Robust image watermarking using ant colony optimization and fast generic radial harmonic Fourier moment calculation

Abstract

Abstract In open networks, the geometric deformation and common image processing are common image manipulation modes, which pose a great challenge in robust watermarking. To improve the robustness of GRHFM‐based watermarking, a watermarking algorithm based on the fast GRHFM calculation method and ant colony optimization (ACO) based fractional parameter selection method is proposed. With the similarity between the discrete Fourier transform and GRHFM moment calculation, the algorithm utilizes fast Fourier transform to improve the GRHFM calculation accuracy and speed. To select the optimal GRHFM fractional parameter for watermarking algorithm, ACO is introduced to the fractional parameter adaptive selection method. Here, the fast Fourier transform‐based calculation method is combined with the adaptive parameter selection method to maximize the invisibility and robustness of watermarking. The experimental results indicate that the algorithm achieves higher robustness with the same payload and invisibility compared with other existing watermarking methods.

Keywords

• ant colony optimisation
• fast Fourier transforms
• image watermarking
• method of moments