Patent Description:
A digital watermarking technique of embedding specific information in an image or the like is known in the related art. When this technique is used for printed matters, information can be embedded at a level at which the information cannot be visually recognized by a person, and thus artistic effects of the printed matters are not damaged. In addition, information embedded in the printed matters can be read by a reading device.

When the embedded information is used for, for example, authenticity determination, it is preferable that the embedded information be difficult to be estimated from a copy. For this reason, a technique relating to an information recording object which is devised to make it difficult to estimate embedded information is disclosed (for example, Patent Document <NUM>).

In the technique described in Patent Document <NUM>, both a first layer and a second layer are pattern images, and lack design properties.

An object of the invention is to provide an information recording object, a medium, and a printed product improving the design properties.

The invention achieves the above-mentioned object using the following solving means.

The invention provides an information recording object (<NUM>) including a superimposed image including a first ink layer (<NUM>) and a second ink layer (<NUM>) formed on the first ink layer (<NUM>) as defined in claim <NUM>.

According to this configuration, it is possible to change a degree of glossiness for each color using a chromatic lustrous material. In this case of being viewed by human eyes, it is possible to obtain an information recording object in which the degree of glossiness is varied. Further, it becomes difficult to adjust the density and the like in the copying machine. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an information recording object which is rich in design properties and is more difficult to copy. Further, it is possible to provide an information recording object having rich design properties and a mechanism that does not allow information to be recognized when a reading device is not used.

The embodiments may provide one of the following effects:
When the shading pattern image is included, color density and contrast cannot be discerned by human eyes, which can hinder copy.

By using a plurality of colors of metallic ink, it is difficult to adjust the color in the copying machine, and it is difficult to produce a copied product similar to a real product.

The invention further provides a medium including the information recording object and a printed product including the information recording object as defined in the claims.

According to the invention, it is possible to provide an information recording object, a medium, and a printed product improving the design properties.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a card according to an embodiment. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of a background image and a star image of a lustrous layer according to the embodiment. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of a pattern image of a transparent layer according to the embodiment. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating a viewing mode based on a structure of the information recording object according to the embodiment. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between an illumination light source and a camera when copying a card according to the embodiment. <FIG> is a functional block diagram of a reading device according to the embodiment. <FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a code specifying process in the reading device according to the embodiment. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating a specific example of another card according to the embodiment. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating a specific example of another card according to the embodiment. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating a specific example of another card according to the embodiment.

Hereinafter, a mode for carrying out the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The mode is only an example and the technical scope of the invention is not limited to the mode.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a card <NUM> according to an embodiment.

A card <NUM> (medium) illustrated in <FIG> is, for example, an ID card such as an employee card. The card <NUM> includes a base <NUM> and an information recording object <NUM>. The base <NUM> is a substrate that is the basis of the card <NUM>, and is formed with, for example, a plastic card. Note that the base <NUM> is not limited to the plastic card, and may be other bases such as white paper, high-quality paper, coated paper, tack paper, and a film as long as the base <NUM> has a plane capable of carrying a printed image. In this example, the printed image relates to content of an employee, such as a name, a face image, and affiliation of the employee.

For example, the information recording object <NUM> representing a logo is disposed on the surface side of the base <NUM>. On the information recording object <NUM>, for example, information which is used for authenticity determination such as a code is printed by latent image printing. An image printed on the information recording object <NUM> is changed by changing the viewing direction of the base <NUM>. <FIG> is a partial schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line X-X in <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the information recording object <NUM> includes a lustrous layer <NUM> (first ink layer) and a transparent layer <NUM> (second ink layer) on the base <NUM>. The lustrous layer <NUM> is a layer on which a background image and a picture image are printed with a chromatic ink containing a lustrous material. The transparent layer <NUM> is a layer on which a pattern image is printed with a transparent achromatic ink. In this example, both the lustrous layer <NUM> and the transparent layer <NUM> have a square shape, and the transparent layer <NUM> is formed on the entire lustrous layer <NUM>.

