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Xerox Develops New Way to Print Invisible Ink

Posted by samzenpus on from the the-fax-says-I'm-the-boss-now dept.

scott3778 writes "Xerox said on Wednesday that its scientists have perfected a new method for printing hidden fluorescent wording using standard digital printing equipment. According to the company, the discovery paves the way for customers and businesses alike to add an additional layer of security to commonly printed materials such as checks, tickets, coupons, and other high-value documents. The hidden fluorescent words and letters show up only under ultraviolet light, said Reiner Eschbach, a research fellow in the Xerox Innovation Group, and the co-inventor of the patented process. What's more, the method for printing them doesn't require the use of special fluorescent inks."

14 of 87 comments (clear)

  1. Oh crap.... by mark-t · · Score: 2, Funny

    Counterfeiting Canadian money just got a whole lot easier.

    --
    File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
    1. Re:Oh crap.... by Cheezymadman · · Score: 1, Funny

      It's still not worth the paper it's printed on.

      --
      We're all going to die. i intend to deserve it.
    2. Re:Oh crap.... by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yeah, sure, but why bother?

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    3. Re:Oh crap.... by lisaparratt · · Score: 3, Funny

      You misspelt "US Peso"

  2. Obligatory pic by nEoN+nOoDlE · · Score: 4, Funny

    Here's a pic of it in action:

    --
    Don't trust a bull's horn, a doberman's tooth, a runaway horse or me.
  3. Re:Prove it! by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 2, Funny

    You ask the Goth chick at the coffee counter to whip out her portable UV light to view it.

  4. Have any idea how expensive invisible ink will be? by Nova+Express · · Score: 2, Funny
    Hell, ink jet ink is already more expensive per gram than pure heroin, Just imagine how much of a premium the invisible ink refill is going to cost you!

    "Yeah, I'm afraid your Lemon Juice Cartridge was out, so I replaced that. The total bill will be just under $6,000."

    --
    Lawrence Person (lawrencepersonh@gmailh.com (remove all "h"s to mail)

    http://www.lawrenceperson.com/

  5. CMYKL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Printing invisible ink is pretty nifty, but what they don't tell you is that their standard toner will need to switch from CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) to CMYKL (cyan, magenta, yellow, black, lemon juice).

  6. Tech Issues by abscissa · · Score: 5, Funny

    How do you tell when you're out of invisible ink?

    1. Re:Tech Issues by RuBLed · · Score: 2, Funny

      You would never run out of invisible ink.

    2. Re:Tech Issues by jimicus · · Score: 3, Funny

      Silly question, but I've got a serious anecdote. Yes, this really happened.

      Back when I was in school (this is circa 1996, we were using HP LaserJet 4L's), a few chaps discovered that they could run the same sheet of paper through a printer more than once.

      They came up with the brilliant idea of printing a picture over the whole page, then running the same sheet of paper through the printer, only this time print out some white text on a white background over it. They expected a result of white text overlaid on the dark picture "because it'll appear like that with the white ink, won't it?".

  7. Re:Have any idea how expensive invisible ink will by Opportunist · · Score: 5, Funny

    As long as they accept my invisible credit card, I'm fine.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  8. Simple by Overzeetop · · Score: 5, Funny

    Stuff starts showing up on your printouts!

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    Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
  9. Re:Miraculous by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Actually, it works like this:

    Step 1:
    Step 2:
    Step 3:
    Step 4: Profit!!!