High payload digital image steganography using mixed edge detection mechanism

Abstract

The Least Significant Bit(LSB) is a spatial domain embedding technique suggest that data can be hidden in the least significant bits of the cover image and the human visual system(HVS) not able to find the secret data in the cover image. It is most powerful and easily understood method in spatial domain. LSB is widely used stegonagraphy technique in both spatial and frequency domain because all other methods in frequency domain are complex to understand and implement. In this thesis, along with using the LSB substitution method as a important stage, edge detection mechanism is used to take advantage for high payload, as edges are sharp areas of an image. In the proposed scheme, mixed edge detection mechanism is employed to achieve high payload steganography. Here, mixed edge detection mechanism is combination of Canny edge detection and Log edge detection techniques. Then applying the embedding algorithm, heavy amount data are stored in the cover image i.e high payload is achieved. Experimental results show that the steganography using mixed or hybrid edge detection mechanism accomplished with better peak signal to noise ratio(PSNR), compare to other steganograpgic model, for the same number of bits per pixel in embedded image.