Herein, a method for manufacturing the information recording object <NUM> will be described in brief. First, a base <NUM> on which details (name, etc.) of the corresponding employee have been printed in advance is prepared, and the background image and the picture image are gravure-printed on the base <NUM> as the lustrous layer <NUM> with a lustrous ink, etc. containing a lustrous material. As ink for drawing the background image and the picture image, for example, various types of inks are presumed as illustrated below. For example, it is possible to use ink obtained by mixing a chromatic ink of pigmented coloring containing a pigment and a dye with a silver ink containing aluminum powder, copper powder, zinc powder, tin powder, iron phosphide, etc. as a component. In addition, it is possible to use ink containing only a lustrous material exhibiting a blue gold color or a red gold color. Further, it is possible to use ink obtained by mixing a chromatic ink of the pigmented coloring described above with the ink containing the lustrous material exhibiting the blue gold color or the red gold color. In addition, it is possible to use pearl ink, liquid crystal ink, optical variable ink (OVI), color shifting ink (CSI), etc., which is ink containing a functional pigment whose color changes by reflecting light. Note that the pearl ink has a pearl luster as compared with a normal pigment, and is ink containing a pearl pigment having safety, glossiness, and high-grade feeling. The liquid crystal ink is ink containing liquid crystal having a property of changing color with temperature. Furthermore, when the substrate has a high degree of smoothness, normal ink can be used to look like glossy ink. When the substrate has a high degree of smoothness, a slight glossiness is produced even in a non-lustrous yellow color, light blue color, etc. by normal color inks (yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K)). For this reason, normal color ink can be used as ink similar to a lustrous material. For example, in a case where the substrate is paper, when coated paper, matte-coated paper, gloss-coated paper, etc. is used, normal color ink can be used since a degree of smoothness is high. Further, even when the substrate is a film such as PET, normal color ink can be used.

Next, a pattern image is superimposed and gravure-printed as the transparent layer <NUM> on the background image and the picture image of the lustrous layer <NUM> with a transparent ink or the like. The ink which is used to draw the pattern image is, for example, achromatic ink such as a matte OP varnish, a transparent varnish, an ink varnish, a transparent ink, or a medium ink. In addition, these inks may be any printing ink such as a UV-curable type ink, an oxidation-polymerization type ink, a permeation type ink, an overheat-drying type ink, and a vaporization-drying type ink. In addition, even when achromatic color is not used, chromatic transparent ink can be used. In this case, a small amount of normal color ink is mixed with the achromatic transparent ink to obtain chromatic transparent ink.

Herein, the thickness of the ink to be applied is, for example, about <NUM> micrometer. In addition, the thickness of the ink is not limited thereto. In addition, for example, the thickness of the ink may be changed depending on the material. The printing process described above is not limited to gravure printing, but may be wet offset printing, dry offset printing, relief printing, waterless lithographic printing, flexographic printing, screen printing, intaglio printing, or the like.

Next, the printing of the lustrous layer <NUM> and the transparent layer <NUM> in a printing region with a fixed area which is printed through the printing process of the information recording object <NUM> will be described with the printing condition in which an area covering a bed represented by % is defined as an area ratio, and particularly, the printing condition in which the bed can be hidden by halftone is defined as a halftone area ratio. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of a background image C1a and a star image C1b of a lustrous layer <NUM> according to the embodiment. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of a pattern image of the transparent layer <NUM> according to the embodiment. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating a viewing mode based on the structure of the information recording object <NUM> according to the embodiment.

<FIG> illustrates an example of an image C1 of the lustrous layer <NUM>. The lustrous layer <NUM> is a layer on which the image C1 is printed by replacing each of the gravure-printed cyan-magenta-yellow-black (CMYK) inks with metallic ink. Here, black (K) is added to the three colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) and these four colors are combined into a set, and each color is overprinted to express multiple colors. C replaces the metallic blue color, M replaces the metallic red color, Y replaces the metallic yellow color, and K replaces the silver color with the CMYK ink. Here, it is unnecessary to use the same lustrous material for each color, and different lustrous materials may be used. Further, the content of the lustrous material may be different for each color.

