Automation Grade Micro Print (For Example Copy-Proof QR-codes) Is Still Struggling For Its Sweet-Spot Though It Started Its Journey More Than A Decade Back. Evident Issues Include Smartphone Optics, Unofficial-Production Of Originals, Wrinkling/Glossiness Of Surface, Mass Manufacturing, Print-Line DPI, Printing Noises And Scan-Speed Among Several Others. More Fundamental Technical Issues Include Digital Cloning (Intentional & Remote False Scan Upon Mere Image Of Original), Replicability By Resized Print Of Copy Version, Immunity In Artwork That Auto-Heals Itself Against Mis-Print Or Printing-Noises In Volume Production, Printability On EOL Printers And Credible Remote Authentication (Handling False-Alarms From New-Age Glorified Deep Learning Solutions).

While App-less Browser Based Scanning- Engines Getting Popularity, It Is Worth Examining Its Efficacy In Scanning Micro-Print That Requires Higher Optical Focus. Sometimes Even High-End Smartphones Optics Gradually Become Weak With Mis-Handling. Overt Covert Features Become Counter-Productive In Addition To Cost & Sustainability Impact.

Finally, Extending Performance Liability Or Hard Engineering Guarantee For Every Single Impression Remains A Big Question. Capability To Undertake Performance-Liability Imply Technology Pureplay Eco-System That Brings Credible Traceability In Supply-Chain With Minimal Ground-Investigation And Mitigates Insider- Connivance. The World Deserves Something Better Than Solutions Based On Traditional Copy Detection Patterns. This Paper Articulates The Hidden Technology-Gap And Further Talks About “How A Print-Only Solution Can Crack The Authentication-Space”.