Methods and systems for spectrally-encoding plural source images and for providing the spectrally-encoded plural source images in a composite image, for rendering the composite image on a substrate, and for recovering at least one of the encoded source images from the rendered composite image. A desired source image is recovered when the rendered composite image is subjected to illumination by one or more illuminants and the desired source image is detected by one or more sensors in an image capture device. The spectral characteristics of the colorants, illuminants, and sensors are employed to spectrally encode the source image in the composite image.