By using different lustrous materials for each color and varying the content, a degree of glossiness of each color changes. Therefore, the degree of glossiness can be varied in appearance. In addition, it is difficult to adjust the density and the like in the copying machine, and it is possible to make copying more difficult.

The image C1 includes the background image C1a and the star image C1b (picture image). The background image C1a is a pattern image that is patterned by shading of colors. The pattern image of the background image C1a is subjected to regular processing such that the color density, contrast, and the like may not be recognized by human eyes. The star image C1b is a star -shaped image. Since the star image C1b is not a pattern image, a star-shaped pattern can be clearly seen. The background image C1a and the star image C1b may have the same color or different colors.

The background image C1a is printed with a halftone area ratio of, for example, <NUM>%. Further, the star image C1b is printed with a halftone area ratio of, for example, <NUM>%. However, this ratio is also an example, but the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the halftone area ratio of the background image C1a may be less than <NUM>%, and the halftone area ratio of the star image C1b may be equal to or greater than or equal to or less than <NUM>% as long as there is a predetermined difference from the background image C1a. In addition, the densities of the background image C1a and the star image C1b may be reversed. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, as an example of the image C1 illustrated in the lustrous layer <NUM>, the background image C1a and the star image C1b are printed using the present technology. As described above, since the metallic ink is used, the print of the image C1 is glossy. In addition, since the printing is performed using a plurality of chromatic colors, the printed image becomes vivid in appearance and rich in design properties.

<FIG> illustrates an enlarged view of an image C2 of the transparent layer <NUM> and a region E2 which is a portion of the image C2. The transparent layer <NUM> is a layer on which the image C2 is printed. The image C2 is a pattern image in which a foreground portion C2a and a background portion C2b are expressed in two values as illustrated in the region E2. The pattern image of the image C2 has a different coding system from the pattern image of the background image C1a described above. Details of the pattern image of the image C2 will be described later.

The foreground portion C2a is printed with a halftone area ratio of, for example, <NUM>%, and the background portion C2b is printed with a halftone area ratio of, for example, <NUM>%. However, this ratio is an example, but the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the halftone area ratio of the foreground portion C2a may be less than <NUM>%, and the halftone area ratio of the background portion C2b may be equal to or greater than or equal to or less than <NUM>% as long as there is a predetermined difference from the foreground portion C2a. In addition, the densities of the foreground portion C2a and the background portion C2b may be reversed. The image C2 of the transparent layer <NUM> of the information recording object <NUM> is a pattern image, and thus the image is a meaningless image at first glance.

Herein, the transparent layer <NUM> of the information recording object <NUM> is not limited to that on which a pattern image including a foreground portion and a background portion is printed. <FIG> illustrate a case in which an image Cy of the transparent layer <NUM> is a pattern image configured to include only the foreground portion. In this case, a printing region Cya of the image Cy is printed with a halftone area ratio of <NUM>%, and the pattern image is expressed in two values by using the printing region Cya and the non-printing region Cyb, which is not printed.

Next, a description will be given of the pattern image of the transparent layer <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. The pattern image is an image generated according to a specific rule. The pattern image can represent feature points and lines in a spatial frequency domain that is frequency-converted by performing, for example, Fourier transform. For example, a feature point can be expressed by performing the converting process on the image C2 (or the image Cy). Herein, the specific rule is not limited to the Fourier transform and may be another transform process. For example, a converting process for a barcode, a converting process for a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark), or the like may be used.

In the information recording object <NUM> described above, a recognizable image varies depending on an angle of viewpoint (a viewing angle) in a reading device <NUM> (external device) described later. <FIG> illustrates three positional relationships among an illumination light source <NUM>, a viewpoint <NUM>, and an information recording object <NUM> in a diffusible reflection region and a regular reflection (specular reflection) region. When the viewpoint <NUM> (22a) is located at a position P1 with respect to the positions of the illumination light source <NUM> and the information recording object <NUM>, the object is viewed in the diffusible reflection region. In addition, when the viewpoint <NUM> (22b) is located at the position P2 with respect to the positions of the illumination light source <NUM> and the information recording object <NUM>, the object is viewed in the regular reflection region. Hereinafter, the image C1 and the image C2 illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> will be described as an example.

