Dual Image-Based High Quality Digital Image Watermarking

What is it about?

Digital image watermarking techniques are suitable for integrity authentication, watermark security, and copyright protection. Further, the number of embedding bits and the process of watermarking also play a crucial role in deciding the effectiveness of any watermarking process. In this regard, to achieve better security without producing noticeable artifacts in the watermarked image, this paper proposes a dual image-based watermarking technique using an exclusive-or (XOR) operation. The proposed technique utilizes a modified least significant bit (LSB) substitution strategy in the host image (HI) pixel to substitute the watermark bits with a maximum of ±1 modification to each pixel. Each HI pixel embeds two watermark bits by producing two different watermarked pixels each. The proposed technique has better watermark bit embedding capacity, higher perceptual transparency, and security.

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Why is it important?

By incorporating an XOR operation for watermarking, the technique adds an additional layer of security, making it more resilient against unauthorized detection and extraction of the watermark. This approach allows embedding more watermark bits into the host image without significant degradation, thus improving the watermark's robustness and the amount of information that can be securely embedded within the image. The method is designed to minimally alter the pixels of the host image, ensuring that the watermarked image does not exhibit noticeable artifacts. This maintains the visual quality of the image while securely embedding the watermark, making it suitable for applications where image quality is paramount.

Perspectives

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The technique introduces a novel dual image-based strategy that employs an XOR operation for embedding watermarks. This method signifies a departure from traditional single-image watermarking techniques, potentially offering a new pathway to enhance security and robustness against tampering. By modifying the least significant bit (LSB) substitution approach, the technique allows for minimal alteration (±1 modification) of the host image pixels. This subtlety in modification is crucial for maintaining the original image's perceptual quality while embedding watermark information.

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