Encoding information in illumination patterns

A method for encoding information in a structured illumination pattern comprising:

• a) selecting information to be encoded based on the geometrical and material properties of a surface relief pattern;
• b) characterizing a relief pattern of an object's surface;
• c) selecting at least one portion of the object's surface including the surface relief pattern, based on the amount of distortion introduced by the portion of the surface relief pattern to the information being encoded;
• d) creating at least one structured illumination pattern responsive to the selected surface relief pattern and the selected information;
• and
• e) storing the structured illumination pattern for subsequent decoding.