When the information recording object <NUM> includes only the lustrous layer <NUM>, since a large difference is caused in reflected light quantity in the diffusible reflection region due to the density difference between the background image C1a and the star image C1b of the image C1 in <FIG>, the background image C1a and the star image C1b can be distinguished, and the star image C1b can be recognized. On the other hand, in the regular reflection region, since the reflected light quantities of both the background image C1a and the star image C1b increase, the difference therebetween cannot be detected, and the background image C1a and the star image C1b cannot be distinguished. That is, in the regular reflection region, the star image C1b cannot be recognized. As described above, in the lustrous layer <NUM>, when ink of the lustrous material is used, the star image C1b may be visible or invisible depending on the viewing angle and thus can render various presentation modes.

Next, when the information recording object <NUM> includes only the transparent layer <NUM>, the foreground portion C2a and the background portion C2b of <FIG> are transparent, and thus cannot be distinguished in the diffusible reflection region. On the other hand, in the regular reflection region, since the reflected light quantities vary due to the density difference between the foreground portion C2a and the background portion C2b, the foreground portion C2a and the background portion C2b can be distinguished. In this manner, the transparent layer <NUM> is formed by using materials (such as inks) having different reflected light quantities depending on the viewing angle, so that the image of the transparent layer <NUM> may be visible or invisible depending on the viewing angle and thus can render various presentation modes.

Further, in a case where the information recording object <NUM> is obtained by forming the transparent layer <NUM> on the lustrous layer <NUM>, the image C1 can be distinguished and the foreground portion C2a and the background portion C2b cannot be distinguished in the diffusible reflection region, and thus the image C1 is observed as a whole. In addition, in the regular reflection region, the image C1 cannot be distinguished, and the foreground portion C2a and the background portion C2b can be distinguished. For this reason, in the information recording object <NUM>, the image of the lustrous layer <NUM> and the image of the transparent layer <NUM> may be visible or invisible depending on the viewing angle and thus can render various presentation modes.

Next, a case in which the card <NUM> is copied will be described. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between the illumination light source <NUM> and the camera <NUM> at the time of copying the card <NUM> according to the embodiment. <FIG> illustrate the positional relationship among the illumination light source <NUM>, the camera <NUM>, and the card <NUM> of a copying machine such as a copier. In the state where the information recording object <NUM> of the card <NUM> is irradiated with light from the illumination light source <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, an image thereof is acquired by the camera <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a case in which the illumination light source <NUM> and the camera <NUM> are located in the direction perpendicular to the information recording object <NUM> and the camera <NUM> acquires an image. <FIG> illustrates a case in which the illumination light source <NUM> irradiates the information recording object <NUM> from a direction slightly inclined thereto and the camera <NUM> captures an image of the information recording object <NUM> in the direction perpendicular thereto to acquire an image. In any case, the camera <NUM> captures images of both the lustrous layer <NUM> and the transparent layer <NUM> of the information recording object <NUM> depending on the positional relationship between the illumination light source <NUM> and the information recording object <NUM>. In the copying machine, a copied product of the card <NUM> is produced on the basis of the image obtained by the camera <NUM> in this manner.

The copied product includes a printed object at a position corresponding to the information recording object <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the card <NUM>. The printed object has a combined image of the image of the lustrous layer <NUM> and the pattern image of the transparent layer <NUM> of the information recording object <NUM>. Accordingly, even when the printed object is observed at a viewing angle in any region (such as the diffusible reflection region or the regular reflection region), only the combined image is viewed in the printed object. Therefore, in the printed object, only the pattern image of the transparent layer <NUM> cannot be observed.

