Hybrid encoding method by assembling the magic-matrix scrambling method and the binary encoding method in image hiding

The magic-matrix scrambling method and the binary encoding method are combined to form a hybrid encoding method for hiding digital covert images. For this hybrid encoding method, a covert image is encoded into a host image to form an overt image. First, the magic-matrix scrambling method is used to rearrange all the pixels of the covert image by using a specified magic matrix modified from a magic square to form a scrambled matrix. Then, all the pixels of the scrambled matrix are denoted by binary data. Finally, the binary data are encoded into the host image to form the overt image. The pixels of the overt image contain nine groups of codes used for decoding the covert image, i.e. identification codes, covert-image dimension codes, scrambling-time codes, magic-square dimension codes, corner codes, shifting codes, arrangement codes, graylevel codes, and information codes. The overt image and the host image look almost the same for eyes. Furthermore, the covert image can be decoded directly from the overt image without using the host image. The most important feature is that the decoded covert image is identical to the original covert image, i.e. there is no distortion in the decoding work.