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Xerox Exploits Printer Flaws To Make Pseudo-Holograms

Posted by timothy on from the bug-to-feature-while-you-wait dept.

Red Wolf writes "A chance discovery by Xerox lets printers superimpose glossy images on regular printouts, creating the possibility for document authentication along the lines of holograms on credit cards. The new technology, called Glossmark, can use ordinary office printers to superimpose a glossy image on an ordinary printed document in a way that can't be photocopied or otherwise easily reproduced."

6 of 187 comments (clear)

  1. Great security... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If it's easily available on a commercially available printer, how does it provide great security?

  2. Security? How? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    way that can't be photocopied or otherwise easily reproduced

    Uh, except for on another Xerox printer?

  3. Re:How is this secure..... by Rosyna · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You couldn't copy the original image. You'd have to have to separate source images (the bg and the layover) to counterfeit successfully. It's just another wall, really.

  4. Re:It can be reproduced. Just not copied. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Can be produced by existing Xerox printing solutions.

    I don't really see how this works. If there's a document I want to fake I just whip out Quark and reproduce the Glossmark on my Xerox printer. Wha?


    "Can be produced" isn't the same as "can be reproduced." Sure, I guess you could print out your own copies -- if you had access to the original images. If I understand correctly, most of the point is that you can't just scan the image and retain the glossmark effect.
  5. basically looks like watermarking by mabhatter654 · · Score: 4, Insightful
    I've noticed it too on photo paper. The way inkjets [i think that's what they're using] layer the ink can create a raised effect on certian printers ...though I mostly use HPs. The idea would be that someone couldn't just grab a document out of a file folder on your desk and color copy it--there's no change to the color..it's not really reproducable..it's too subtle. Heck, you could even put a serial number in a black box and number every copy you print! Then even with access to the hardware you couldn't just reprint something.

    It doesn't look really useful for preventing professional counterfieting, but for "casual" things [retail reciepts, HR files, inter-company corrospandance, etc.] It could come in handy for quick verification.

  6. Re:Color laserjets? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    On another note, how cool a job do these "Xerox Scientists" have?

    From the books I've read about Xerox, it sounds more frustrating than cool to work in their R&D. You invent all this neat shit, and the copierheads at Xerox dont "get" it, so Xerox doesn't market it.

    Your only hope is to go to work for the other company that will eventually pick up the technology and make a mint with it, or to leave and found your own company to make what you invented.

    And with all the "intellectual property" crap being thrown into employment contracts these days, the latter of those two options is probably right out the door. If Bob Metcalfe was working at Xerox these days, he damn sure wouldn't be allowed to leave and start 3Com to sell ethernet hardware that he whipped up on Xerox's dime.