In addition, when the card <NUM> is printed in monochrome, the printed object has a layer made of black ink containing general carbon. On the other hand, when the card <NUM> is printed in color, the printed object has a layer made of general CMYK ink. On the other hand, as described above, the lustrous layer <NUM> of the information recording object <NUM> of the card <NUM> is manufactured using metallic ink. Therefore, in the copying machine, it is difficult to adjust the color represented by the metallic ink, and the printed object of the copied product has a different color from that of the information recording object <NUM> of the real card <NUM>. In addition, it is difficult to copy transparent ink in the copying machine. Therefore, the copied product can be recognized at a glance as being a fake by the difference in color.

Next, a reading device <NUM> (external device) that reads a code from the information recording object <NUM> of the card <NUM> will be described. <FIG> is a functional block diagram of the reading device <NUM> according to the embodiment. The reading device <NUM> is, for example, a mobile terminal represented by a smartphone. The reading device <NUM> includes a control unit <NUM>, a storage unit <NUM>, a reading unit <NUM>, a touch panel display <NUM>, and a communication interface unit <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> is a central processing unit (CPU) that controls the reading device <NUM> as a whole. The control unit <NUM> implements various functions in cooperation with the above-mentioned hardware by appropriately reading and executing an operating system (OS) or an application program stored in the storage unit <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> includes an image receiving unit <NUM>, a converting unit <NUM>, and a code specifying unit <NUM>.

The image receiving unit <NUM> receives the image data of the information recording object <NUM> through the reading unit <NUM> when the reading unit <NUM> reads the information recording object <NUM>. The converting unit <NUM> performs predetermined conversion on the image data received by the image receiving unit <NUM> by using a conversion application 61b described later and acquires data for code generation. The code specifying unit <NUM> specifies a code from the data acquired by the converting unit <NUM> with reference to a code table <NUM>.

The storage unit <NUM> is a memory area of a hard disk, a semiconductor memory device, or the like for storing programs, data, and the like required for causing the control unit <NUM> to perform various processes. The computer refers to an information processing device including a control unit, a storage device, and the like, and the reading device <NUM> is an information processing device including the control unit <NUM>, the storage unit <NUM>, and the like and is included in the concept of a computer. The storage unit <NUM> stores the program storage unit <NUM> and the code table <NUM>. The program storage unit <NUM> is a memory area for storing various programs. The program storage unit <NUM> stores the control program 61a and the conversion application 61b. The control program 61a is a program for executing each function of the control unit <NUM>. The conversion application 61b is a dedicated application for reading a code, which is called from the control program 61a. The control program 61a and the conversion application 61b are stored in the program storage unit <NUM> via the communication interface unit <NUM>, for example, by being downloaded from an application distribution server (not illustrated). The code table <NUM> is a table that stores codes.

The reading unit <NUM> is, for example, a camera and is a device that acquires printing details such as images and characters as images. The information recording object <NUM> of the card <NUM> is read by the reading unit <NUM> of the reading device <NUM>. The touch panel display <NUM> has a function as a display unit configured with a liquid crystal panel or the like and a function as an input unit for detecting a touch input by a user's finger or the like. The communication interface unit <NUM> is an interface for performing communication with, for example, a distribution server described above.

A process of the reading device <NUM> will be described below. <FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a code specifying process in the reading device <NUM> according to the embodiment. In step S (hereinafter simply referred to as "S") <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> of the reading device <NUM> activates the reading unit <NUM>. In S11, the control unit <NUM> (the image receiving unit <NUM>) reads an image on the information recording object <NUM> using the reading unit <NUM>. Herein, a user can allow the reading unit <NUM> to read an image by setting a position of the reading unit <NUM> at an angle at which the pattern image of the transparent layer <NUM> of the information recording object <NUM> can be read. In addition, the user can allow the reading unit <NUM> to read an image by setting the position of the reading unit <NUM> at an angle at which the image of the lustrous layer <NUM> of the information recording object <NUM> can be read. Further, the user can allow the reading unit <NUM> to read an image by setting the position of the reading unit <NUM> at an angle at which the image of the lustrous layer <NUM> and the image of the transparent layer <NUM> of the information recording object <NUM> can be read. In the case of specifying code, in order to allow the reading unit <NUM> to read an image from an angle at which the pattern image of the transparent layer <NUM> can be read, for example, the user performs an operation for reading an image by specifying a regular reflection region where the transparent layer <NUM> is visible.

