Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Spot color watermarking: the use of the IWT-SVD and tone correction model

  • Published:
Multimedia Tools and Applications Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Watermarking has long been a necessary technology in the package printing industry for copyright protection and counterfeit prevention. However, A large number of spot colors are used in the industry, which poses a challenge for the watermarking application. In light of the integer wavelet transform (IWT) and singular value decomposition (SVD), we herein present a robust watermarking algorithm for spot color printing based on the color space transformation principle. First, a spot color channel was separated from the original image using the Neugebauer model. The image of the spot color channel was then transformed with the IWT, and the watermark was embedded in singular values of the 1-level IWT decomposed sub-bands. To enhance the security, Arnold scrambling and encryption were adopted, and a digital signature was embedded in the watermarked images. Hence, the extraction of the digital signature is required prior to the extraction of the watermark information. In the extraction stage, the watermark was extracted from the scanned grayscale image. The spot color scale was designed, and the tone correction model was established for the scanned grayscale image. A series of tests were conducted, and the results showed that the method is effective in resisting spot color distortion attacks in the print-scanning process, and the imperceptibility, capacity as well as security in the spot color are also favorable.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Abdelhakim AM, Saad M, Sayed M, Saleh HI (2018) Optimized SVD-based robust watermarking in the fractional Fourier domain. Multimed Tools Appl 77(21):27895–27917

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Alattar OM, Reed AM (2003) Watermarking spot colors. Electron Imaging 5020:430–439

    Google Scholar 

  3. Alhaj A (2007) Combined DWT-DCT digital image watermarking. J Comput Sci 3(9):740–746

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Baqai FA, Lee JH, Agar AU, Allebach JP (2005) Digital color halftoning. IEEE Signal Process Mag 22(1):87–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Bassia P, Pitas I, Nikolaidis N (2001) Robust audio watermarking in the time domain. IEEE Trans Multimed 3(2):232–241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Benrhouma O, Hermassi H, Ellatif AAA, Belghith S (2016) Chaotic watermark for blind forgery detection in images. Multimed Tools Appl 75(14):8695–8718

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Caiyin W, Xiangwei K, Chao LI (2017) Robust watermarking applying to CMYK printed image for Fidelity printing. J Univ Electron Sci Technol Chin 46(3):529–536

    Google Scholar 

  8. Caiyin W, Xiangwei K, Chao L (2017) Process color watermarking: the use of visual masking and dot gain correction. Multimed Tools Appl 76(15):16291–16314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Fairchild MD (2013) Color appearance models. Wiley

  10. Gaur S, Srivastava VK (2016) Robust embedding of improved arnold transformed watermark in digital images using RDWT — SVD. In: grid computing, 563–568

  11. Guo C, Xu G, Niu X, Yang Y, Li Y (2010) A color image watermarking algorithm resistant to print-scan. In: wireless communications, networking and information security, 518–521

  12. Hersch RD, Crété F (2005) Improving the Yule-Nielsen modified Neugebauer model by dot surface coverages depending on the ink superposition conditions. In: Color Imaging X: Processing, Hardcopy, and Applications. International Society for Optics and Photonics, 434–447

  13. Hunt R (2004) The reproduction of colour sixth edition. Wiley

  14. Kadian P, Arora N, Arora SM (2019) Performance Evaluation of Robust Watermarking Using DWT-SVD and RDWT-SVD. In: international conference on signal processing, 987–991

  15. Lai C (2011) A digital watermarking scheme based on singular value decomposition and tiny genetic algorithm. Digit Sign Proc 21(4):522–527

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Lee ML, Ting PY, Wu TS (2015) Photograph watermarking. Multimed Tools Appl 75(23):1–17

    Google Scholar 

  17. Liang X, Jianbing Y, Zhihui W (2010) Analysis of high false alarm in SVD based watermarking and improved algorithm. J Nanjing Univ Sci Technol 34(2):75–79

