Digital watermarks as a security feature for identity documents
Burt Perry, Scott Carr, Phil Patterson · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 2000
The personal computer and digital photography boom of the last decade has fueled growth of a variety of high quality imaging peripherals. Personal computer scanners and color printers are now widely available as prices have fallen rapidly and quality continues to improve. The cost of a high-quality color scanner has stabilized under 150 dollars US. High-quality ink-jet printers are available for under 200 dollars US. Powerful, easy to use image processing software is typically with both printers and scanners at no additional charge. This combination of powerful technology at a low price point has increased the counterfeiting and forgery threat for valuable identity documents. As traditional, optically based techniques have become less effective against digital reproduction, new methods must be developed to mitigate the threat. Digital watermarks can be used to create self-authenticating identify documents to directly address these new threats. Digital watermarks are: imperceptible, so they do not impact the visual quality of the document; robust through the print and scan operation; and require not physical real estate on the document. This aper examines how digital watermarks can be used in identity documents. It explores the key system requirements and technical challenges in enhancing physical document authentication systems with digital watermarks.