Document with linked viewer file for correlated printing

A document authentication system comprising

• a server having access to a plurality of predefined templates corresponding to particular types of documents and authentication viewers arranged for use with the documents,
• the server being arranged for receiving orders for documents, each specifying both the type of document having prearranged fields and information for populating the prearranged fields within the document,
• the prearranged fields within a document of the specified document type being populated with the information from one of the orders and the populated document being stored as a document file along with an associated viewer file,
• the document file containing the populated document and the viewer file containing the associated viewer being linked for transmission to a different site for printing the transmitted document and viewer files as an original document and a document viewer,
• the prearranged fields of the original document containing (a) visible data for reproducing at least some of the information within a first area of the document and (b) relatively invisible data for hiding at least some of the same information within a second area of the document,
• the document viewer containing a decrypting portion;
• the relatively invisible data being formed by a line screen pattern within the second area of the document and being rendered substantially invisible by a neighboring printed portion within a third area of the document being formed by a different line screen pattern,
• the decrypting portion of the document viewer incorporating a line screen pattern that complements the line screen pattern of one or the other of the relatively invisible data and the neighboring printed portion to create sufficient contrast with the line screen pattern of the neighboring printed portion to render the relatively invisible data visible.

A method of authenticating a document comprising steps of

• providing access to a plurality of predefined templates corresponding to particular types of documents and authentication viewers arranged for use with the documents,
• receiving orders for documents, each specifying both the type of document and information for populating fields within the document,
• populating a document of the specified document type with the information received from one of the orders,
• storing the populated document as a document file along with an associated viewer file,
• linking the document file with the viewer file for transmission to a different site for printing the transmitted document and viewer files,
• embedding at least one of the populated fields within the document as a latent image at least partially surrounded by a visually integrated setting of the document so as to be at least partially indistinguishable from the visually integrated setting to the naked eye,
• forming the latent image and the visually integrated setting of the document by differently oriented line screen patterns in different areas of the printed document, and
• incorporating a line screen pattern within the document viewer that complements the line screen pattern of one or the other of the latent image and the visually integrated setting to create sufficient contrast to render the latent image visible in the document.