Importance

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Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided, first for converting a colour image to a set of monochrome or, preferably, grayscale image components and then for producing a reconstructed colour image from such set of monochrome or grayscale image components assumed to derive from an original colour image. Preferably, the image components are Red, Green and Blue grayscale image components, such that each is associated with a different colour plane of the original colour image. The original colour image is separated into the image components by means of a colour plane separator component which extracts the independent colour plane images (Red, Green and Blue). Advantageously, the grayscale image components derived from the original image may be stored, printed and otherwise processed on an individual basis while still preserving the collective information needed to reproduce the original image. More specifically, each image component may be separately printed on a document, for example in a covert manner, using ultraviolet (or infrared) ink, in order to provide increased security to a document. To produce a reconstructed colour image from the separately printed grayscale image components each image is scanned and associated with a colour corresponding to the colour plane associated therewith. The colour-associated image components are then processed and forwarded to an output device for combining them in their associated colours to form the reconstructed colour image.

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First Claim