In S12, the control unit <NUM> (converting unit <NUM>) executes the converting process on the read image and acquires the data for the code generation. Herein, the converting process is executed by the conversion application 61b. In S13, the control unit <NUM> (code specifying unit <NUM>) determines whether or not a code corresponding to the acquired data can be specified with reference to the code table <NUM>. When there is data that matches the acquired data in the code table <NUM>, the code can be specified. When a code can be specified (S13: YES), the control unit <NUM> transfers the process to S14. On the other hand, when a code cannot be specified (S13: NO), the control unit <NUM> transfers the process to S14a. In S14, the control unit <NUM> displays a message indicating that the code can be specified on the touch panel display <NUM>. Thereafter, the control unit <NUM> ends the process. In addition, after the process is ended, the control unit <NUM> performs a process based on the specified code. On the other hand, in S14a, the control unit <NUM> displays an error message on the touch panel display <NUM>. Thereafter, the control unit <NUM> ends the process.

When the reading unit <NUM> reads an image from an angle at which the user can read only the pattern image of the transparent layer <NUM> using the reading device <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> acquires only the pattern image of the transparent layer <NUM>. Then, the control unit <NUM> executes the conversion application 61b (S12) to acquire data for specifying code. Herein, since the code corresponding to the pattern image of the transparent layer <NUM> is stored in the code table <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> can specify the code (S13: YES).

In addition, when the reading unit <NUM> reads the image at an angle at which the user can read the pattern image of the transparent layer <NUM> and the image of the lustrous layer <NUM> using the reading device <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> does not obtain only the pattern image of the transparent layer <NUM>. However, the pattern image included in the image of the lustrous layer <NUM> has a different code system from that of the pattern image of the transparent layer <NUM>. Therefore, when the conversion application 61b is executed (S12), the control unit <NUM> can acquire data for specifying code corresponding to the pattern image of the transparent layer <NUM>. Since the code for the acquired data is stored in the code table <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> can specify the code (S13: YES).

On the other hand, when the reading unit <NUM> reads the image from an angle at which the user can read only the image of the lustrous layer <NUM> using the reading device <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> does not obtain the pattern image of the transparent layer <NUM>. The code table <NUM> stores only the code corresponding to the pattern image of the transparent layer <NUM>, and does not store the code corresponding to the image of the lustrous layer <NUM>. Therefore, even when the control unit <NUM> acquires data for code generation by the control program 61a (S12), the control unit <NUM> cannot specify the code (S13: NO). Note that, even when the reading unit <NUM> reads an image from an angle at which only the image of the lustrous layer <NUM> can be read, the control unit <NUM> executes the conversion application 61b to perform a process of acquiring data for code generation (S12).

