Highly robust hybrid image watermarking approach using Tchebichef transform with secured PCA and CAT encryption

Abstract

In the modern era of technology, watermarking plays an important role in embedding of the copyright information in order to provide authenticity in imperceptible and robust manner. In this paper, a new watermarking technique is introduced that works in correlation with discrete Tchebichef transform (DTT), robust principal component analysis (R-PCA) and singular value decomposition (SVD). To enhance the security and robustness, the watermark logo is scrambled using CAT mapping scrambling. The original image is decomposed to low-rank and sparse components using R-PCA; curvelet transforms are obtained using DTT to embed the processed watermark using SVD into colored image. The robustness and imperceptibility of the proposed technique are verified by testing against a variety of the geometric and image processing attacks. The substantial results obtained show that this technique is more computationally effective and provides high resistance against attacks. Moreover, this technique provides a large area for researchers to work on and further modify it.