Print, printing method, printer, and image reading method and device capable of inhibiting improper reproduction

A print produced by image recording to a color thermosensitive recording material, the color thermosensitive recording material including a support, first, second and third coloring layers overlaid on said support, in sequence on one another and colorable in predetermined colors, and a protective layer overlaid on said coloring layers, said print comprising:

• at least one colorless gloss indicia, recorded by thermal recording, and discernible according to a glossiness difference;
• an effective printing region adapted to said image recording;
• a margin region disposed outside said effective printing region;
• wherein said colorless gloss indicia is disposed in said margin region;
• and
• wherein said colorless gloss indicia is thermally recorded to said protective layer.

A print produced by image recording to a color thermosensitive recording material, the color thermosensitive recording material including a support, first, second and third coloring layers overlaid on said support, in sequence on one another and colorable in predetermined colors, and a protective layer overlaid on said coloring layers, said print comprising:

• an effective printing region adapted to said image recording;
• at least one colorless gloss indicia, recorded by thermal recording, and discernible according to a glossiness difference;
• wherein said colorless gloss indicia is disposed in said effective printing region and close to an end thereof;
• and
• wherein said colorless gloss indicia is thermally recorded to said protective layer.

An image reading method comprising steps of:

• measuring glossiness of respectively unit areas in an original;
• obtaining an average glossiness of said glossiness of respectively said unit areas;
• checking existence of a gloss indicia according to a glossiness difference between said glossiness of respectively said unit areas and said average glossiness;
• if said gloss indicia lacks, reading an image from said original;
• and
• if said gloss indicia exists, generating an alarm signal.

An image reading device comprising:

• an image reader for reading an image from an original;
• a glossmeter unit for measuring glossiness of respectively unit areas in said original;
• an arithmetic operation unit for obtaining an average glossiness of said glossiness of respectively said unit areas;
• an indicia discriminator for checking existence of a gloss indicia according to a glossiness difference between said glossiness of respectively said unit areas and said average glossiness;
• and
• a controller for allowing said image reader to operate if said gloss indicia lacks, and for generating an alarm signal if said gloss indicia exists.

A printing method, including steps of reading an image from an original to obtain image data, and forming an image according to said image data, said printing method comprising steps of:

• measuring glossiness of respectively unit areas in said original;
• obtaining an average glossiness of said glossiness of respectively said unit areas;
• checking existence of a gloss indicia according to a glossiness difference between said glossiness of respectively said unit areas and said average glossiness;
• if said gloss indicia lacks, enabling said image reading step and said image forming step;
• and
• if said gloss indicia exists, generating an alarm signal.

A printer comprising:

• an image reader for reading an image from an original to obtain image data;
• an image forming unit for forming an image according to said image data;
• a glossmeter unit for measuring glossiness of respectively unit areas in said original;
• an arithmetic operation unit for obtaining an average glossiness of said glossiness of respectively said unit areas;
• an indicia discriminator for checking existence of a gloss indicia according to a glossiness difference between said glossiness of respectively said unit areas and said average glossiness;
• and
• a controller for allowing said image forming unit to operate if said gloss indicia lacks, and for generating an alarm signal if said gloss indicia exists.