Hidden watermark appears when a print is scanned?

Kevin_M_Cox · #1 10-04-2007, 02:02 AM

Hey guys, my wife (a wedding photog) and I took a Carnival Cruise last month and she saw something interesting. While we were purchasing photos in the photo gallery she saw a sign with an image and text showing that if you attempted to scan any of their prints it would cause a previously hidden watermark to show prominently in the digital scan.

We don't have a flatbed scanner here to test it out but I'm wondering if anyone has ever heard of this or seen it in action. If so, does it work well and what labs out there are using this technology? How much extra do the prints cost and can a custom watermark be used?

I'd love to find out more information about putting this feature to work if it is really out there.

Thanks, Kevin

DougAxford · #2 10-04-2007, 04:15 PM

If you can't see it, it won't scan. Kodak has a backprint on pro paper that is supposed prevent people from copying on Kodak kiosks. This was done because PPA was suing over copyright violations. I've heard the same thing on DVD copying - 'it will ruin your DVD player if copied'

Doug

Noel_Carboni · #3 10-04-2007, 06:46 PM

I'm thinking the texture of the paper might show up in scans. Can you see anything like a watermark in the paper if you hold a light on an oblique angle?

Scan one and see...

-Noel

Kevin_M_Cox · #4 10-08-2007, 05:50 PM

The prints look normal as far as I can tell. I guess I'll have to take one up to the paper and find a working scanner to know for sure. I just figured someone here might know the answer and save me the trouble! I'll report back when I finally get around to it.

-- Kevin

DougAxford · #5 10-08-2007, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin_M_Cox

I just figured someone here might know the answer and save me the trouble! -- Kevin

I thought I did answer. It's BS.

Let me know if you find something different, there are a few hundred thousand pros that would love the technology. Of course, it could be a digital watermark which won't show up in scans either, just in your file.

Doug

AndrewCassino · #6 10-08-2007, 11:59 PM

It's certainly not BS. Here's one company that provides so-called "security inks":

Chromatic Technologies | Home

If they can do it with checks and forms on a commercial press, it's certainly feasible for photographic reproductions.

Ilkka · #7 10-09-2007, 06:08 AM

I did hear something about this in the early 90;s. Some kind of protectiv layer on your prints that appered when you tryed to scan them in a flatbeadscanner. Cant remember the name of this company ho sold this service here in Sweden. It was expensiv so not many of us pros did juse it.
Ilkka