Abstract: A self-authenticating encryptable font for creating secure documents. The document onto which the font is printed includes a surface containing one or more transaction fields such that transactional data from the font is printed within at least one of these fields. The font includes human-readable characters that are defined by a fill pattern made up of spaced marks and a patterned background. Security characters, made up of one or more encryptable data elements, may also be included. The encryptable data elements may be either fixed or randomly variable with regard to each human-readable character, independent of the human-readable characters, or capable of alteration by an encryption algorithm.

Abstract: A security document and a device for authenticating the security document are provided. The device for authenticating the security document comprises an optical imaging device and a specially programmed controller. The security document comprises a unique combination of covert triggers, overt triggers, and overt secure document indicators arranged to enhance the security of the document at issue and enable high speed machine authentication of the document at issue. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a device for authenticating a security document is provided. The security document includes a security image printed on a face thereof. The security image is defined by a collection of security image elements and defines at least one document authentication scheme. The document authentication scheme is arranged to provide a primary indication of document authenticity. The authentication device comprises an optical imaging device and a specially programmed controller.

Abstract: A security document production scheme is presented for the creation of a security document including a prismatic multi-color security image. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a security document is provided comprising a security image defined on a face of the document. The security image is defined along first and second dimensions by the superposition of a primary security image portion and a secondary security image portion. The primary security image portion is defined by security image elements of a first color. The secondary security image portion is defined by security image elements of a second color. The primary security image portion is arranged to include first, second, and third types of security image segments. The secondary security image portion is arranged to include first, second, and third types of security image segments.

Abstract: A system for viewing a subtle image on a security document is provided including a security document, a document viewer, and a document receiving station. The security document comprises a subtle image and a security image formed on a first face of the security document, wherein security image elements are arranged in a security image element array and complementary security image elements are arranged in a complementary security image element array. The subtle image comprises a plurality of subtle image elements arranged in a subtle image element array. The subtle image element array is arranged in a pattern that is optically distinct from respective patterns of arrangement of the security image element array and the complementary security image element array.

Abstract: A security document production scheme is presented for the creation of a security document including a prismatic multi-color security image. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a security document is provided comprising a security image defined on a face of the document. The security image is defined along first and second dimensions by the superposition of a primary security image portion and a secondary security image portion. The primary security image portion is defined by security image elements of a first color. The secondary security image portion is defined by security image elements of a second color. The primary security image portion is arranged to include first, second, and third types of security image segments. The secondary security image portion is arranged to include first, second, and third types of security image segments.

Abstract: A security document is prepared by designating specialized tiling elements to be printed in selected image element cells across the face of the document. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method of preparing a security document is provided comprising the steps of: (i) designating a security image area on a face of a document; (ii) dividing the security image area into a plurality of image element cells, such that the image element cells define an array of image element cells across the security image area; and (iii) designating respective printed tiling elements to be printed in selected ones of the image element cells to define a printed security image and a printed complementary security image within the security image area. Individual ones of the respective printed tiling elements comprise printed units positioned within the respective image element cells.

Abstract: A security document is provided including a unique combination of covert triggers, overt triggers, and overt secure document indicators arranged to enhance the security of the document at issue. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a security document is provided including a security image and a covert trigger printed on a face of the document. The security image is defined by a collection of security image elements. The security image defines at least one document authentication scheme. The document authentication scheme is arranged to provide an indication of document authenticity. The covert trigger is defined by a collection of trigger elements. The trigger elements are arranged to resemble the security image elements so the covert trigger is not readily apparent on the face of the document. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method of authenticating a security document is provided.

Abstract: A security document production scheme is presented for the creation of a security document including a prismatic multi-color security image. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a security document is provided comprising a security image defined on a face of the document. The security image is defined along first and second dimensions by the superposition of a primary security image portion and a secondary security image portion. The primary security image portion is defined by security image elements of a first color. The secondary security image portion is defined by security image elements of a second color. The primary security image portion is arranged to include first, second, and third types of security image segments. The secondary security image portion is arranged to include first, second, and third types of security image segments.

Abstract: A printed document includes a print quality indicator on the print surface of the document in the primary printing area. The image of the print quality indicator has a plurality of printed targets, each of the targets defining an unprinted area. The dimensions of the unprinted areas of the targets varying among the targets. The print quality of the printed document is determined by noting which of the unprinted areas in the print quality indicator printed on the document are not clearly free of ink upon close visual inspection of the document. Each target is made up of a printed circle, having a specified outer diameter, a specified line weight, and a specified inner diameter, and a printed circular dot, having a specified diameter, positioned centrally within the printed circle. The specified diameter of the printed circular dot is less than the specified inner diameter of the printed circle such that the printed circular dot and the printed circle define an annular unprinted area there between.

Abstract: A security document is provided comprising: a security image area on the face of the document and a printed security image within the security image area. At least a portion of the security image area is divided into a plurality of image element cells, such that the image element cells define an array of image element cells across the security image area. Each of the image element cells is divided into a plurality of pixels, such that each image element cell defines a cell pixel array. At least a portion of the security image area is divided into a plurality of complementary image element cells, such that the complementary image element cells define an array of complementary image element cells across the security image area. Each of the complementary image element cells is divided into a plurality of pixels, such that each complementary image element cell defines a cell pixel array. The printed security image comprises image elements and complementary image elements.