    Google Scholar 

  18. Makbol NM, Khoo BE (2013) Robust blind image watermarking scheme based on redundant discrete wavelet transform and singular value decomposition. Aeu-inter J Electron Commun 67(2):102–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Makbol NM, Khoo BE (2014) A new robust and secure digital image watermarking scheme based on the integer wavelet transform and singular value decomposition. Digit Sign Proc 33:134–147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Makbol NM, Khoo BE, Rassem TH (2014) Performance evaluation of SVD-based digital image watermarking scheme on print-scan and print-cam (PSPC) applications. In: international symposium on intelligent signal processing and communication systems, 048–053

  21. Mizumoto T, Matsui K (2003) Robustness investigation of DCT digital watermark for printing and scanning. Electron Commun Jpn Part Iii-fundament Electron Sci 86(4):11–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Moeinaddini E, Afsari F (2018) Robust watermarking in DWT domain using SVD and opposition and dimensional based modified firefly algorithm. Multimed Tools Appl 77(19):26083–26105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Peng J, Abd El-Atty B, Khalifa H, Abd El-Latif A (2019) Image watermarking algorithm based on quaternion and chaotic Lorenz system, vol 11179. Eleventh International Conference on Digital Image Processing (ICDIP 2019). SPIE

  24. Pizzolante R, Castiglione A, Carpentieri B, De Santis A, Palmieri F, Castiglione A (2017) On the protection of consumer genomic data in the internet of living things. Comput Sec 74:384–400

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Reed AM, Filler T, Falkenstern KR, Bai Y (2015) Watermarking spot colors in packaging. Electron Imaging 9409:940906

    Google Scholar 

  26. Rentzeperis I, Alexander DM, Kiper DC, Van Leeuwen C (2015) Orientation perception anisotropies indicate functional segregation within the color system. J Vis 15(9):13–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Sangmule S, Pekarovicova A, Lovell V, Fleming P (2012) Digital proofing of spot color overprints for flexography. J Imaging Sci Technol 56(1):1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Song X, Wang S, Liu S, Ellatif AAA, Niu X (2013) A dynamic watermarking scheme for quantum images using quantum wavelet transform. Quantum Inf Process 12(12):3689–3706

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  29. Song X, Wang S, Ellatif AAA, Niu X (2014) Dynamic watermarking scheme for quantum images based on Hadamard transform. Multimedia Systems 20(4):379–388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Suchy M, Fleming PD, Sharma A (2005) Spot color reproduction with digital printing. In: NIP & Digital Fabrication Conference. Soc Imaging Sci Technol 1:93–97

  31. Tang Y, Yang C (2012) Print-and-Scan Resilient Watermarking Based on Modulating the Averages of DCT Coefficients. In: international symposium on biometrics and security technologies, 113–117

  32. Taylor JM (2004) Digital Color Imaging Handbook. Color Res Appl 29(5):395–397

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Thongkor K, Amornraksa T (2017) Digital image watermarking for printed and scanned documents. In: international conference on digital image processing

  34. Thongkor K, Amornraksa T, Delp EJ (2018) Digital watermarking for camera-captured images based on just noticeable distortion and wiener filtering. J Vis Commun Image Represent: S1047320318300531

  35. Wang Y, Gong D, Lu B, Xiang F, Liu F (2018) Exception handling-based dynamic software watermarking. IEEE Access 6:8882–8889

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Wyble DR, Berns RS (2000) A critical review of spectral models applied to binary color printing. Color Res Appl 25(1):4–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Yong X, Yi Y, Haihu T (2014) Juanjuan W Effect of Embedding Way on Printed Watermarking Image by Lithography. In: cyber enabled distributed computing and knowledge discovery, 286–289

  38. Zhang M, Ni R, Zhao Y (2019) A blind print-recapture robust watermark scheme by calculating self-convolution. Int J Digit Crime Foren 11(4):28–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant No. 61802041], the Doctoral Scientific Foundation of Liaoning Province of China [Grant No. 1578443378366]. The authors would like to thank American Journal Experts for language assistance, the anonymous reviewers and editors for their very valuable comments and suggestions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Light Industry and Chemical Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian, 116034, Liaoning, China

    Caiyin Wang & Chao Li

Authors
  1. Caiyin Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Chao Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Caiyin Wang.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wang, C., Li, C. Spot color watermarking: the use of the IWT-SVD and tone correction model. Multimed Tools Appl 79, 21627–21652 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11042-020-08981-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11042-020-08981-9

Keywords