A method and system for extracting information from a surface coated with a coating containing quantum dots are disclosed. In embodiments, the method comprises charging the quantum dots in the surface coating, scanning the surface to retrieve information from the quantum dots, and processing the retrieved information to identify data encoded in the quantum dots. In embodiments of the invention, the processing includes filtering the retrieved information to adjust the received information based on defined effects of the coating. In embodiments of the invention, the filtering includes filtering the retrieved information to account for chromatic deviation due to the color of the coated surface. In embodiments of the invention, the quantum dots include a plurality of different types of quantum dots, and the processing the retrieved information includes processing the retrieved information to distinguish between the information retrieved from the different types of quantum dots.