A hybrid approach to digital image watermarking using singular value decomposition and spread spectrum

Abstract

This paper compares the most utilized spread spectrum technique with the newly evolved technique based on Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) for watermarking digital images. Both techniques are tested for a variety of attacks and the simulation results show that the watermarks generated by these techniques have complimentary robustness properties. A new hybrid technique, combining both paradigms, is proposed that is capable of surviving an extremely wide range of attacks. An image is first watermarked using spread spectrum and then a SVD based watermark is added to the watermarked image. The resulting double watermarked image is extremely robust to a wide range of distortions. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.