The present disclosure relates to advanced signal processing including signal embedding, digital watermarking and steganography. One method includes: obtaining image data representing imagery; using one or more multi-core processors, embedding a machine-readable signal into the image data, thereby generating transformed image data; obtaining substrate data, the substrate data associated with a substrate upon which the transformed image data is to be printed upon; obtaining printer data, the printer data associated with a printer that is anticipated to print the transformed image data upon the substrate; processing the transformed image data with reference to the substrate data and the printer data, thereby generating processed, transformed image data; estimating a signal strength of the machine-readable signal embedded within the processed, transformed image data, in which said estimating yields an estimated signal strength; and visually displaying the estimated signal strength spatially relative to the image data. Of course, other combinations are described as well.