Next, a description will be given of another example of the information recording object <NUM>. In addition, in the description, the same symbol is attached to an end of a portion performing the same function as that of the above-described information recording object <NUM>, and overlapping description will be appropriately omitted. Further, a different configuration from that of the information recording object <NUM> will be described in detail. <FIG> are diagrams illustrating specific examples of another card <NUM> according to the present embodiment. <FIG> illustrates an example of a card <NUM>-<NUM>. In the card <NUM>-<NUM>, an information recording object <NUM>-<NUM> is configured by a lustrous layer <NUM> and a transparent layer <NUM>-<NUM> on a base <NUM>. <FIG> is a partial schematic view of a cross section taken along line X-X in <FIG>. As illustrated <FIG>, the transparent layer <NUM>-<NUM> of the information recording object <NUM>-<NUM> is formed on a part of the lustrous layer <NUM>. As described above, in the information recording object <NUM>-<NUM>, the area where the lustrous layer <NUM> is formed and the area where the transparent layer <NUM>-<NUM> is formed do not coincide with each other in plan view, and are different in size. In this way, the state in which the lustrous layer <NUM> is observed and the state in which the transparent layer <NUM>-<NUM> is observed are more easily distinguished, and the angle at which the transparent layer <NUM>-<NUM> can be observed is visually easily understood. Note that <FIG> illustrates an example in which the lustrous layer <NUM> and the transparent layer <NUM>-<NUM> are different in only size. However, the invention is not limited thereto. The layers may have the same size and be shifted and disposed, or the shape of the transparent layer <NUM>-<NUM> may be different from the shape of the lustrous layer <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a card <NUM>-<NUM>. The card <NUM>-<NUM> further includes a face photograph portion as an information recording object <NUM>-<NUM> in addition to the card <NUM> described above. <FIG> is a partial schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line X1-X1 in <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the information recording object <NUM>-<NUM> includes a lustrous layer <NUM>-<NUM> and a transparent layer <NUM> on a base <NUM> substantially similarly to the information recording object <NUM>. The lustrous layer <NUM>-<NUM> includes a background image and a face image. Since the face image is not a pattern image, the face image can be clearly recognized. As described above, when the information recording object <NUM> and the information recording object <NUM>-<NUM> are provided, the association between the information recording object <NUM> and the information recording object <NUM>-<NUM> may be used in the processing in the reading device <NUM>. For example, in the processing of the reading device <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> (the image receiving unit <NUM>) reads the information recording object <NUM> and the information recording object <NUM>-<NUM>. Then, the control unit <NUM> (the converting unit <NUM>) acquires data for code generation of both the information recording object <NUM> and the information recording object <NUM>-<NUM>, and verifies coincidence of the two pieces of data. In a case where the two pieces of data coincide with each other, the control unit <NUM> may perform a process of specifying a code, for example, by determining that the card <NUM>-<NUM> is not forged but correct.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a card <NUM>-<NUM>. The card <NUM>-<NUM> allows the star image to be seen more clearly than the card <NUM> described above. <FIG> is a partial schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line X-X in <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the information recording object <NUM>-<NUM> includes a lustrous layer <NUM> and a transparent layer <NUM>-<NUM> on a base <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the transparent layer <NUM>-<NUM> does not have a pattern image of an image C2 since an area overlapping the star image of the lustrous layer <NUM> is not printed as an unprinted area C3. As described above, the information recording object <NUM>-<NUM> does not have the transparent layer <NUM>-<NUM> in the area of the lustrous layer <NUM> where the star image is printed, and thus the star image of the lustrous layer <NUM> is seen more clearly. At the same time, the region not overlapping with the star image can be made more difficult to duplicate by having the transparent layer <NUM>-<NUM>.

Thus, according to the embodiment, the following effects are obtained.

Claim 1:
An information recording object (<NUM>) comprising
a superimposed image including a first ink layer (<NUM>) and a second ink layer (<NUM>) formed on the first ink layer (<NUM>),
wherein the first ink layer (<NUM>) is an image of a chromatic color formed using a lustrous material, and includes a picture image (C1b) and a background image (C1a),
the second ink layer (<NUM>) is a pattern image which is formed using a transparent material and has regularity,
the first ink layer (<NUM>) includes a shading pattern image patterned by shading of colors, the shading pattern image is an image on which a process of acquiring data for code generation can be performed by a conversion application different from the conversion application to acquire data for specifying code from the pattern image of the second ink layer (<NUM>), and information is allowed to be read from the shading pattern image,
the background image (C1a) is the shading pattern image patterned by shading of colors,
the picture image (C1b) is not the shading pattern image,
the transparent material is configured so that an amount of reflected light varies depending on a viewing angle, and is allowed to be recognized by a specific viewing angle different from a viewing angle by which the first ink layer (<NUM>) is allowed to be recognized, and
the superimposed image is formed so that the second ink layer (<NUM>) is allowed to be recognized by the specific viewing angle.