Let us help you identify that mysterious object you’ve found.
Currently in CHALLENGE mode: If you've got something obscure knocking about, post a picture, and let's see how we do. Please prefix such posts with "CHALLENGE:" so we know we've got a fighting chance.
The patch is small, about a fingernail in size.
Elsewhere on the packet they used two colors of ink: a very dark blue (this) and a lighter blue. I expected it to be some kind of alignment pattern, but only one of the inks seems to have been used here, so that's not it...
What is it for, why would they bother printing it? An ink+paper resolution/absorption test?
Maybe something for checking the calibration of the high speed cameras on their assembly line?
I agree. This seems like some sort of calibration image. Whether for the printer, the cameras, or both.
My guess is the cameras use it to make sure the color plates are aligned properly. A lot of packaging printing still uses a 4 step printing with one plate for each color in CMYK.
Makes sense to me. Honestly can’t say I’ve seen that one before and I’ve seen a lot of printers marks… so I guessed at the high speed bit because that’s a bit newer than most of the stuff I’ve been trained on.
Can you provide some more context?
There's a description under the image. Starts with "the patch is small". I'm not sure if it's visible, because others are commenting as if they haven't seen it...
I'm not sure what else to add. Small paper packet of medicine, printed using two ink colors, only one used for this pattern. This is on one of the small underflaps at the end of the box.
It kind of resembles the patterns used on digital paper, but your description doesn't suggest that it would be used that way.
I don't recognize it as any common sort of matrix code (2D bar code).
Reminds me of cobblestones.
That's interesting! I hadn't heard of Anoto paper before... It can't be that, but interesting tech nonetheless.
Probably an anti-counterfeit watermark.
Might be for anti-counterfeiting purposes, just making a guess in the dark.
It's a cheaper version of the security-patterns you'll find on the inside of quality mail envelopes - meant to keep snoops from being able to read what's inside. It's for your privacy ...
... or maybe it's just ineffective marketting meant to resemble such, or the absolute minimum/cheapest option to comply with medical privacy laws.
