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While designing some personal stuff, I encountered troubles copy-pasting a banknote image into Photoshop CS2.

I saved a Dollar bill from the web to my desktop, but trying to open it, even copy-pasting it into Photoshop, I get this warning:

This application does not support printing of banknote images. You can open and edit this image but you will not be able to print it as is. For more information, select the information button below for Internet-based information on restrictions for copying and distributing banknote images or go to rulesforuse.org.

I opened the image with another editor, re-saved it and no success.

I tried with another image from Wikipedia and it worked.

I searched for an explanation and what i found so far is EURion rings. Maybe there are other algorithms.

The EURion constellation is a pattern of symbols incorporated into a number of banknote designs worldwide since about 1996. It is added to help imaging software detect the presence of a banknote in a digital image. Such software can then block the user from reproducing banknotes to prevent counterfeiting using colour photocopiers. Research shows that the EURion constellation is used for color photocopiers and is likely not used for computer software.

Now I know why this happens, but does anyone know how to bypass this Photoshop security, asside installing viral patches?

Other references:

Giacomo1968
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Milche Patern
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5 Answers5

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One thing you can try is to crop or embed the image in a much larger image and work from there. One of the researchers into EURion and related shows that taking such images and then cropping them very slightly can cause the software to "err on the side of false negatives".

Source: Software Detection of Currency

Greenonline
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K.A.Monica
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If the image is a PDF you can create an Automator Application or hot folder that renders the PDF as a PSD. There may be other Automator steps that can do the same for different file formats. Once it's saved off as a PSD it's editable and can be saved and reopened. Automator Steps

Karu
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Aaron Caudill
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Well, self answering about how to bypass Adobe counterfeit deterrence system (CDS)

Use adobe photoshop 5 or older versions that are not part of the Creative Suite series.

This situation lead me to more 'security' features from imagery software. Sexually explicit images displaying young people face can be also blocked. I could read an article about a company which had a legitimate authorization from UK government to reproduce banknotes for artistic reasons but could not get from Adobe another answer than 'No, you are not authorized'.

All patchez I could read about on the internet were viral and/or dangerous.

(hint for future generations of artists : keep your legacy softwares safe)

Greenonline
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Milche Patern
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You can open a banknote image by copying little pieces (about 10% of the space) of the image from another editor and pasting them to the Photoshop.

Finesse
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Edit the image to remove the EURion. I suggest overwriting that portion with "SAMPLE SAMPLE SAMPLE" so that nobody accidentally attempts to spend it.

And yes I am being a little bit snarky. Banknotes are not just copyright they are made hard to copy for good reason, and you had better have an equally good reason for making a high-fidelity copy.

If it isn't the EURion which is a problem then likely putting "SAMPLE" across the image, or blurring it, will break whatever watermark is being used.

It's hard to think of any purely personal application where producing a high-fidelity copy of a banknote is necessary. But if you have legitimate (e.g. academic research) reasons, you might try using the GIMP.

Ben
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