Method of encoding data in a monochrome media

A method of encoding, in a monochrome medium, data about a document that has been received as a rasterized image, in which each pixel is assigned a raster value, the method comprising, for each pixel:

• (a) assigning a data word having a predetermined bit depth, said data word comprising a first data field and a second data field;
• (b) encoding a first component of said raster value into said first data field;
• (c) encoding a second data value into said second data field;
• (d) generating a grayscale data value comprising said first data field and said second data field;
• and
• (e) forming, onto the monochrome medium, a grayscale pixel conditioned by said grayscale data value.

A method of storing, on a monochrome medium, a tristimulus color image value associated with each pixel in a color document, wherein each tristimulus color image value comprises a first data value, a second data value, and a third data value, the method comprising:

• (a) assigning a data word to said each pixel, said data word having a predetermined bit depth for storing a grayscale value, said data word comprising a first field, a second field, and a third field;
• (b) encoding, for each said pixel, said first data value in said first field, said second data value in said second field, and said third data value in said third field, thereby forming said grayscale data value in said data word;
• and
• (c) forming a grayscale image onto the monochrome medium, wherein the density of said each pixel corresponds to said grayscale data value in said data word for each said pixel.

A method of storing, on a monochrome medium, a CMYK color image value associated with each pixel in a color document, wherein each CMYK color image value comprises a first data value, a second data value, a third data value, and a fourth data value, the method comprising:

• (a) assigning a data word to said each pixel, said data word having a predetermined bit depth for storing a grayscale value, said data word comprising a first field, a second field, a third field and a fourth field;
• (b) encoding, for each said pixel, said first data value in said first field, said second data value in said second field, said third data value in said third field, and said fourth data value in said fourth field, thereby forming said grayscale data value in said data word;
• and
• (c) forming a grayscale image onto the monochrome medium, wherein the density of said each pixel corresponds to said grayscale data value in said data word for each said pixel.