Multiple-image hiding in the Fresnel domain

Area of Science:

• Optics
• Image Processing
• Information Security

Background:

• Additive cross-talk in multi-image hiding systems degrades quality.
• Independent image localization is crucial for robust information hiding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a method for multi-image hiding that avoids additive cross-talk.
• To investigate the hiding capacity for different image types.
• To analyze the security and multiplexing parameters of the proposed system.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing the Fresnel domain for independent image localization.
• Employing computer-generated double phase-only masks for image separation.
• Applying a cascaded iterative algorithm to determine hiding capacity.

Main Results:

• Successfully separated multiple images (gray and binary) in the Fresnel domain, preventing cross-talk.
• Quantified the hiding capacity for simultaneous embedding of diverse image types.
• Provided analysis of system security and multiplexing parameters.

Conclusions:

• The proposed Fresnel domain approach with double phase-only masks effectively mitigates cross-talk in multi-image hiding.
• The system demonstrates versatility in hiding capacity for various image formats.
• The security and multiplexing performance are suitable for practical applications.