Printer activatable environmental sensing through chemical encapsulation

An activatable environmental sensor print medium, comprising:

• a substrate;
• an environmental indicator material configured to respond to a predetermined environmental stimulus;
• and
• a plurality of microcapsules on or embedded in the substrate, containing the environmental indicator material, wherein:
• the microcapsules are configured to respond to at least one of an activation heat and an activation pressure by allowing the environmental indicator material to be released from the microcapsules, and
• the environmental indicator material, after being released from the microcapsules, is configured to migrate along the substrate in response to exposure to the predetermined environmental stimulus by causing a detectable response.

A method of activating an environmental sensor print medium, comprising:

• receiving a substrate, having a plurality of microcapsules on or embedded in the substrate, and an environmental indicator material contained within microcapsules;
• and
• applying at least one of an activation heat and an activation pressure by allowing the environmental indicator material to be released from the microcapsules, wherein:
• the microcapsules are configured to respond to at least one of an activation heat and an activation pressure by allowing the environmental indicator material to be released from the microcapsules, and
• the environmental indicator material, after being released from the microcapsules, is configured to respond to exposure to a predetermined environmental stimulus by causing a detectable response.