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Metadata on typewriters? (lemmy.ca)

submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 18 hours ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Since laser printers all encode metadata into the printed image, and handwriting is unique to the writer, I was wondering if a typewriter would provide a more anonymous form of paper communication.

I expect it would be possible to determine the model of typewriter, but would it be possible to tell if two samples were made on the very same machine? Are electric typewriters better or worse than manual? (assuming the same operator) What about Selectric or Wheelwriter – would frequently swapping out the typing element help?

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Other random information:

https://github.com/Natounet/YellowDotDecode

Also, be aware that modern printers are rumored to embed some other type of information in some other way, now that people are hip to the yellow dots. It seems like it shouldn't be super-challenging to figure out the new details, but for some reason I'm not aware of anyone having figured it out.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 23 hours ago

Seems like you could get rid of the dots with your metadata by making a photocopy on a black and white printer.