---
title: How to protect images from unauthorized copying
description: Protecting images from unauthorized copying involves implementing various measures to prevent or discourage users from making unauthorized copies. While making images completely immune to copying is challenging, you can take steps to make it more difficult. Keep in mind that…
url: "https://bdsdoc.com/kb-articles/how-to-protect-images-from-unauthorized-copying/"
updated: "2023-11-27"
category: Copying
tags:
  - Print finishing
---

# How to protect images from unauthorized copying

Protecting images from unauthorized copying involves implementing various measures to prevent or discourage users from making unauthorized copies. While making images completely immune to copying is challenging, you can take steps to make it more difficult. Keep in mind that determined individuals may still find ways to copy images, but these measures can act as a deterrent.

Ricoh's unauthorized copy prevention enables the inclusion of a pattern in printed copies to deter or hinder unauthorized replication.

[Unauthorized Copy Prevention](https://www.youtube.com/embed/fgjPqeNuAq0?si=K0RsjOH5XyHGIZOK)

When the Copy Prevention function is activated, text patterns are embedded and visible on illegally copied documents, thus deterring unauthorized copying.

With the Data Security for Copying function and activated settings for embedding special patterns in documents, copies display gray overprinting. This measure prevents information leakage. The **[copier](https://bdsdoc.com/product/ricoh/ricoh-im-7000/)** or multi-function printer requires the Copy Data Security Unit to implement this security measure of gray overprinting for document protection.

## Ricoh Copier Settings

Open the copy settings on your **[Ricoh](https://bdsdoc.com/blog/why-should-you-lease-a-ricoh-business-printer/)** Multifunction device's interface. Use this copy function to embed text and background patterns in confidential documents.

## Ricoh Copier Finisher Settings

Once in the copy settings, navigate to the finishing options and choose edit color.

## Choose Stamp in Finisher settings

Once in the stamp settings, you can choose "Unauthorized Copy Prevention."

## Prevention Settings

Once in the settings, you can select several features to add to your [**copy**](https://bdsdoc.com/kb-articles/how-to-make-duplex-copies-on-a-ricoh-printer/).

- Pattern color can be black, cyan, or magenta
- Enable printing of the embedded pattern
- Define the configurations for preventing unauthorized copying within the printer function.

Enabling the Unauthorized Copy Prevention function displays embedded text patterns, such as a warning message like "No Copying" when documents are copied illicitly.

If a document containing an embedded copy guard pattern undergoes copying, scanning, or storage in a device equipped with the Copy Data Security unit, the image intended for printing is eradicated and substituted with a solid gray image.

The availability of this function depends on the specific **[printer model](https://bdsdoc.com/business-printers-for-lease/ricoh-copier-lease/)** you are utilizing.