In this paper, a novel robust color image watermarking method based on Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) and Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) is proposed. In this method, RGB cover image is divided into red, green and blue components. DCT and DWT are applied to each color components. Grayscale watermark image is scrambled by using Arnold transform. DCT is performed to the scrambled watermark image. Transformed watermark image is then divided into equal smaller parts. DCT coefficients of each watermark parts are embedded into four DWT bands of the color components of the cover image. The robustness of the proposed color image watermarking has been demonstrated by applying various image processing operations such as rotating, resizing, filtering, jpeg compression, and noise adding to the watermarked images. Experimental results show that the proposed method is robust to the linear and nonlinear attacks and the transparency of the watermarked images has been protected.

A novel hybrid DCT and DWT based robust watermarking algorithm for color images

A comprehensive survey on robust image watermarking

Watermarking is an important technique for protecting sensitive e-multimedia data and intellectual property. Watermarking techniques are used for many applications such as ownership protection, which is a popular area of research as compared to others such as authentication and local temper localization. There are many image watermarking schemes that have been recently published based on the frequency domain as it can fulfill watermarking requirements such as high robustness and imperceptibility. Singular-value decomposition (SVD) is one of them and is used in many frequency transform-based image watermarking schemes due to its stability and mathematical simplicity. However, there are many schemes that lack robustness against malicious cyberattacks, whereby the watermarks are easy to detect and destroy. Consequently, the proposed watermarking schemes became more complicated and cannot resist various geometric and non-geometric attacks. Thus, there are many existing hybrid SVD-based image watermarking schemes found be insecure. As there is also a lack of in-depth reviews in this domain, the focus of this paper is the analysis of the state-of-the-art in hybrid SVD-based image watermarking. We perform efficiency comparisons to highlight various security problems, open issues, and research gaps. Based on our findings, we additionally provide some recommendations for the development of more robust schemes in the future. This paper provides essential information for researchers and practitioners alike to advance the field of image watermarking.

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Hybrid SVD-Based Image Watermarking Schemes: A Review

This paper proposes a blind and robust color image watermarking method based on a new three-dimensional Henon chaotic map and uses integer wavelet transform, discrete wavelet transform and contourlet transform in embedding and extracting processes. In the presented approach, color images are divided into $$4\times 4$$ main nonoverlapping parts, and one of the transforms is applied to these parts. Then the low–low sub-band of transform is selected. The suggested map is used to find $$2\times 2$$ blocks in the embedding process. The bits of watermark are embedded in the parts of images to increase the robustness of the proposed watermarking scheme. To improve the quality of the final watermark, the suggested technique uses a correction process in the extracting process. In this paper, the bifurcation diagram, Lyapunov exponent, cobweb plot and trajectory diagram are used to show the chaotic behavior of the proposed map. Based on DIEHARD, ENT and NIST test suites, the suggested map can be used as a pseudo-random number generator. The simulation results show that the proposed watermarking algorithm is robust against most image processing attacks like salt & pepper, cropping, low-pass filter, wiener filter, blurring, etc. The comparison results between the suggested watermarking scheme, and some similar methods show that the presented technique has good performance, imperceptibility, acceptable robustness and outperforms most related methods.

A blind and robust color images watermarking method based on block transform and secured by modified 3-dimensional Hénon map

In order to enhance the security of exchanged medical images in telemedicine, we propose in this paper a blind and robust approach for medical image protection. This approach consists in embedding patient information and image acquisition data in the image. This imperceptible integration must generate the least possible distortion. The watermarked image must present the same clinical reading as the original image. The proposed approach is applied in the frequency domain. For this purpose, four transforms were used: discrete wavelets transform, non-subsampled contourlet transform, non-subsampled shearlet transform and discreet cosine transform. All these transforms was combined with Schur decomposition and the watermark bits were integrated in the upper triangular matrix. To obtain a satisfactory compromise between robustness and imperceptibility, the integration was performed in the medium frequencies of the image. Imperceptibility and robustness experimental results shows that the proposed methods maintain a high quality of watermarked images and are remarkably robust against several conventional attacks.