Abstract: A security document and its method of preparation are provided wherein a security image area on the face of the document is designated. The security image area comprises a two-dimensional array of security image blocks. Security image elements and the complementary security image elements in respective security image blocks are arranged such that the security image element and the complementary security image element portions occupy respective first and second percentages of each of the security image blocks to define respective characteristic relative occupation values (CROVs) for each security image block. The respective CROVs are substantially equivalent among a plurality of the security image blocks. A target CROV is established.

Abstract: A security document and its method of preparation are provided wherein a security image area on the face of the document is designated. The security image area comprises a two-dimensional array of security image blocks. Security image elements and the complementary security image elements in respective security image blocks are arranged such that the security image element and the complementary security image element portions occupy respective first and second percentages of each of the security image blocks to define respective characteristic relative occupation values (CROVs) for each security image block. The respective CROVs are substantially equivalent among a plurality of the security image blocks. A target CROV is established.

Abstract: A security document is prepared by designating specialized tiling elements to be printed in selected image element cells across the face of the document. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method of preparing a security document is provided comprising the steps of: (i) designating a security image area on a face of a document; (ii) dividing the security image area into a plurality of image element cells, such that the image element cells define an array of image element cells across the security image area; and (iii) designating respective printed tiling elements to be printed in selected ones of the image element cells to define a printed security image and a printed complementary security image within the security image area. Individual ones of the respective printed tiling elements comprise printed units positioned within the respective image element cells.

Abstract: A security document according to the present invention includes a document substrate having a surface for receiving printed indicia. A half tone warning image is printed on first areas of the surface and a half-tone background image is printed in second areas surrounding the first areas. The half-tone a warning image includes at least one word indicating a status of a copy of the document. A camouflage image extending over the document surface for confusing the eye of an observer such that said warning image is not readily observed. The camouflage image includes at least one word indicating to an observer a status of the original document. One of the half-tone warning image and the half-tone background image are printed with half-tone elements of such a line spacing and element size that it is not readily reproducible by a photocopier. As a consequence, the half-tone warning image becomes apparent on photocopies of the original document.

Abstract: A security document is provided comprising a substrate having a top surface for carrying printed indicia. Background printed matter is printed on the top surface. The background printed matter is made up of a pattern of background elements. A security term is also printed on the top surface of the substrate. The security term is composed of a pattern of security term elements. The background elements or the security term elements, or both, are organized in a non-orthogonal, repetitive pattern. Also, either the background elements or the security term elements are not readily duplicated by a color copier while the other elements are readily duplicated by a color copier. This results in a visually perceptible security term being produced upon a copy of the security document. The security document is "imaging friendly.

Abstract: A security document is provided comprising human readable transaction data, a plurality of security image elements, a plurality of complementary security image elements, and an encoded information block comprising a plurality of digital glyphs printed thereon. The human readable transaction data printed on the top surface of the substrate forms a full tone image and includes an enhanced security data item. The security image elements printed on the top surface of the substrate and the plurality of complementary security image elements printed on the top surface of the substrate define a security image. The encoded information block comprises a plurality of digital glyphs printed on the top surface of the substrate and comprises encoded transaction data corresponding to at least a portion of the human readable transaction data.

Abstract: A security document is provided comprising a substrate having a top surface for carrying indicia. The top surface has a plurality of areas. Each of the areas contains background printed matter on the top surface. The background printed matter made up of a pattern of background elements. Each of the areas also contains a security term printed on the top surface of the substrate. The security term is composed of a pattern of security term elements. The background elements and/or the security term elements differ in element size, shape, angle, density, and/or frequency between adjacent areas. Also, within each of the areas either the background elements or the security term elements are not readily duplicated by a color copier while the remaining elements in the area are readily duplicated by a color copier. This results in a visually perceptible security term being produced upon copying of the security document.

Abstract: An optically variable device for use on security documents to deter unauthorized reproduction is provided which contains a warning message that is not readily apparent to an observer but that reproduces as a visible warning message when copied. The device comprises a pattern of light reflecting surfaces which comprise a reflection diffraction grating having a plurality of grooves that vary in orientation and blaze angle. In an alternative embodiment, a machine-readable optically variable device is provided in which the pattern of specularly light-reflecting surfaces produces a machine-readable message in response to light impinging on the device.

Abstract: An improved security document according to the present invention includes a substrate having a surface for carrying indicia. The document has background printed matter, consisting of a pattern of elements of a first size and frequency, printed at a first density on the surface. The document further has a cancellation term, consisting of a pattern of elements of a second size and frequency, printed at a second density on the surface. Elements of one of the first size or the second size are sufficiently small such that they are not reproduced by a color copier at a particular copier setting, and elements of the other of the first size or the second size are sufficiently large such that they are reproduced by the color copier at the particular copier setting. As a result, a copy of the security document made on a color copier displays the cancellation term. At least a portion of the security document surface is divisible into a plurality of bands extending across the surface.

Abstract: A document is provided having a solvent sensitive and/or pressure sensitive ink printed thereon which reacts to the application of a solvent and/or pressure to form a visible stain or image. The ink includes a first composition of solvent soluble, water insoluble dye particles, a binder, and optionally, an opacifier. Alternatively, the first composition may be combined with a second composition which includes an encapsulated solvent and optionally a stilting material. The first and second compositions may be printed on the document in separate steps or printed together as a self-contained composition. The ink may be printed on the entire surface of the document or only on selected areas thereof.