Robust digital watermarking for color images in combined DFT and DT-CWT domains

Qichao Ying; Jingzhi Lin; Zhenxing Qian; Haisheng Xu; Xinpeng Zhang; Qichao Ying; Jingzhi Lin; Zhenxing Qian; Haisheng Xu; Xinpeng Zhang

doi:10.3934/mbe.2019241

Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering

2019, Volume 16, Issue 5: 4788-4801. doi: 10.3934/mbe.2019241

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Robust digital watermarking for color images in combined DFT and DT-CWT domains

1.
School of Communication and Information Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, P.R. China
2.
Shanghai Institute of Intelligent Electronics and Systems, School of Computer Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Received: 08 February 2019 Accepted: 24 April 2019 Published: 04 June 2019

Image watermarking focuses on hiding secret data into the cover image imperceptibly to protect the copyright of the original image. In this paper, we propose a new framework of robust digital watermarking for color images using combined embedding techniques of Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) and Dual Tree Complex Wavelet Transform (DTCWT). The cover image is first divided into Y, U and V channels. The Y channel is then transformed by DFT and partitioned into the ring shapes. With an embedding key, we generate pseudo-random patterns to represent the watermark. These patterns are also transformed and partitioned. The watermark represented by the selection of patterns is then embedded into the rings of the DFT coefficients. We further embed a rectification watermark into the U channel, in which DTCWT is applied to achieve a capability of geometric distortion resilience. On the recipient's side, the detection and extraction of watermark can be successfully done. Compared with previous schemes, the proposed method is better on preserving the image quality. Meanwhile, the robustness against typical attacks is also stronger.
- digital watermarking,
- image processing,
- robustness,
- DTCWT,
- image rectification
Citation: Qichao Ying, Jingzhi Lin, Zhenxing Qian, Haisheng Xu, Xinpeng Zhang. Robust digital watermarking for color images in combined DFT and DT-CWT domains[J]. Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering, 2019, 16(5): 4788-4801. doi: 10.3934/mbe.2019241

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Abstract

Image watermarking focuses on hiding secret data into the cover image imperceptibly to protect the copyright of the original image. In this paper, we propose a new framework of robust digital watermarking for color images using combined embedding techniques of Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) and Dual Tree Complex Wavelet Transform (DTCWT). The cover image is first divided into Y, U and V channels. The Y channel is then transformed by DFT and partitioned into the ring shapes. With an embedding key, we generate pseudo-random patterns to represent the watermark. These patterns are also transformed and partitioned. The watermark represented by the selection of patterns is then embedded into the rings of the DFT coefficients. We further embed a rectification watermark into the U channel, in which DTCWT is applied to achieve a capability of geometric distortion resilience. On the recipient's side, the detection and extraction of watermark can be successfully done. Compared with previous schemes, the proposed method is better on preserving the image quality. Meanwhile, the robustness against typical attacks is also stronger.

References

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