3D Fax

3D Fax (also 3DFax) is a Windows program, developed for InfoImaging Technologies by sister Israeli company Fontech in the mid-1990s, for file transfer via fax (FTF). The program encodes a file into an InfoImage, which the user would then print and send via a fax machine or transmit directly from the computer using a fax modem. The recipient would then scan the transmitted image or receive it via a fax modem, and use 3D Fax to decode it back to its original binary form.

• v1.0 - 40kB per sheet of paper
• v2.0 - up to 110kB per sheet of paper

Downloads for versions 1.5 and 2.5 (different formats) can be found on the archived product page

Further developed into INTACTA.CODE

History

• In 1987 Oded Kafri invented the random grids which were utilized for 'Visual encryption' and later for printing binary data on papers (which is the basis of the two-dimensional barcode)
• Software developed by Fontech Ltd. based in Beer Sheva, Israel to sell to the Israeli government to provide a way of securely sending data via fax
• Fontech Fax-O-File originally licensed to AT&T as Surity
• started InfoImaging Technologies, Inc. in 1994 in California (originally Palo Alto, then later Pleasanton) after winning Most Innovative Product at the 1993 CeBit for 3D Fax File
• Rebranded/continued as INTACTA.CODE in 1997

Links and references

• Wikipedia article
• Article in 27 June 1995 PC Magazine
• Ad from July 1995 PC Magazine
• Review in 10 July 1995 InfoWorld
• Press Release for v2.0 in 27 November 1995 Computerworld
• Archived product page
• Video review from 1997 The Computer Chronicles
• History of Fontech and 3D Fax technology
• Oded Kafri biography
• Encryption of pictures and shapes by random grids by Oded Kafri and Eliezer Keren
• Patent 4776013: Method and apparatus of encryption of optical images