The advent of high-quality desktop image scanning and printing has enabled just about anyone to produce official-looking documents, which in the past required the skills and resources of an offset press operator.

Consequently, the need has arisen for making documents more secure. Ironically, some of the scientists who developed the technology that has enabled easy and widespread counterfeiting are now involved in developing new techniques to guarantee document authenticity.

One such scientist is Xerox research fellow Reiner Eschbach, who is among those working at the company's research centre in Webster, New York. He says while digital printing is part of the problem, it can also be part of the solution.