1. A method for encoding information on a printed page comprising: generating a set of color patches, each having a unique color, each patch representing a unique code value; printing the set of color patches; scanning the printed color patches to identify color values for each patch in the set of patches; for each patch, associating the identified color values with a datum value in a data structure, the datum value being associated with the unique code value, whereby when combined with data values of others of the patches, information about a calibration page to be printed is conveyed; with a device for marking a printing medium, printing a calibration page which includes a patch code, the patch code including selected ones of the set of color patches for conveying information about the printed page, the calibration page further including a target comprising color patches; scanning the printed page to identify the color values for the color patches in the patch code and color values for the color patches in the target; distinguishing the color patches in the patch code from the target color patches; accessing the data structure to identify the data values for the identified color values of the patches in the patch code; determining information about the printed calibration page from the identified data values; and calibrating the device which printed the calibration page using the color values for the color patches in the target and the determined information.