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A robust blind medical image watermarking approach for telemedicine applications

Information hiding in digital media such as audio, video and or images in order to establish the owner rights and to protect the copyrights commonly known as digital watermarking has received considerable attention of researchers over last few decades and lot of work has been done accordingly. A number of schemes and algorithms have been proposed and implemented using different techniques. The effectiveness of the technique depends on the host data values chosen for information hiding and the way watermark is being embedded in them. However, in view of the threats posed by the online pirates, the robustness and the security of the underlying watermarking techniques have always been a major concern of the researchers. This paper presents a secure and robust watermarking technique for color images using Discrete Wavelet Transformation. The results obtained have shown that the technique is robust against various common image processing attacks.

/pdf/a-robust-color-image-watermarking-scheme-using-discrete-x5e1tsofzp.pdf

A Robust Color Image Watermarking Scheme Using Discrete Wavelet Transformation

A new block based blind color image watermarking method is presented in this work. The proposed method has been implemented using discrete wavelet transformation (DWT). The host color image is initially subjected to DWT and the coefficients belonging to a particular frequency band so obtained are divided into different blocks for watermark embedding. The watermark comprising of a grayscale image is bit sliced and the resultant bits are inserted in the image blocks in a predetermined fashion. Only a portion of each image blocks is considered for watermarking embedding and the remaining parts are used as a guard band with the adjacent blocks. The experimental results have shown that the impact of attacks has reduced to a large extend by employing the above mentioned procedure which in turn has significantly improved the security and robustness of the proposed watermarking scheme.

A block based watermarking approach for color images using discrete wavelet transformation

Digital watermarking being a potential mechanism of information security has received a lot of attention from researchers over the last few decades and accordingly has undergone a thorough research. Number of methods and techniques have been proposed and implemented so far. The host values chosen and the way the watermark is being embedded are two important factors that determine the effectiveness of the technique. This paper presents a novel channel wise watermarking technique for protection of copyrights of color images using Discrete Wavelet Transformation. The results obtained have shown that the technique is a secure one and is robust against various common image processing attacks

A channel wise color image watermarking scheme based on Discrete Wavelet Transformation

The digitization has resulted in knowledge explosion in the modern technology-driven world and has led to the encouragement and motivation for digitization of the intellectual artifact. The combining, replication, and distribution facility of the digital media such as text, images, audio, and video easier and faster has no doubt revolutionized the world. However, the unauthorized use and maldistribution of information by online pirates is the sole threat that refrains the information proprietors to share their digital property. It is therefore imperative to come up with standard means to protect the intellectual property rights (IRP) of the multimedia data, thereby developing the effective multimedia authentication techniques to discourage the illegitimate distribution of information content. Digital watermarking, which is believed to be the potential means among the various possible approaches, to encourage the content providers to secure their digital property while maintaining its availability, has been entreated as a potential mechanism to protect IRP of multimedia contents.

Digital Watermarking: A Potential Solution for Multimedia Authentication

In today’s knowledge driven society and technology driven economy, when data is considered to be one of the most important corporate resource of an organization, equally important is the security of the same to prevent unauthorized users to access and manipulate it. Watermarking being an appropriate solution for claiming authorization has prompted many researchers to work in this direction and accordingly a substantial amount of research work has been done using different schemes on various media types. The main impetus in writing this paper is to provide a broader view as how much work has been carried so far and what are the different dimensions that have been taken into consideration to watermark color images using discrete wavelet transformation. The paper will help prospective researchers to gain more insight about the work that has been done and pave a way for them to design and implement better techniques.

Kaiser J. Giri

Papers

A Robust Color Image Watermarking Scheme Using Discrete Wavelet Transformation

A block based watermarking approach for color images using discrete wavelet transformation

A channel wise color image watermarking scheme based on Discrete Wavelet Transformation

Digital Watermarking: A Potential Solution for Multimedia Authentication

DWT based color image watermarking: a review