Security marks based on print job image
A printing system receives a print request containing patterns of marks to be printed on print media to produce printed output. A processor evaluates the print request to identify different printing densities of the patterns of marks. The processor alters the patterns of marks to create hidden features on the printed output by adding different printing densities of fluorescent spots to different areas of the patterns of marks. The different printing densities of the fluorescent spots are based on the different printing densities of the patterns of marks and on the size of the hidden features. A printing device prints the print request on the print media to produce the printed output.
1. A printing system comprising:
a processor adapted to evaluate a print request to identify different printing densities of patterns of marks in the print request to be printed on print media to produce printed output; and
a printing device in communication with the processor,
wherein the processor is adapted to alter the patterns of marks to create hidden features on the printed output by adding different printing densities of fluorescent spots to different areas of the patterns of marks, wherein the different printing densities of fluorescent spots are based on the different printing densities of the patterns of marks and on a size of the hidden features, and
wherein the printing device is adapted to print the print request on the print media to produce the printed output after the processor alters the patterns of marks.
2. The printing system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is adapted to add relatively higher printing densities of the fluorescent spots to areas of the patterns of marks having relatively higher printing densities of the patterns of marks and add relatively lower printing densities of the fluorescent spots to areas of the patterns of marks having relatively lower printing densities of the patterns of marks.
3. The printing system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is adapted to add relatively lower printing densities of the fluorescent spots to the different areas of the patterns of marks as relative feature sizes of the hidden features formed by the fluorescent spots increases.
4. The printing system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is adapted to establish the different printing densities of the fluorescent spots relative to the different printing densities of the patterns of marks and the size of the hidden features to cause the hidden features to only be visible when viewed under ultraviolet light.
5. The printing system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is adapted to identify ones of the different areas of the pattern of marks to not receive the hidden features based on the printing density and printing gamut of the different areas of the pattern of marks.
6. The printing system according to claim 1 , further comprising a scanner in communication with the processor,
wherein the scanner is adapted to scan the printed output to produce a scan of the printed output;
wherein the processor is adapted to determine if the hidden features are visible in the scan of the printed output; and
wherein the processor is adapted to repeat altering the patterns of marks by reducing printing densities of the fluorescent spots based on the hidden features being visible in the scan of the printed output.
7. The printing system according to claim 6 , further comprising a feeder in communication with the processor,
wherein the feeder is adapted to discard the printed output based on the hidden features being visible in the scan of the printed output; and
wherein the printing device is adapted to repeat printing the print request after the printing densities of the fluorescent spots have been reduced.
8. A printing system comprising:
a processor adapted to receive an initial print request containing patterns of marks to be printed on print media;
a printing device in communication with the processor, wherein the printing device is adapted to print the initial print request on the print media to produce initial printed output; and
a scanner in communication with the processor,
wherein the scanner is adapted to scan the initial printed output to produce a scan of the initial printed output,
wherein the processor adapted to evaluate the scan of the initial printed output to identify different printing densities of the patterns of marks in the initial printed output,
wherein the processor is adapted to alter the patterns of marks in the initial print request to create a revised print request having hidden features by adding different printing densities of fluorescent spots to different areas of the patterns of marks, wherein the different printing densities of fluorescent spots are based on the different printing densities of the patterns of marks and on a size of the hidden features,
wherein the printing device is adapted to print the revised print request after the processor alters the pattern of marks to produce revised printed output,
wherein the scanner is adapted to scan the revised printed output to produce a scan of the revised printed output,
wherein the processor is adapted to determine if the revised print request is to be utilized based on whether the hidden features are visible in the scan of the revised printed output, and
wherein the printing device is adapted to print either the initial print request or the revised print request as a production run print job based on whether the revised print request is to be utilized.
9. The printing system according to claim 8 , wherein the processor is adapted to add relatively higher printing densities of the fluorescent spots to areas of the patterns of marks having relatively higher printing densities of the patterns of marks and add relatively lower printing densities of the fluorescent spots to areas of the patterns of marks having relatively lower printing densities of the patterns of marks.
10. The printing system according to claim 8 , wherein the processor is adapted to add relatively lower printing densities of the fluorescent spots to the different areas of the patterns of marks as relative feature sizes of the hidden features formed by the fluorescent spots increases.
11. The printing system according to claim 8 , wherein the processor is adapted to establish the different printing densities of the fluorescent spots relative to the different printing densities of the patterns of marks and the size of the hidden features to cause the hidden features to only be visible when viewed under ultraviolet light.
12. The printing system according to claim 8 , wherein the processor is adapted to identify ones of the different areas of the pattern of marks to not receive the hidden features based on the printing density and printing gamut of the different areas of the pattern of marks.
13. The printing system according to claim 8 , wherein the processor is adapted to repeat altering the patterns of marks by reducing the printing densities of the fluorescent spots based on the hidden features being visible in the scan of the initial printed output.
14. The printing system according to claim 8 , further comprising a feeder in communication with the processor,
wherein the feeder is adapted to discard the initial printed output.
15. A method comprising:
receiving, into a printing system, a print request containing patterns of marks to be printed on print media to produce printed output;
evaluating the print request using a processor of the printing system to identify different printing densities of the patterns of marks;
altering the patterns of marks using the processor to create hidden features on the printed output by adding different printing densities of fluorescent spots to different areas of the patterns of marks, wherein the different printing densities of fluorescent spots are based on the different printing densities of the patterns of marks and on a size of the hidden features; and
printing the print request on the print media using a printing device of the printing system to produce the printed output.
16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the altering further comprises adding relatively higher printing densities of the fluorescent spots to areas of the patterns of marks having relatively higher printing densities of the patterns of marks and adding relatively lower printing densities of the fluorescent spots to areas of the patterns of marks having relatively lower printing densities of the patterns of marks.
17. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the altering further comprises adding relatively lower printing densities of the fluorescent spots to the different areas of the patterns of marks as relative feature sizes of the hidden features formed by the fluorescent spots increases.
18. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the altering further comprises establishing the different printing densities of the fluorescent spots relative to the different printing densities of the patterns of marks and the size of the hidden features to cause the hidden features to only be visible when viewed under ultraviolet light.
19. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the altering further comprises identifying ones of the different areas of the pattern of marks to not receive the hidden features based on the printing density and printing gamut of the different areas of the pattern of marks.
20. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising:
scanning the printed output using a scanner of the printing system to produce a scan of the printed output;
determining if the hidden features are visible in the scan of the printed output; and
repeating the altering by reducing the printing densities of the fluorescent spots based on the hidden features being visible in the scan of the printed output.