Abstract
Image watermarking is the most promising method for preserving image copyright and its ownership identification. Watermark should have two contradictory properties of transparency and robustness. Location of embedding watermark in the image plays an important role in balancing these two properties. In this paper, a novel robust image watermarking scheme is proposed which uses combination of entropy and distinct discrete firefly algorithm (DDFA) for selecting suitable blocks to balance transparency and robustness. As image blocks numbers are distinct and discrete values, DDFA which is the modified version of firefly algorithm for optimizing distinct and discrete values is proposed and used to select optimal blocks. Hadamard transform applies on each selected block and watermark bits are embedded in Hadamard coefficients using average neighboring coefficients. Using Hadamard transform domain caused more robustness against signal processing attacks. The proposed method has been investigated by various standard metrics and experimental results showed its high robustness and imperceptibility; furthermore, there is a significant balance between these two properties.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ali M, Ahn CW, Pant M, Siarry P (2015) An image watermarking scheme in wavelet domain with optimized compensation of singular value decomposition via artificial bee colony. Inf Sci 301:44–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ins.2014.12.042
Aung A, Ng BP, Rahardja S (2011) A robust watermarking scheme using sequency-ordered complex hadamard transform. J Signal Process Syst 64:319–333. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11265-010-0492-7
Dong H, He M, Qiu M (2015) Optimized gray-scale image watermarking algorithm based on DWT-DCT-SVD and chaotic firefly algorithm. In: International conference on cyber-enabled distributed computing and knowledge discovery (CyberC), 17–19 Sept 2015, pp 310–313. https://doi.org/10.1109/cyberc.2015.15
Franklin RV, Manekandan GRS, Santhi V (2011) Entropy based robust watermarking scheme using Hadamard transformation technique. Int J Comput Appl 12:14–21
Ishtiaq M, Sikandar B, Jaffar MA, Khan A (2010) Adaptive watermark strength selection using particle swarm optimization. ICIC Express Lett 4:1–6
Kazemivash B, Moghaddam ME (2016) A robust digital image watermarking technique using lifting wavelet transform and firefly algorithm. Multimed Tools Appl 76:20499–20524
Kazemivash B, Moghaddam ME (2017) A predictive model-based image watermarking scheme using Regression Tree and Firefly algorithm. Soft Comput 22:4083–4098
Lai C-C (2011) An improved SVD-based watermarking scheme using human visual characteristics. Opt Commun 284:938–944
Lewis J (1995) Fast normalized cross-correlation. Vis Interface 1:120–123
Loukhaoukha K, Chouinard J-Y, Taieb MH (2011) Optimal image watermarking algorithm based on LWT-SVD via multi-objective ant colony optimization. J Inf Hiding Multimed Signal Process 2:303–319
Maity SP, Kundu MK (2010) DHT domain digital watermarking with low loss in image informations Aeu. Int J Electron Commun 64:243–257
Maity SP, Kundu MK (2011) Perceptually adaptive spread transform image watermarking scheme using Hadamard transform. Inf Sci 181:450–465
Mishra A, Agarwal C, Sharma A, Bedi P (2014) Optimized gray-scale image watermarking using DWT-SVD and Firefly Algorithm. Expert Syst Appl 41:7858–7867
Pal NR, Pal SK (1989) Object-background segmentation using new definitions of entropy. IEE Proc E Comput Digital Tech 136:284–295
Raihan HK, Gogoi M (2017) A variance based approach (VBA) digital watermarking in frequency domain and comparative analysis using Walsh and Hadamard transform. Int J Comput Appl 163(9)
Sarker MIH, Khan MI (2013) An efficient image watermarking scheme using BFS technique based on hadamard transform. SmartCR 3:298–308
Shannon CE (1948) A mathematical theory of communication. Bell Syst Tech J 27:379–423
USC, SIPI (2016) The usc-sipi image database. http://sipi.usc.edu/services/database/database.html
Vahedi E, Zoroofi RA, Shiva M (2012) Toward a new wavelet-based watermarking approach for color images using bio-inspired optimization principles. Digit Signal Proc 22:153–162
Wang Z, Bovik AC, Sheikh HR, Simoncelli EP (2004) Image quality assessment: from error visibility to structural similarity. IEEE Trans Image Proc 13:600–612
Zhang L, Zhang L, Mou X, Zhang D (2011) FSIM: a feature similarity index for image quality assessment. IEEE Trans Image Process 20:2378–2386
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
I wish to confirm that there are no known conflicts of interest associated with this article, and there has been no significant financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome.
Ethical approval
This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.
Informed consent
I confirm that I am the only author and there are no other persons who satisfied the criteria for authorship but are not listed. I confirm that I have given due consideration to the protection of intellectual property associated with this work and that there are no impediments to publication, including the timing of publication, with respect to intellectual property. In so doing I confirm that I have followed the regulations of my institutions concerning intellectual property.
Additional information
Communicated by V. Loia.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Moeinaddini, E. Selecting optimal blocks for image watermarking using entropy and distinct discrete firefly algorithm. Soft Comput 23, 9685–9699 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00500-018-3535-9
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00500-018-3535-9