Optical steganography with RVNCA-based keys for 3D object

Abstract

Traditional 3D image steganography is cumbersome and difficult owing to the special structure of 3D image, imposing a practical limit for its applications. Herein, we propose a 3D image steganography scheme utilizing computational ghost imaging (CGI). Furthermore, triple keys are introduced in the steganography to increase the difficulty of being cracked greatly. With the help of backward ray tracing (BRT) technology, the element image array (EIA) of the 3D object is obtained as the target of ghost imaging. For encryption, we utilize restricted vertical neighborhood cellular automata (RVNCA) to encode random masks of the CGI system as the key, which greatly improves the security of the steganography scheme and facilitates the management and transmission of the key. Finally, we reconstruct the decrypted image optically and obtain a full color and full parallax 3D image through the display device.