is part of a roll.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said printing comprises printing with one of: varnish, colors, security inks and conductive inks.

12. A system for adaptive overprinting of a first digital image over a pre-printed second image comprising at least one feature, the system comprising:

an imager configured to capture an image of a substrate pre-printed with said second image and with at least one registration mark;

a processor configured to:

automatically compute one or more global offsets from intended properties of the at least one registration mark pre-printed on the substrate, based on the captured image of the substrate;

automatically compute one or more global compensation adjustment values to be applied to the at least one feature, based on said computed global offsets; and

apply, using image processing, said computed one or more global compensation adjustment values to said first digital image to create a corrected digital image; and

a printer configured to print said corrected digital image over said second image.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein said global offset comprises at least one of a global spatial shift, a global intensity shift and a global color shift.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein said global spatial shifts comprise at least one of a global rotational shift and a global size shift.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein said processor is further configured to:

automatically compute one or more local offsets from intended pre-determined properties of the at least one feature;

automatically compute one or more local compensation adjustment values to be applied to the at least one feature, based on said one or more computed local offsets; and

apply, using image processing, said computed one or more local compensation adjustment values to said first digital image to create a corrected digital image.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein said local offset comprises one or more missing parts of said at least one feature.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein said local offset comprises one or more shifted parts of said at least one feature.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein said local offset comprises at least one of a local intensity shift and a local color shift.

19. The system of claim 12 , wherein said substrate is a single page.

20. The system of claim 12 , wherein said substrate is part of a roll.