Visual Communication with Successive Reading of Public and Secret Information by Generating Dual-Layer Images

Abstract

In visual communication, visual cryptography is a technique that permits to share secret information through a two-step process. In a common processing scheme, two key images (ciphered images) are generated from a binary secret image. Then, the generated key images are sent to a recipient via two different communication channels. Once key images collected, the secret information is decoded via the human vision system by observing the superposition of the two key images. In this context, each key image generally has its appearance as a mix of black and white pixels. In this paper, we present a technique that permits to personalize the appearance of generated key images by making them exploitable for displaying visible information (e.g.; textual information) while simultaneously embedding secret information. A family of dual-layer images is thus highlighted towards fostering the development of visual creations. Experimental results show visual applications with successive reading of public and secret information from generated Dual-Layer key images.