Abstract: The present invention describes methods and apparatuses for creating superposition shape images by superposed base and revealing layers of lenslet gratings. The superposition shape images form a message recognizable by a human observer or by an image acquisition and computing device such as a smartphone. The superposition shape images may be created by different superposition techniques ranging from 1D moiré, 2D moiré and level-line moiré superposition techniques to lenticular image and phase shift superposition techniques. Moiré superposition techniques enable creating superposition shape images at different apparent depth levels. Applications comprise the protection of documents and valuable articles against counterfeits, the creation of eye-catching advertisements as well as the decoration of buildings and exhibitions.

Abstract: The present invention describes methods and apparatuses for creating superposition shape images by superposed base and revealing layers of lenslet gratings. The superposition shape images form a message recognizable by a human observer or by an image acquisition and computing device such as a smartphone. The superposition shape images may be created by different superposition techniques ranging from 1D moiré, 2D moiré and level-line moiré superposition techniques to lenticular image and phase shift superposition techniques. Moiré superposition techniques enable creating superposition shape images at different apparent depth levels. Applications comprise the protection of documents and valuable articles against counterfeits, the creation of eye-catching advertisements as well as the decoration of buildings and exhibitions.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods and systems for printing by superposing a metallic ink and transparent inks. These methods and systems are useful for color separating images into superpositions of a metallic ink and transparent inks both for design purposes and for the creation and authentication of security documents, such as banknotes, checks, diploma, corporate documents, passports, identity cards, credit cards, product labels, optical disks, CDs, DVDs, packages of medical drugs, cosmetics, and alcoholic drink bottles. By combining a metallic ink and transparent inks, one may create printed images behaving dynamically: an image viewed under specular reflection may be considerably different from the same image viewed under non-specular reflection. Patterns which are either dark or hidden become highlighted under specular reflection, yielding interesting visual effects. Metallic inks allow therefore to create visually appealing dynamically changing color images.

Abstract: The present invention facilitates the calibration of printers and the color separation of input images into a set of inks by disclosing methods and systems for populating device-calibration lookup tables. The disclosed methods and systems rely on a comprehensive spectral prediction model predicting at a high accuracy the reflectance spectra of halftone ink patches. The spectral prediction model is composed of a first part predicting the reflection spectra as a function of physical (mechanical) surface coverages and of a second part comprising functions mapping nominal surface coverages to effective surface coverages for halftone patch wedges printed alone and halftone patch wedges printed in superposition with one or several solid inks. In addition, the disclosed methods and systems can be used to control printer actuation parameters in different types of printers e.g.

Abstract: A method of generating an image incorporating a microstructure includes the steps of obtaining an original image, generating a microstructure, and rendering a region or the whole said original image with said microstructure. The operation of generating the microstructure includes an automatic synthesis of microstructure elements from original microstructure shapes.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods and systems for printing by superposing a metallic ink and transparent inks. These methods and systems are useful for color separating images into superpositions of a metallic ink and transparent inks both for design purposes and for the creation and authentication of security documents, such as banknotes, checks, diploma, corporate documents, passports, identity cards, credit cards, product labels, optical disks, CDs, DVDs, packages of medical drugs, cosmetics, and alcoholic drink bottles. By combining a metallic ink and transparent inks, one may create printed images behaving dynamically: an image viewed under specular reflection may be considerably different from the same image viewed under non-specular reflection. Patterns which are either dark or hidden become highlighted under specular reflection, yielding interesting visual effects. Metallic inks allow therefore to create visually appealing dynamically changing color images.

Abstract: Due to the wide availability of photocopiers, scanners and printers, security documents are more and more subject to counterfeiting attempts. The present disclosure describes security documents incorporating a new security feature based on a microstructure, whose shapes vary according to intensity and color, as well as methods and computing systems for synthesizing such security documents. The microstructure may be composed of text, graphic elements and symbols. Since the security document is built on top of the microstructure, document elements such as text, graphics and images as well as microstructure elements cannot be erased or modified without introducing visible discontinuities in the security document. Furthermore, thanks to transformations having the effect of warping the microstructure into different orientations and sizes across the security document, individual microstructure elements cannot be simply copied and inserted elsewhere.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatic high-speed generation of digital angled halftone screens, specially suited for obtaining screens approximating the irrational angles which are generally required by high-quality color reproduction. The method enables color separations to be generated which minimize Moire effects, interferences and artifacts by applying discrete one-to-one rotations to digital halftone screens of the required period in order to reach the final screen angle. Dither tiles incorporating assemblies of the basic screen element are rotated by one-to-one discrete rotation and transformed into a new type of dither array, the scanning dither array. The scanning dither array is composed both of dither thresholds and of displacement vectors, providing the means to scan the dither array at image generation time.