A robust digital image watermarking technique using lifting wavelet transform and firefly algorithm

In this paper, an optimized and robust digital image watermarking technique based on lifting wavelet transform (LWT) and firefly algorithm is proposed. LWT is newer and faster generation of former wavelet transforms and firefly algorithm is an efficient optimizing algorithms. In current technique, base image decomposed by LWT into 4 sub bands then the first sub band separated into non overlapping blocks. After that blocks are sorted in order of descending based on standard derivation of each block. Selecting suitable blocks for special embedding process seems to be an optimization problem due to existence of a trade-off between imperceptibility and robustness. Firefly algorithm used to solve this trade-off while selecting primary blocks causes high robustness and low imperceptibility and vice versa. For improving security, Arnold transform applied to watermark and achieved scrambled image bits used as condition for embedding process. The proposed technique evaluated by variety of attacks like additive noise, average filter, median filter, sharpening filter and some other geometric and non-geometric attacks and experimental results showed its good imperceptibility and high robustness.